Australia’s most elite creatives, united to further Australia’s cultural exports to the world stage?
Pie in the sky or reality? The notion of having a national theatre company with a permanent ensemble of performers training, rehearsing and performing in repertory seems an idea at the front of many Australian directors, actors and performing arts practitioners, yet the implementation of such an idea seems far on the horizon. A debate that has been ongoing for decades seems to be climbing towards a climax with recent editorials in newspapers calling on Government and philanthropy bodies to take action.
One of the benefits of a National Theatre company who’s product is plays (preferably Australian) and other ‘stage projects’ seems to favour recent drama school acting graduates, who’s bleak and low paying performing career seems almost certain upon their graduation. Not in all cases of course, however generally speaking, recent acting grads will juggle multiple casual and part time jobs whilst striving for the ‘golden egg’ of acting gigs and that ‘one big break’. Generally speaking. Enter [down stage centre] Australia’s National Theatre Company [rapturous applause] who would most likely take on a whole bunch of grads, further develop them with training from industry professionals and offer them roles in professional stage shows. Permanently. Similar to the models of Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. What better way to launch a new breed of Aussie actors onto the world stage?
Similarly to the new operating model of Opera Australia as a ‘production house’ and the great work Australian Ballet does, the National Theatre Company of Australia (or NTCA, or ANTC, or [insert acronym here]) would most likely be a ‘production house’ of classic and world premiere Australian works, promoted by the crème da la crème of Australia’s acting community, supported by ensembles of young up and coming actors, and presented on the national and stages of Australia as well as exported overseas. Wow. Sounds like a lot of work. Let’s do it!
Surly if Opera Australia can rewrite their business plan and transform their operating model to turn over X number of millions (billions?) of dollars per year, than the possibilities of an Australian National Theatre Company are endless, exciting, and possible!
Like that wise old man Elivs once said “a little less talk a lot more action”, it’s time we stopped debating the issue and took the road of an entrepreneurial lean start up; put the product out in the industry, test it with audiences, then talk about our feelings over a cup of coffee,verses the other way around.[Standing ovation]. End scene.
Nomadic Artists 