Entertaining The Masses

So I have just received the final figures for the Waterside Theatre Company’s production of Denim. It always astounds me how so many people are interested in seeing new writing – and makes me even more frustrated that I can not break into professional productions.

The Waterside Theatre Company’s theatre is not exactly what could be described as being in a built up area. Indeed, if you click here you will see that it’s a former Esso Refinary Social Club. While it’s listed as Southampton, it’s nowhere near as built up.

But that said, over 200 people came and saw Denim. Over 200 people were willing to part with their money and see the play.

Talk to any professional company or theatrical literary agent and they’ll tell you that they won’t deal with an ‘unknown’ playwright as they can’t prove that their work will attract an audience.

At the moment, the professional theatre see me as a unknown playwright.

But, I counter, I can prove I can draw an audience! Ah, they counter, but that’s only AmDram. Yet, say I, the company may well be amateur, but I am a professional – I get paid! No, they reply, it doesn’t count.

But I say it does. And it may fall on deaf ears, but maybe an agent/director/producer out there will stumble on this blog (here’s hoping) and will take the time to hear me out.

For an amateur company to put one of my plays, they have to have one hell of a belief in my work. They have to be 100% that they are going to get an audience.

Why? Because if they don’t they loose the only thing that keeps the company going – cash. If the play doesn’t work, they don’t have enough money to put on their next production. Worse, if their audience don’t like the play, they won’t go to see another one there – and then the club dies.

This is why you find so many clubs opting to put on ‘Allo ‘Allo, Confusions, Bouncers and the likes. They play it safe and put on something that they know they will get an audience for – and hence gain an income.

So take the Waterside example. How much faith did they have in Denim? Isn’t that worth something? And over 200 people in this fairly remote area came and saw a play by an ‘unknown’ playwright.

So tell me… Do I have a track record? Is there something about my work that draws an audience? Is there a reason why professional theatre won’t consider my work?

Answers on a postcard please…