Talking theatre: developing audiences for regional Australia

Article


Scollen, Rebecca J.. 2008. "Talking theatre: developing audiences for regional Australia." The International Journal of the Arts in Society. 3 (3), pp. 103-114.
Article Title

Talking theatre: developing audiences for regional Australia

ERA Journal ID39930
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorScollen, Rebecca J.
Journal TitleThe International Journal of the Arts in Society
Journal Citation3 (3), pp. 103-114
Number of Pages27
Year2008
Place of PublicationMelbourne, Australia
ISSN1833-1866
Web Address (URL)http://ija.cgpublisher.com/product/pub.85/prod.303
Abstract

[Abstract]: Theatre is commonly understood to be a reflection of, or comment on, or alternative to, the collective culture it is presented in. It is argued to be a place for examining the concepts of culture and to play a significant role in the presentation and development of cultures. Yet there are many people in Australia who do not recognise Theatre as an interface to their cultures.

The Talking Theatre research project (2004-2006) was an audience development initiative implemented in regional Queensland and in the Northern Territory in Australia. The project sought to assist performing arts centres to better engage with their local communities and to build new audiences for the future. In particular, the research aimed to understand non-theatregoers; their reasons for non-attendance, their perspectives about theatregoing culture, and their reactions to a range of live performances they experienced under study conditions.

The Talking Theatre project found that the cultures re-presented on stage were not that different to the cultures of the non-theatregoers. The participants in the research made clear that the theatrical performances and the social aspect of theatre attendance did reflect their cultures. Limited awareness of Theatre’s relevance to their lives combined with a lack of positive peer influence to attend, were the chief deterrents to theatre attendance for the non-theatregoers in the study.

Keywordsculture, interface, non-theatregoers, theatre, symbolic interactionism, audience development, regional Australia, community
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020440699. Human geography not elsewhere classified
360403. Drama, theatre and performance studies
470203. Consumption and everyday life
Public Notes

Deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Authors retain copyright.
Readers must contact Common Ground for permission to reproduce.
COMMON GROUND PUBLISHING PO Box 463, Altona, Victoria, 3018, Australia.
http://www.CommonGroundPublishing.com

Byline AffiliationsArtsworx
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9yxq4/talking-theatre-developing-audiences-for-regional-australia

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