It’s a new dawn… it’s a new day…
- June 7th, 2012
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Yesterday I made a decision.
A big decision.
My life, my lifestyle, my body of work, my mindset, my future direction will be changed utterly with this one decision.
The decision is this: I will not be reviewing theatre.
I will be honouring my current review commitments which extend for the next 3 weeks – but will not be accepting any more invitations to review.
Quite a few events have lead to this decision, and it hasn’t been made lightly.
I had hoped that I could publicly reflect on my theatre to stimulate debate, discussion and to publicize excellent work being produced in Sydney. Initially I started reviewing in 2007 for AustralianStage to be able to see as much as I could and acquaint myself with the works of as many companies and artists as possible (having landed in Sydney after working in Canada). The aim was to build a network and compendium of cultural reflections.
Since then I have written for many websites – and gathered so much material that at a friend’s suggestion I needed to keep in one place… to ensure I could keep it – that was how augustasupple.com was created in early 2009. Somehow my blog blossomed into an internationally quoted and referenced site… and invitations from publishers, festivals, shows, companies, visual artists and venues started flooding my inbox. Up to twenty invites a day – and then personal emails, text messages about the material. My readership was hitting between 100-800 page views a day from all over Australia, Europe and North America.
Along side this has been abusive, late night phone calls, threats, intimidation, name calling, harassment – everything from snarky emails and tweets about my spelling and opinions – to forceful character assassinations via psuedonyms on Twitter/Facebook/log Comment/email, manipulative and nasty lengthy emails about my duty to review “so-and-so’s latest show” and even threats of physical intidation.
All whilst completely unpaid.
On top of this blog, I have continued to provide feedback and development opportunitites and production support and I have directed, produced, advised, consulted and created work for over 600 people in the last six years.
However, I have been advised that I am seen as a “them” not an “us” by theatre companies – sitting down to job interviews and having the first question asked “How’s the blogosphere, Gus?”
Despite my altruistic intent – to support artists and provide a critical framework for local artists – to promote excellence and the future theatre makers of tomorrow, I was seen as a “critic” not a “friend” of a company.
I have made the decision that from July 1st (as soon as my current obligations are fulfilled.) I will only be writing about companies and projects that I am directly involved with as an artist (director, producer, board member, playwright, dramaturg, script assessor, rehearsal observer).
Here’s some things on the horizon:
Write Here, Write Now (workshops for playwrights)
A View From Moving Windows (a multi-playwright project I’m directing for True West, Riverside Theatres)
The Arts Platform ( a new creative development space opening in Surry Hills – I’m the Programs Director)
Platonic (a development at NIDA with the 7-On Playwrights)
Shopfront (I am continuing my role on the Board, now as Board Secretary.)
This site will now be about my projects, the people I am working with, portraits of programs or companies I am working for or running.
Thank you to all those who have been supportive of me making this decision. For all who have protected me, or soothed me after brutal or heated private attacks. Thank you to the artists I have loved and known… thank you to my fellow critical colleagues especially James Waites, Kevin Jackson , Jane Howard, Diana Simmonds, John McCallum, Jason Blake and Alison Croggon and Cameron Woodhead.
Thank you, Gus. Thank you for being someone who I read for years before I met; thank you for giving me a much greater view of Sydney theatre – particularly independent theatre; thank you for making me think of the ways I see and respond to work; thank you for being a friend and a co-manic-ATF blogger and making me feel much more comfortable in that forum that I ever would have alone; thank you for continuing to be a fantastic friend across state borders. I’ll miss your reviews, but look forward to reading about the work you’re making. Hopefully I’ll get to come see some of that work, too.
x Jane
Well DUH!
Ofcourse you were are are seen as a “them”- you very publicily review work and present yourself as someone no different to the other reviewers in Sydney.
I think this is an excellent descision- thank you for your contributions and congratulations on the success of your site. However you present an all knowing perspective on work that is hard to take seriously because at the same time you are pursuing your own career as someone who wants to be reviewed by the peer group you are now leaving.
