Crisis in confidence in Australian content

A few comments hit home for me as an exasperated audience member, regarding the lack of support for Australian content.

Playwright Lachlan Philpott at #fastBREAK Sydney Writers Festival edition May 20 2011:

‘Australia has a crisis in confidence in our own content.

While US etc have a policy of around 90% domestic content, in Australia its about 15%. A stat from Sydney Theatre, last year 3 out of 12 plays were Australian.

Not to say we shouldnt see things from overseas, but confidence in our own content needs support to grow. And I’m not sure about you, but I am a little sick of seeing Shakespeare performed over and over again. Not that it he wasnt brilliant, but if the music world ran on covers of The Beatles, I think we’d be in trouble.’

I am frustrated as an audience member. I am frustrated as I see hugely talented musicians, writers, and filmakers struggle while poor quality overseas productions get airtime, and the excuse for domestic content is made up of shows rehashed from ideas sprung overseas. Struggle with unrelated jobs, struggle with ridiculous funding submission requirements, struggle to maintain the momentum of their creativity.

Lachlan started with a question, ‘When was the last time you saw a play? Was it an Australian play?’

I can answer it was last week, and it was - mostly because I was accompanying a playwright friend. I need to remember my frustration and use it to spur my motivation independantly. And I reckon this looks like the next assertive action I will take http://www.griffintheatre.com.au/whats-on/silent-disco/