Straight Answers

Theatre person,On new spaces forculture.There is aneed for performing spaces that have been specifically built for theatre. Thesecould be formal or informal spaces. The city has grown and getting to venues isbecoming more and more difficult. Existing spaces are largely administered bypeople renting out venues. They have little interest in the arts. I hope newspaces will encourage theatre to be more interactive and community-based.Yes. One can hold training sessions,workshops, organise discussion groups, interactive sessions andlecture-demonstrations in these places. While the emphasis will be on theatre,other performing arts will beencompassed.Since the new venueshave a smaller seating capacity, which is how it should be, there should be moreshows of good quality plays. Instead of a company rehearsing for weeks and thendoing two or three shows, they should be able to do a proper run of two weeks orso. Each space should build up its own loyal audience from the surroundingcommunity.Hopefully we are going to see morehigh-quality performances and regular annual festivals. Show timings may bechanged to suit people''s lifestyles. Theatre, whether informal or formal, willbe brought back to the community instead of alienating the audiences in large,unsuitable halls.