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July 2004 Feature: National Theatre 6
Ally MacLeod |
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| FIRST OF ALL, it's a little difficult for me to
comment on the National Theatre's constitution, as I haven't read it. Therefore,
anything I say might be completely irrelevant. However, let me share my
reservations as they have always stood. |
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| My main concern, in particular for small theatre
companies in the Highlands, is this: in my experience a large section of the
theatre going audience in Highland will quite happily travel many miles to see
something at Eden Court as this is their idea of theatre, whereas if something
comes to their local village hall they don't go as this to many isn't classed
'proper theatre.' |
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| If they do go to their local village hall, they will
more than likely go to see a company from the south, as locally based companies
'couldn't possibly be as good as those from Glasgow or Edinburgh.' A case in
point being Dogstar's last tremendous show 'Seven Ages' which, although touring
reasonably extensively throughout the north, still did not receive the attention
it deserved. |
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| A 'National Theatre' by virtue of its name is more
than likely going to prolong the incredibly elitist beliefs that still, sadly,
exist regarding theatre in this part of the world. Sorry to be so negative, and
by nature I'm not, but we struggle for audiences at times as it is up here -
would we not lose even more to what would be considered 'proper
theatre?' |
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Perhaps not. Perhaps it would improve our chances of reaching more people. Perhaps it would raise the profile of theatre in the Highlands. Could that not, however, be done just as successfully with the backing of Arts bodies throughout the country without draining our already bleak funding reserves? However, like I said, I haven't read the constitution. Perhaps a read of it might quash my fears. © Ally MacLeod, 2004 |
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NORTHINGS
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