amy jane stephenson

Yesterday I attended a seminar about communication between dispersed communities. It was so interesting to hear from various speakers about CCD projects they’re involved in and how it’s helping not only communities in Australia but abroad also. Whilst listening to these stories it really encouraged me rethink the role of the arts in society. I mean there is performance which is outcome/product based (most likely commercial), and then there’s productions which focus on the process. By concentrating on the journey rather than the product, community groups involved can find ways to share and express their experiences with a broader audience.

However, that’s not to say commercial shows are bad, quite the contrary as they often challenge theatrical forms and are thus forever expanding the theatre stereotype. Also many product-based shows have a particular target audience, e.g. young people, so they address issues which are important to this group. And you have to admit, it’s always fantastic to see an inspiring professional show!

Both process and product-based performance have there place in the art world, it’s silly to compare them since they have such different objectives. But it is healthy to think about what techniques are used in order to ensure a performance is contributing to society in some way.