Is there any chance of post-traumatic growth, whereby bad habits and broken systems no longer need to be accepted or protected? Can industries or public services become stronger with new learning about what really matters and with new energy to close inequality gaps and failed economic structures? In this episode of The Possibility Club, we focus on British theatre. As Peter Brook once sort-of said, all a performer needs in order to tell a story is an empty space and an audience. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, these are the two things that have been denied, unless done remotely. More people went to the theatre in 2019 than attended a football match, but there is the perception that theatre is for tourists or for the rich. The literati and well-heeled. So, when when lockdown affects all businesses, all jobs and the government has to make tough choices - surely theatre is not our priority? Answering our questions in this episode are four people who rightly disagree. Claire, the drama teacher; Naomi, the director; Louise, the producer and Alastair - whose touring company plays in over 60 UK and USA venues per year. Why is theatre important? Have the digital broadcasts and online productions shown innovation or diluted the artform? Without theatre, what do we miss most? The UK arts is in a critical and dangerous m place at the moment, and whilst these recordings were made before the government pledged to save our ‘cultural treasures’, the future of the regional, grassroots and developmental theatre that is the pipeline for writers, actors, directors and designers is very uncertain. --- Useful links: Brighton People's Theatre / www.brightonpeoplestheatre.org The Original Theatre Company / https://originaltheatreonline.com/ Stagecoach (Wokingham) / https://www.stagecoach.co.uk/wokingham Louise Blackwell / https://www.louiseb.co.uk/ Slung Low / https://www.slunglow.org/ GIFT Festival / https://www.giftfestival.co.uk/ Company 3 / https://www.company3.com/ ----- Thank you to everyone who generously contributed their thoughts and expertise on this episode. We’ll be debating the issues raised at www.thepossibilityclub.org - and we really want to know what you think. Please like, subscribe and write a review if you get a second! The Possibility Club is an always possible podcast, produced by Chris Thorpe Tracey for Lo Fi Arts.
