Hi Indi,

These replies to your questions are just my thoughts and in no way am I saying that I know what's best. I most certainly don't. I do think that there are so many great things about amateur theatre in Perth but I get irritated by little things like playing to an audience of ten in a horrible cold hall and am always pondering ways to combat this.

Q 1: Why would the merging of clubs increase the quality of productions?

I feel that with a larger group of people a club/director would have more options. As an example, if a club has only a few members who are experienced and keen to do sound and they are all unavailable a director needs to look elsewhere. More often than not several shows are running at the same time and most of the known and respected technical people are otherwise engaged. This probably sounds horribly elitist and not in the spirit of am-dram but... this may mean going with a beginner. I know that everyone has to start somewhere but chances are, without guidance, the quality of their work will not be as high.

I operated the sound for Cabaret (due to nobody else being available) and one guy who reviewed the show on this website said he only disliked three things about the show, one being a mistimed sound cue! (That's what you get for letting the choreographer near the sound desk).

Q 2: Why would the merging of clubs increase the resources available? Surely they would be the same resources - only pooled together.

When I wrote this I was referring more to the theatre itself. For example, a club is kicked out of their venue but has all that a theatre requires (seating, front of house furniture, lighting equipment etc). Another club is given an old building to do with as they wish but they have little money and limited resources to set it up as a theatre (as they have been using a community hall up until now). I just think that it would make sense for these two groups to merge.

Q 3: Why would the pooling of resources increase the number of seasons?

Unlike Anthony I am not particularly for more seasons, just better patronised ones!

Cheers, Gill

Insert smiley face here!