Hi,

I'm acting in an amateur play in a couple of weeks and so we're at that stage where we're all trying to sell tickets. It's always a struggle to cover our costs even though I believe our company has a lot of talent (we always get good feed back and have had good reviews in the press) we have a small loyal following but it's attracting new people that's our problem. I was wondering if we were doing something wrong, such as choosing the wrong plays or not promoting them well enough, but a friend recently told me that only 5% of British people ever go to the theatre, so guess I shouldn't take it personally! I found this figure really surprising and was wondering why it was so low. If you're someone who doesn't normally go to the theatre is there anything in particular that would persuade you to go?

While I'm here let me do a shameless plug for my play! It's called The Dog in the Manger by Lope De Vega and is on at The University Drama Studio, Glossop Road, 14th-17th November. Tickets are £6/£5 concessions, you can book tickets by calling Peter Oxley on 0114 236 8414 or e-mailing oxley.p@sky.com. For more details visit www.midlandplayers.co.uk or contact me by e-mail or by replying to this thread.

I used to be a regular theatre goer going to both amateur and professional performances. However, over the years people have started to treat the theatre as an extension to their homes, allowing their children to run around, talking throughout the performances and eating their way through three course meals.

If you can educate your audiences to be more concious of the impact of their behaviour on other people I might start going back.

I like to go see musicals - I find it very hard to sit through a play with just talking, for some reason, it doesn't hold my attention!!!! I'm the same with the tv, I have it on, but I'm usually doing something else at the same time, I can't do that in the theatre!!!

If I was at gun point or they were giving away something over a grand.

That's really interesting Max. I've never really noticed kids and eating but mobile phones and too much talking can sometimes be a problem. We did once have to eject a group of people for being drunk which was hard as it can be intimidating confronting strangers, luckily they did leave with only minimal fuss. Apart from that one incident we’ve been really lucky and haven’t had any other problems, it does sound like you’ve had some bad experiences at the theatre. We do always try to make sure we’ve got plenty of volunteers working front of house to deal with problems. I suppose its about striking a balance between making people feel welcome while making sure everyone can enjoy the performance, I wouldn’t like to ban food or children as having a bag of sweets is part of the experience for some people and I know many well behaved children who get a lot out of going to the theatre and it would be a shame to deny them this.

A really good amatuer production.

..................................nudity

CarolW – I’m the same with TV! I have to read/surf/do the ironing with TV, so I kinda understand what you mean, though I am OK when I go to the theatre or the cinema as it seems more like an event somehow.

TESTPASS – Thanks for your input, though I would be interested to know what’s given you such a violent dislike of theatre!

Slimsid2000 – Ours is a really good amateur production, please come and see it!

Jdgraham83 – A particular brand of nudity? Or will anyone do? We may well have to think about it for future productions if it’ll really gets the audience in.

Every amateur production that I've ever been to see at the Uni Drama Studio was a sell-out! Deservedly so too.:)

The worst behaved audiences I've encountered have tended to be at 'professional' productions. My version of theatrical Hell is to be at a play that's part of a syllabus, and be sharing the autitorium with hundreds of noisy teenagers who're there because they have to be. :)

The best recent amateur performance I saw was, I think, a production of 'A Few Good Men' a couple of years ago at teh University Drama Studio

I think amateur groups need to work on productions that are good, solid, known dramas. Nothing clever, nothing experimental, just solid fare that will get people through the door.

I would like to see an amateur production of 'Breaking The Code', 'Sleuth' or 'Becket'. Challenging but worthwhile!

You've obviously never been to ours Googleberry! And why not?

I've been to the Theatre a few times over the years, most recently I went to the Adelphi in London to see Lee Mead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, it was amazing! Definitely worth 50 quid a ticket to see in my opinion.

I've just booked to see the Cinderella Panto at the Lyceum in December as well, cos Toadie off Neighbours is in it and Bobby Knutt.

I want to go and see Hairspray the musical next year in London, and with the new niece or nephew coming in January we'll have have more reasons to go down to London to see our Dave and Clare and the baby. I've got the original Hairspray film on DVD and have seen the new remake starring John Travolta in drag as the Mother and that new girl Nikki Blonsky, she's good and quite cute IMO, for a midget.

JoeP - I mentioned those three plays to our director. He says they're all great plays but none of them have good parts for women. In Am Dram it tends to be easier to recruit women than men (not sure why). When choosing plays we are restricted by the actors we have available as well as cost etc. But thanks for your answer.

Thanks Rich, I'm getting the message that musicals are really popular, I'm not really a fan and I don't know if our singing skills would be up to it. Mine certainly wouldn't!

Do people think plays are boring? Maybe it's because we were all forced to study them at school. I don't know the answer.

Thing with plays IMO is that they tend to be a bit contrived, too formal IMO. Same with a lot of proffessional Pantos with people off the telly in them, they don't do the funny pastry chucking scene in Alice in Wonderland for instance like such as Manor Operatics do.

