Attack & Counter-attack

FROM ONE OF THE MORE RATIONAL ATTACKS...

Sorry - I won't be going
Author: Pontius Kak
Date: 09/10/2008 - 08:13

"...local people could potentially be hurt by this production..."

"...Who would now want to be part of the Theatre Group that put on Rock Apocalypse?..."

"...I, personally, do not agree with ethically, so I'll be voting with my feet on this occasion..."


MY ANSWER...

See the show, then vote with your feet
Author: Always Working ...
Date: 09/10/2008 - 23:53

When we decided to mount this production our first step was to contact the theatre group that was the subject of the original forum.

The committee's number one concern was the same as yours: that our play would harm the reputation of the group and affect the the future of that group. And that is Kate and my number one concern as well: we don't want to make fun of anyone or run-down any community theatre group. We didn't see the original production. We haven't asked or found out anything about it except what everyone has or can already read on the ITA website. Our interest is exclusively in the forum. But we've met or communicated with as many of the people involved in the production as we could and our intention is that their voices are heard in the play.

Other contributors to the original forum - not involved in the group - had the same concern. Eventually we persuaded all those contributors to let us their words. If you see the production, you'll see some of that persuasion - and the arguments we needed to overcome - performed.

We have tried to demonstrate our ethics through actions: we met with committee, we interviewed those who wrote on the forum and those who were written about, we ran workshops at the group's main venue, we auditioned and cast an actor from the group (just so happens she wasn't involved and didn't see the original production), committee members have attended our rehearsals and remain involved in the process.

On Saturday 25 October at 8pm, we will perform the play at Padbury Community Hall (Caley Rd). Probably many of the people involved in the original production will be there. And I'll be there to receive their feedback.

On Tuesday 28 October at 6.30pm, there's a special performance at the Blue Room followed by a "Meet the Artists" forum. We've invited all the contributors to the play to that performance. If just afew of the contributors to this thread attend, it will be a great discussion.

Perth Theatre Company produced TAKING LIBERTY by Ingle Knight at the Playhouse Theatre last month. It's a play about winning the America's Cup in 1988. On opening night, Alan Bond, John Bertrand and the rest of the surviving crew members sat in the front row, watching the actors being them, 'warts and all'. An amazing experience for all and I look forward to those performances of APOCALYPSE PERTH where people see their "double" on stage.

As for the question, "who would now want to be a part of the theatre group who put on...?" That question has been online for 8 months now in the other thread - without a clear answer, just a myriad of conflicting experiences and opinions.

But I think plenty of people would want to be a part of the group that put on BUSYBODY - we did see that production (I posted a review on this site) and it was a good night in the theatre.

Please, vote after you've seen the production.

The Blue Room and Always Working Artists present
APOCALYPSE PERTH 21 Oct - 8 Nov 2008
The Blue Room Studio. Bookings: (08) 9227 7005
http://www.blueroom.org.au/blueroomseasons/apocalypseperth