I would think the industry will benefit greatly from Augusta the artist, struggling, getting rejected, auditioning, submitting work and creating work- and ultimately succeeding in all your endevours I hope. I think it is unwise to present yourself as someone who is at the very top of theatre craft when in reality you are an up and coming artist who it would be delightful to collaborate with….without feeling like one is an underling to your all knowing ways.
I will watch with anticipation to see if you publish a double edged annonymous response. The descision to do this without a name is simply because I do not wish to get into a public war. My comments are however, as you outlined, not just mine.
Dear Gosh Golly,
I have claimed to be a blogger, not a critic – and there is a difference. And despite this – I have been produced, have directed for, worked with many theatres.
And I have always talked personally about my projects and my work.
I have only ever done publicly what many artists do privately which is reflect on work they have seen…
I have also NEVER EVER EVER presented my self as top of my theatre craft. I am one of many who contribute to a conversation.
I have always declared my hand – declared my interests and my conflicts and that is why I link to reviews by other people.
I have always written under my own name in good faith that the industry is not as juvenile, nor nasty, nor negative as many assume.
“Anonymous” people who respond, as you have – a “DUH” attack – vindicates my decision even more.
I’m not into war – I’m into discussion – and generally I don’t indulge cowards, but on this occasion I am glad to be able to show people your “double edged” response as an example of one of the many daily attacks I receive in the hope that it shows the nicest end of the spectrum of personal attack I receive on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.
Thanks Gus for what you have brought to debate online. But I think you have made the right decision – and I look forward to what emerges from your creative side over the next few years.
xxJames
Congratulations Gus on all the unpaid hours you have put in to the development of a culture of discourse around contemporary theatre.
Thanks also for your support of the Seymour. Your words always helpful. Good luck for this next stage in the old career development. Hope to see you on 20 June. In the diary? (No need to write about it at all!) T
I think it is very sad you have recieved threats and levels the levels of abuse you describe. However the industry is very small and you are a woman who (despite what you say) lists her responses on her website under the tab “reviews” so regardless- perspective is that you are a reviewer, that you attend opening nights as a reviewer, are invited to opening nights because you are a reviewer and so I know this rubs people up the wrong way as you also champion your own work- so I think you have made the best descision you could- be an artist, be an excellent artist, and don’t be a reviewer. Actors, directors, writers, producers etc etc get together and discuss work as peers- that is what we do- if we see things we like we share it with our friends on facebook by changing our status to “I just saw an awsome show at the Fitz” or we discuss work and what is happening over wine….. you don’t need to write reviews online, where you don’t know who reads them or have control over the perspective it gives of you. Keep your comments to the people who are keep to talk about things with you… leave the reviewing to the people at are reviewers and not trying to make a career for themselves infront of the reviewers- welcome to the team
Well, as long as your still writing something on your blog I’ll turn up to read it. No doubt your projects will be just as thrilling, if not more so. Thanks Gus xo
Gus,
You are the most inspiring, focused, eloquent, determined, passionate, driven, hopeful and intelligent theatre practitioner that I’ve ever met.
I’ve tried so hard to write something that would leave out the coward above who took a parting shot at you but I can’t. Please ignore this hopeless recreant. There is no integrity in a silent assassination.
Everyone that has worked with you knows that you have always been, and always will be a source of inspiration for all of us, and you will outlast all the haters anyway!
I’m sorry to hear about the abuse you have received and want to say thanks heaps for the great work you have done as a blogger. All the best for your continued artistic endeavours and I will keep reading the blog!
Thanks Jane,
You are a wonderful asset to SA, and Australian theatre blogging on the whole – it is a difficult terrain and you have the personal courage and intellect to make a difference – and I believe you are.
I will of course continue to read and be a fan of your writing and thinking and look forward to our next cup of tea – in whichever state or context it may be.
