|
In many ways theatre clings to traditional ways of doing things. In recent years theatres have started to make use of the Internet, mainly for advertising their wares to the public, and email, of course, has proved a real administrative boon to theatres as well as to other businesses, but some aspects of theatre practice have not changed for decades. One such area is the matching of available shows to available theatres. It's still a case of theatres contacting producers (by phone, letter or email) or producers contacting theatres (in the same ways). Next week producer Marc Sinden and Carol Macdonald are to launch a new hi-tech means of doing this job, something which could well be the most important advance for touring-theatre industry professionals since the invention of the telephone! They have created what is a unique service - UK Theatre Availability (www.UKTheatreAvailability.co.uk) - specifically aimed at the UK Theatre market. This service enables Theatres and Producers to communicate their specific needs, literally at the touch of a button. Over the last few months, during the development stage of the website, Marc and Carol have confidentially asked the views of several eminent people, on both sides of the industry, who are highly regarded and whose opinions they value and trust. Said Marc: "To say that we were thrilled at the reaction would be an understatement. The enthusiastic and very positive comments went way beyond our wildest expectations. Many asked why it had taken so long for such an obvious solution to the ever-present problem to be addressed accurately and so simply. We deliberately asked a 'civilian', (someone who actually had no connection with the theatre business at all and with only moderate computer-literacy) to pretend that they were a Theatre Manager, to visit the website and to completely alter the details of 'their theatre' and to show it's availability over the next 2 years. From scratch, it took them 7 1/2 minutes!" Once a theatre becomes a member it can input simple details about its theatre: how many seats, stage size, lighting facilities, wing space etc and then, literally, 'broadcast' its available dates to producers, touring theatre companies, local theatre companies, even television companies looking at filming theatre locations. And the annual membership is currently equivalent to less than £1 per day - for the whole theatre, no matter how many seats is in it! Mike Ockwell, General Manager of the triple venue Wycombe Swan complex, said this service would save a lot of wasted phone calls and that "Anything that will increase the contact between producers and venues is welcomed". UKTheatreAvailability.co.uk is an innovative idea that actually works, and it is based on one simple fact and one simple solution. There are theatres wanting to fill their stages, and theatre and other producers wanting to find theatres to take their productions to. The solution is that UKTheatreAvailability.co.uk offers membership allowing theatres to advertising their availability to producers, while at the same time allowing producers to advertise their production's availability. By theatre owner members and producer members cross-checking their requirements and interest, a simple call and e-mail can fill gaps in theatres and tours. And at less than £1 per day it is a cost that can cover itself in one deal. There are no additional costs beyond the annual membership, and for founder members that fee is guaranteed to never be more than £1 a day until 2007. Versions of UKTheatreAvailability.co.uk are about to roll out over the next two months for the United States, Europe and Asia, Australia and New Zealand. [this item is reproduced with permission from the `british Theatre Guide web site - www.britishtheatreguide.info) |
| British Theatre Guide web site: www.UKTheatreAvailability.co.uk |
| Peter Lathan - British Theatre Guide e-mail: |
Thursday, February 26, 2004 |
Older news
stories have been carefully archived.
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999