Another year and a celebration. Fifteen years ago, in early February, this column first appeared.
In many amateur drama groups, unfortunately, the PRO is still the job of the person who cannot act, direct, design, hammer nails, prompt or fix a fuse. Often too, that person also fails to understand why it is important to submit copy in time. But it's still a New Year and we are wishing that it be a happy one for all. Peace and goodwill and The Devil a Saint Would Be!. Which prompts the thought; what about a giant move towards a united amateur drama movement for the millennium? What a way to really celebrate! The Joint ADCI/ DLI are probably planning it already.
Over the past 15 years, standards have improved in all areas. Unfortunately, however, some of the divisions in the amateur drama movement are still in existence. A few years ago, they appeared to be on the wane and many felt that a united movement was all but in place. Sadly, one unwise decision precipitated further division and today we have an extremely fragmented scene indeed.
Also, a move towards professionalism and semi-professionalism is taking place in certain areas. This is no great sin. Through the efforts of amateurs, good theatres have sprung up all over the country. They cater for the groups who built them and for visiting professional productions. There are not enough of these professional companies to keep the theatre doors open all the year around and so the small part-time companies who operate on a co-operative basis are taking no money out of full-time professionals' pockets, while they keep the theatres from being dark for a few more nights of the year.
The touring issue came under discussion in the ADA (Association of Drama Adjudicators) newsletter which arrived to me in November. Ray Leonard commented on small audiences and asked how, without turning to stage farce/ comedy all the time to survive, can touring companies, drama groups and drama festivals in large population centres (lacking community spirit and with box office competition from so many other events) survive? I have some answers. But at the moment I want to pose the question and get a discussion going.
Why not give us your own answers, Ray? In this column, perhaps? It's the only one left.
Karen Carleton is the new Chairman of the ADL. Vice-Chairman Jane Leslie is seeking a full-time Project Organiser for the Interact Programme, a cross-border tourist based initiative in conjunction with the Drama Association of Wales.