Thank you.
G
X
Thanks for your support always James – you have been such a massive inspiration and a great friend – from the very first anonymous poison-pen right through to all of my creative ventures.
Thank you for seeing what I’ve been working on – and for appreciating it’s place in the wild rambling scheme of things.
Yes indeed Golly Gosh, it is sad.
But for the record, I will not ever be a part of the team you propose – because I want to be a part of a team that has faith that their industry and the people in it. A team that knows it is strong enough to handle discussion with names and identities attached – where ever they come from. I have great faith in my colleagues and peers – and even when I disagree with them – I have always respected the fact that to put your name to something shows courage in your convictions.
I also don’t believe in the dichotomy you seem to believe in – I simply don’t believe in an “us” and “them” – we are all a part of the one community and the one conversation. The portrait you paint of discussing over wine and huddling together to me cuts out a healthy dialogue from those who don’t have a “make work with me” agenda.
Also – just so you know – most opening night lists, list me as a “blogger” – which is different to “reviewer” – but as blogger isn’t as old as the notion of “critic” or “reviewer” – I understand why so many struggle with it.
As far as I am concerned the anonymous writer is a coward. And you prove the point that writing under my own name, my own thoughts has been a big and risky thing to do. But in order to create healthy and transparent dialogue – that is, in my opinion, a non-negotiable aspect of conversation.
I also have confidence in the theatre community – especially those that know me and my work as a director, producer and dramaturg that they know when I attend opening nights under whatever title that I am there to celebrate their work, their vision, their passion. And I always go in expecting to support and delight in what I see.
But my decision is not about this either/or identity ultimatum – it is about my life. It is about my time and where I need to focus my energies. Had all what you say about rubbing people the wrong way/being seen as an all-knowing underling was true – I doubt I’d be in the position of having the quantity of work that I currently have for the next 12 months. This decision is about being able to have a lifestyle – and get my laundry done – and not having to deal with the nasty threats and intimidation tactics from cowards and bullies – which I still believe are in the minority in our industry.
Good luck, Augusta! I hope this means that you escape some of those slings and arrows. They can get very wearing and demoralising at a personal level, but maybe the worst thing is how little they contribute to creating a culture of discussion. From here, Sydney does seem a lot more “them” and “us” than Melbourne does; not that relationships between critics and practitioners ought to be cosy, but there is definitely room for the understanding that we’re all here because theatre matters to us, whatever our differences of approach and opinion.
Putting your own work first can be a real struggle of will when you’re running a blog – don’t I know it! Blogs are monsters. But it’s a necessary thing to do.
All the best Gus,
You walked that wobbly line between critical observer and hopeful maker very elegantly. Most wouldn’t have the bottle.
See you IRL as they say,
Dear Augusta – as a newbie to your blog let me just say how much I have enjoyed your erudite contribution to theatre discussion in Sydney. Your input will be sorely missed. The mainstream media’s coverage of theatre and the wider arts is so shallow and invariably reductive. Your views were always enlightening. Good luck with the renewed focus on your practice and I am already looking forward to your next production. Lets hope your so busy with new work that you still don’t get time to do the washing.
I have always enjoyed reading your blog Gus. You have brought an authentic and positive voice to ‘the conversation’, and I think that that means a lot to both artists and audiences. All the best for future endeavours!
Dear Augusta,
As a member of the general public new to the theatre scene, I have been inspired by your blog to set out my thoughts on theatre to help inform others but also myself. I have enjoyed reading your blog for many years and am sad to see you stop, but also appreciate the effort you have made and the ideas you have contributed to theatre. I wish you every success with your new ventures and look forward to following them on here. Best of luck and thank you again.
A bit of a newbie to reading blogs and the like and I have enjoyed reading your thoughts, seeing what is happening in other parts of this land and following your links to other bloggers. Good luck with everything (especially the grant writing) and have a peek at Newcastle every now and then.