Happy World Theatre Day!

Today for 23rd Productions in Brisbane, Australia, is predominantly a day of rest. We are a week and a half away from opening our production of THE UGLY ONE by Marius von Mayenburg at Metro Arts, and after a very full week cast and crew are taking a well earned rest. We decided to mark the day earlier in the week by taking the unprecedented step of allowing students from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (where we are rehearsing) access to our first ‘script down’ rehearsal. Our aim was for students to see how the process really works, rather than just seeing a polished version of a play when it opens.

It was an interesting experience for both cast and crew, and for me personally, one I found rather fun. It was great to have people laugh and react to what we had created. It gave a boost to the idea that we were all on the right track. However today doesn’t go completely unmarked – the cast are getting together tonight for dinner and a chat about the play, and then to run lines. More proof (if necessary) that independent theatre makers have an extraordinary level of commitment to the work they so vehemently believe in.

What is also relevant to WTD is the very choice of work we are staging. In the top corner of Australia, a city recently so decimated by the worst flooding in 30+years, a small unfunded company has found connection with a text from a German playwright. Theatre IS universal. And it doesn’t always take a similar social theme or demographic to make those ties. I believe it is the knowledge that live storytelling is profoundly relevant to the evolution of mankind and the continuation of culture. How we pass on information is what ties the whole world together. It has been this way for thousands of years, and it’s not going to change any time soon.

It is very easy for authorities to create reasons why they should cut arts budgets. In SE QLD right now there is such a rebuilding program required after the floods that anyone would be insane to not want an increase in local and state funding to infrastructure. We are suffering economically at the moment, particularly as we are a self-sufficient state. People need jobs and to get back a sense of normality. They need homes and money in the bank for their families. People need to get back to what has them BE THEM – whatever that is.

People are at their most joyous when they get to be their full self through self-expression – be it as a teacher, nurse, local bank manager, or the volunteer at the school crossing. Here we still have closed schools and businesses, and uninhabitable homes. This does not make for a strong and healthy community. Artists are part of this community too. They have lost homes and income and, equally they too have the right to live their life to its full self expression. Artists are vital to any society – this is old news and was proven a long time ago, but so often the case is that this is ignored.

As Queensland, Christchurch, Japan and now the Thai border put themselves back together I find myself feeling the need to remind those who make the decisions on behalf of all of us that artists can ABSOLUTELY be a contribution in many ways to the rehabilitation after a major event. They can generate financial turn over, elevate spirits and bring new energy and enthusiasm. A healthy, joyful society is as important as strong infrastructure. In fact I can see no distinction. Moreover, as with any role in society, artists have the right to be THEIR full self expression, and have that respected as any other.

Belts must be tightened round here – and they are, mostly with grace and commitment, for our city to being back bigger and better than ever. But one of the often most marginalised sections of our community stands poised to take their belts down quite a few notches more than most: independent theatre makers. We ARE your community. We ARE an important part of society, we will be the ones that tell the stories of 2011 and the storied from before and those that come after. We are the custodians of culture and history and we want to share it with everyone. It is our most wondrous privilege to do so.

It is great to have a day that unifies all theatre workers together – has us feel connected to other people who work in our field where ever we are. This year I invite everyone to remember what we are responsible for and the contribution was can make, and then take that out into the world to remind others. Before TV and internet and even radio, there was theatre. And despite the incredible technical advances, the simple act of live storytelling offers the human race a deeply significant chance to connect to each other in a way that nothing else can match. Something defiantly worth savouring and celebrating. Happy World Theatre Day.