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On The Scene – Some Insight from Mary Lou Jelbart From fortyfivedownstairs
Image Courtesy of Peter Tarasiuk
We speak to Mary Lou Jelbart, Artistic Director at fortyfivedownstairs and a veteran of the independent theatre scene. She tells us about how diverse and exciting the local scene is, and where to turn for further inspiration.
By Tessa Mineo
Theatres such as fortyfivedownstairs, La Mama, The Dog Theatre and Red Stitch Actors Theatre are paving the way by producing innovative shows and forging a genuine sense of unity in the Melbourne theatre scene. Often utilising community support to realise their productions, a lot of independent theatres in this town have managed to prosper and deliver us some of the most exciting shows in years.
“You only have to look at the Fringe Festival to get an idea of the overwhelming amount of work that’s being created,” urges Mary Lou Jelbart. The Artistic Director of longstanding Flinders Lane space fortyfivedownstairs is full of praise for the work of theatre directors such as The Dog’s Peta Hanrahan and companies like La Mama and Arts House, for their creative contribution to the theatre world in Melbourne. By bringing independent theatre companies to areas such as Footscray, Brunswick and Northcote, the industry has been able to grow via exposure to new audiences.
When looking for shows to include in the theatre’s program, Jelbart has to be “moved, excited, delighted by the ideas, the text, the individuals involved in the work. I really rely on my instinct.” Jelbart’s instincts have often proved correct, with industry successes pouring out of the doors of her theatre. “The fact that only a tiny handful of productions in 10 years has disappointed is also testament to the extraordinary depth of talent that there is in this city,” she says.
The talent Jelbart raves about has the potential to go toe-to-toe with theatre heavyweights across the world. With cities like Berlin embracing independent theatre, for example, the past decade has seen the German capital transform its industry into one of the top theatre production communities in the world. But as Jelbart suggests, the success and longevity of independent theatre relies on increased attention and exposure.
“I hear such wonderful things about what's happening in Berlin, everyone I know is going there and coming back with great tales of the vibrant city. We have the potential here, too”.
Without increased support, however, it is difficult for independent theatres to compete with the industry bigwigs, Jelbart contends. But while many small, independent theatres continue to open and close after short runs (due tight budgets), Jelbart remains positive about the outlook for Melbourne’s independent scene.
Praising the longevity of fortyfivedownstairs (which is in its 10th season) and other companies of a similar vintage, such as Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Jelbart believes that if a performance is powerful enough, it will draw the attention it deserves despite the competitive nature of the industry. “If a show has a powerful attraction, it doesn’t much matter when it goes on!”
On the whole, Melbourne’s independent theatre scene is thriving, with small companies popping up all over the city in pockets that have previously been disregarded by the theatre world. By spreading the wings of the industry, it means a more diverse audience is exposed to a more diverse range of productions.
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