But they're doing Robinson Crusoe this year which tends to suck so I opted for the Lyceum Panto.

Havent seen an amateur production for a good few years. Been to Lyceum to see Joseph, Acorn Antiques and Vagina Monologues this year.

Kids are going to Manor Operatic panto and the one at the Lyceum too.

I love the theatre, its a little bit expensive to go regularly for me:(

I was in an Amateur Dramatic Society for thirty five years, and saw it grow to having its own fully equipped theatre. The only reason I 'retired' was because I could not balance it with the job change I had (but with same company). 'The old ones are the best' statement is certainly true in Am Dram. If you want full houses every night - just put the name Agatha Christie on the posters. J B Priestley is another, as is Alan Ayckbourn. The Drama Group I belonged to must have done it right, as it is 75 years old this year.

I'm heavily involved with theatre in Sheffield, run my own professional company on a national basis and have written critique for 10 or 11 years now, so, from my own view I can tell you what I'm sick of seeing in amatuer theatre.

Number 1 for getting my goat - students at SUTCo/groups in general who want to present cutting edge theatre and make a complete hash of it by trying too hard to be unique/emotive/reactionary or whatever the fashionable presentation is.

Number 2, the same old tired dance routines trotted out by am dram groups who's members are mostly over 50 and are long past their knicker flashing days. Some new energetic choreographers, some quality music (instead of Joan from church on the piano) and a bit of pizazz. Same goes for the costumes, pretty tired of the frock and apron combo in a selection of interchangeable colours. I realise it's the cheapest and most colourful way but theatre and grants have come a long way since 1960.

Number 3, pants miscasting. The volume of women to men is ridiculous but IMO you should never cast some weak geeks for the male roles just because that's all you have, if they aren't good enough, don't be afraid to offend and find someone else.

Number 4, the same selection of scripts as provided by Samuel French for am dram groups. I know Samuel French is mostly unavoidable since they most of the script working in the UK, however, the internet is a tremendous resource and it can be better to find your own copy to edit (as many groups do) but also to find something interesting to do. I've lost count of how many times I've seen Ayckbourn and Priestley and I rarely find many groups who do them justice, also I don't want to see them over and over (Sorry Nigel, they bore me after a while). Yet I was thrilled to see Bouncers three times in 10 years, Road twice and several others which have a little more bite. Having said that, I was surprised to thoroughly enjoy Brigadoon, a very tame and wishy washy story but I still loved it. Carmilla was another stunning play which I thought was fabulous (and by SUTCo IIRC).


My opinion is therefore, choose a great script, get some good quality actors and keep looking if at first you don't succeed, amatuer does not have to mean second rate. If you are doing musical, give it everything you have and find a good choreographer, it might offend Gladys but why let the show be spoilt for an old lady's pride.
Finally, don't take yourselves too seriously, arrogant actors are awful and it comes across on stage. The most important thing is to have fun, otherwise why bother?

The main reason I don't go, is that there is little publicity about events. A night out takes some organisation, but the large and small theatres do not really publicise events beyond the local press and the town centre.

A regular mailshot service, with advance information would be useful.

I'm having difficulty accessing info through the site you mentioned.....
Is it available anywhere else?

Wwcrazy – professional theatre is definitely expensive! I’m going to see La Traviata at the Lyceum and the ticket was £32, which wasn’t even the most expensive ticket, it’s a lot of money to spend when you don’t even know if it’s going to be a good production. Our play however is only £6 or £5 concessions so I hope you’ll consider coming along!

Nigel – you’re so right about the famous names getting the crowds in, particularly Christie. The only trouble is I do theatre as a creative outlet and tend not to be inspired by stuff I’ve seen lots of times before. I suppose the answer might be to alternate between plays that are very commercial to make money and then more unusual plays.

Zebra – Thanks for your opinions, I definitely agree with many of your points. Though the groups I have been in have never used Samuel French, and I have done 11 plays (7 in Sheffield), I had to ask someone who it was, so I don’t think we’re guilty of that! The problem I want help with is not so much that our plays haven’t been good or well received but it’s rather about attracting an audience in the first place. Maybe it will get better with time if we can build up a bigger loyal audience.

Pippadoll – you’re so right about a mailshot being a great tool; we do have one but definitely need to make more contacts. If you are interest about receiving detail of this and future productions please e-mail me your address and I’ll add you to our list. One of the reasons we don’t publicise more is the expense, advertising can be very expensive and there are a limited number of places where you can leave posters and flyers for free

Zebra – The problem I want help with is not so much that our plays haven’t been good or well received but it’s rather about attracting an audience in the first place. Maybe it will get better with time if we can build up a bigger loyal audience.


Of course, but my opinion is that you will either build a loyal following of pensioners who will come and sweetie rustle at you and avoid the winter performances and complain that you aren't as good as (insert company here) or you can build a reputation stacked on creating performances whcih are full of the key ingredients.

