New Audiences' Reception of Plays: Before, During and After

Abstract

This paper provides insight into the reception of non-theatregoers to a selection of plays performed in Queensland and the Northern Territory in 2004 and 2005. This data was collected and analysed as part of a three-year regional audience development project: Talking Theatre: An audience development programme for regional Queensland and the Northern Territory (2004-2006). The research was funded by the Australian Research Council, N.A.R.P.A.C.A. <outbind://24/#_ftn1>, Arts Queensland, Arts Northern Territory, and the Queensland University of Technology. 'Talking Theatre' sought to build new audiences both in the short and long terms for performing arts centres (P.A.C.s) participating in the project. The research endeavoured to develop a profile of non-theatregoers in regional areas, to understand their reasons for non-attendance, and to discover their reactions to live performances, and to the PACs which presented them.