Whenever another announcement is made that a town's theatre is to be "closed down", it is natural to draw histories and comparisons. One wonders why all people involved in live theatre, throughout the land, do not unite in protest against some civic decision to kill a perfectly viable theatre. One recalls the halcyon days before vacuum-skulled TV presenters and product-promoters took over our thought processes and the possession of a local theatre was a matter for pride, an expression of skill and creativity.
It was even more difficult, on returning to civilian life bright-eyed with hope of a career in Theatre, to find that professional repertory companies were falling prey to diminishing returns as Audiences were swallowed up by the voracious monster that Television had become. Theatre's best chance of survival in our county towns, it seemed, lay in the TLC offered by dedicated amateurs. Drama schools continued to churn out far more fully-trained actors than the commercial Theatre could use - we called them "professionals", but those who were amateur in the true sense of the word showed their professionalism and kept their skills honed by working unpaid in Amateur Theatre. They found their income elsewhere.
We moved from the post-war age in which all of the facilities required by any community were somehow found by humanitarians and idealists, to a different ethic in which need was assessed and prioritised by accountants. From when footballers were natives of the town and amateurs, while actors were professionals, footballers began to attract generous salaries and theatrepeople worked for artistic satisfaction only. The cherished relationship of pride and sharing that once existed between population and theatre devolved upon companies of gifted and committed amateurs who sought to serve the communities with their craft. Yet, somehow, in spite of rising costs and Equity minimums, some towns contrived to maintain their professional repertory theatres. Indeed, in a very few instances, professional theatre companies flourished. It is interesting to note that the outstanding examples of survival occurred where effort was made to understand the entertainment needs of a majority of the catchment area's people and to provide the paying public with a diet more exciting than the stodge served up in football stadia and by the mass-media. Usually, success happened where a single gifted playwright observed the population and worked his or her magic.
How sad is was then that, quite recently, it was announced that one of the few surviving professional repertory theatres - the Swan Theatre in Worcester - was about to close its doors for ever. In the style of an obituary announcement, the news item on Midlands TV said that, after the scheduled performances of "Pinoccio" were complete, the theatre would die. The reason given was that the City Council had been obliged to make budgetary cuts... what else? The amount of subsidy involved was said to be £83,000. To me, this seemed ludicrous.
Acting as your intrepid reporter and after having discussed the matter with our Editor (Jane) I began to delve. I spoke on the telephone with some of the theatre employees, with a reporter on the local newspaper and with a representative of the City Council department involved in the closure. Between these parties it was possible to formulate a fair picture of the situation as it is, and an opinion as to what perhaps should happen in the future.
Now, I belong to several companies for whom I have directed productions in the past and a couple of them occupy their own theatres; I see their annual accounts and know that it ain't easy for them to balance the books every year, but they manage. Each of them - in conurbations comparable in size with Worcester - employs an absolute minimum of full-time staff, perhaps an administrator and a couple of cleaners. All other work is done by teams of members - dedicated amateurs. I was surprised to learn that the Worcester Swan employs thirty people to run its 350-seat auditorium, together with associated activity such as catering, training and Theatre In Education. Naturally, the administrator sounded really dismal about losing her job (they are all under notice of one sort or another) and I guess we can all feel sympathy with them, especially those of us who have experienced redundancy. But it is not the end of the world and it certainly need not be the end of the Swam Theatre, Worcester. It is a beautiful, well-maintained theatre that should not be allowed to go to waste. When I asked whether amateur companies were allowed to stage productions in the Swan, the administrator rattled off the names of several local groups who did so. The council representative confirmed that the lease of the building is still held by the theatre's management committee. Nobody could (or would) describe what plans are in hand for the future use of theatre. Will it just be allowed to lie fallow and rot? OR IS THE SITE SCHEDULED FOR "REDEVELOPMENT"?
I note that the "Save Our Swan" protest group has presented a petition signed by 10,000 townspeople (in other words 16.5% of the population aged between 20 and 70 years), and it has been suggested that each of the 10,000 should be invited to contribute £8 toward replacement of the missing subsidy. A check of the website shows no interest in implementing that suggestion. Try www.thisisworcester.co.uk to see the local newspaper's latest coverage of the situation. It seems that "secret talks" are taking place to ensure the survival of The Swan, but under what system of management? Are all alternatives being explored?
My great hope is that plans are already under way with a view to assigning the lease to a competent amateur company that represents all of the user theatre groups... and nobody with a business interest in wrecking the building or "redeveloping" the site it occupies. (Why is it that I smell a profiteering rat rotting, rooting and nibbling in here somewhere?) As I write, the Worcester Swan can be rationalised into a newly vibrant theatre; it should not be vandalised into yet another office block or shopping centre.
Could it be that we Theatre Amateurs have been presented with an opportunity to unite in defence of the Worcester Swan? We could begin by joining the "SAVE THE SWAN" campaign on the internet. After all, who's to say it won't be our own theatre that becomes subject next to municipal pennypinching?
Jonah is a very experience actor, director and writer. He is also the author of the highly successful "Playmaker - The Craft of Directing Plays (The Way I Seen It)" Visit his website for more information about this invaluable text.
SWAN SONG - Updated
It was confirmed on Monday the 6th of January 2003 that the Swan Theatre would close at the end of January. There have been strong protests about the closure including a 13,000 strong petition from local people.
Councillor Stephen Inman however suggests that the Swan might continue. The lease finishes at the end of January and then returns to the Council (the freehold owners). It is then possible that new management could take over the theatre, and encourage amateur groups and touring companies to get involved. Just exactly what the plans are, nobody seems to know at the moment, but amdram.co.uk will try and keep everyone up to date.
Were you involved in the campaign? Are you a Worcester group?
The Swan Playwrights fought a long campaign to try and keep the theatre open, as well as save the jobs of the people currently employed by the theatre. They are still advocating action on their website, suggesting that people write to various people. Please visit their website and do what you can.
Jane Dickerson
8th January 2003 - There is a rumour that Labour backbenchers are meeting the licensing minister Kim Howells the the 9th of Jan to discuss this Bill. More when I find out.