My advice was only what I would suggest you avoid if you really want to make a go of it all. Plus this thread is marketing in it's own right - I recognise that having done the same myself :)

Also, be careful never to believe your own publicity. Reviewers rarely totally damn a show, it isn't good writing, so there are always pleasantries written about the most ridiculous of shows.

Unique advertising and broad scope ads will attract audiences, big publicity stunts get media coverage which in turn bring free advertising. Big stunts also get the attention of the younger crowds.
Tie ins are good, associate yourselves with a charity which you will donate money to. Advertise to schools, pensioners clubs, supermarkets, workplaces - all places where groups of people get together to go out.

We go about six times a year. Mostly to pro shows, though we do go to recommended amateur ones. We always see the Manor operatic pantos and the odd musical /show.

I love the American musicals at either The Crucible or The Lyceum. Kiss Me Kate, Guys & Dolls etc;i Love them.

The last thing we saw at the theatre was the Papa mass? Spelling may be wrong. Took the kids with us and they really enjoyed it. My daughter in particular asks to go back all the time. It isn't the in thing is it? The theatre is often associated with posh, stuck up individuals, the intellectual kind. There also isn't as much information around about the plays etc as there are for the cinema.

I dont go to the theatre very much at all. For me the problem is the style of acting required to project actions and emotions all the way to the back of a theatre. I'm too used to films, plays seem over-acted. I realise this is necessary when your live audience is so much further away than a camera normally is but it still just feels strange. What does get me going to a theatre is a good modern comedy - especially a satire.

I am also in an amateur drama group, and we have exactly the same problems attracting audiences, We have a small loyal group of regulars, who give us genuine feedback - mostly very good! We would love to do Agatha Christie plays, but they usually involve eleventeen men, which we dont have. Am I allowed to plug my play? If so it is Ladies Day, a modern comedy, and is on at Frecheville (S12) 14 -16 Nov. You can pm me for details.

Don't be sorry Zebra. You are fully entitled to your opinion. If we were all the same, life would be boring. When I was a SADATA crit, I saw all you mentioned.

Zebra – I think you have some really good advice on how to put on good plays, but I don’t think it always follows that the best plays get the biggest audiences. I’ve seen brilliant plays in almost empty theatres and absolute tosh in packed houses. I hope you don’t think I was rejecting your advice; I was just more genuinely interested in what gets bums on seats in the first place, particularly new audiences who wouldn’t necessarily know much about the company before buying their ticket.
Thanks for your advertising ideas, I think one problem as an amateur company is finding time as well as money to put these ideas into practise as nearly all our members work full time, but if we could get co-ordinated it would probably be worth the effort.
Don’t be concern about us believing our own publicity; I think we all have our feet quite firmly on the ground.

JimtheWorm – I totally agree the acting style is different in the theatre, but I quite like it, and if done well doesn’t have to appear OTT. I like the fact that it’s different from the cinema and TV, but I can see why people might find it strange as we watch so much TV these days. It must have been really different when theatre acting was the only acting there was, I think in some old films you can tell the actors are more used to the stage as they don’t seem to have adapted their style and seem to be projecting their words and emotions more than perhaps necessary.

Good luck with your play sultana. I would come and see it to show support to another group, but as you may have noticed, it's on the same week as ours. Of course you're allowed to plug, I just hope people reading it will come to both our plays!

I love going to the Public Dress Rehearsals that they have sometimes at the Crucible and Lyceum. Entry to top notch theatre for just a quid ? Cant be bad :) Next one is Amadeus on 07th November (http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=whatson.production&ProductionID=559)...

For those that want advance notice of upcoming plays - go here :

http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/

and you can get emails sent to you. Somehow I even got on the postal mailing list and get the season booklets and also get text alerts. Cant remember how I got those. But there is plenty of info out there :P

hi Grissom, that looks very interesting, but how do you know when the dress rehearsals are? i had a look on the site but can't really find it. same goes for those great sounding 1-pound tickets....

Thanks ZoeE, yes, shame they are on at the same time - we try to support other groups as well, but its amazing how aften dates clash. Come on fellow forummers, there is some excellent local entertainment for very little cost - come and lend us your support....please.

I think they need promoting a lot more. To be honest, I don't really have a clue what's on at any of the amateur theatres in Sheffield and wouldn't have the first idea where to look to find out. I live reasonably close to the university studio, and pass the other theatres in town quite a lot, but don't really see much info about them.

Paulmat - We do put posters and flyers out in shops etc, but there are limited places you can put things for free and those places display loads of stuff so I suppose it's easy for ours to get lost. We try to make our flyers eye catching, but then so does everyone, and of course we're not professional designers.

The Drama studio does a programme every season with the details of all the plays on there. I'm not sure if you can get it posted to you. You can find all the details of what's on there at www.shef.ac.uk/drama/