Introducing The Now

Introduction

The challenges of being an actor, designer, writer, painter, musician, or any member of the artistic community are twofold: the first being the challenge of getting work, and introducing yourself to an industry or community that can aid you in your development, and the second, constantly coping with the disappointment of having all the ability, creativity and “talent” necessary, but no outlet. Bearing these thoughts in mind, it has come to my attention that there are too many people in this world facing these challenges on a daily basis. We, as the next generation of artists, need to be seen and heard. It is imperative that our ability to create lasting and affective commentaries on our society be matched equally in both enthusiasm, and in professional opportunities in order to accommodate this new influx of artistic voices.
What I am proposing is a venue for this influx to be incubated. Not a theatre. Not a museum, or a gallery, but just a space. A space to put on plays or concerts; a space to show artwork and movies; a space to give and receive speeches, and, hopefully, a space to combine all of these elements. I am proposing we create an open space, created by and for the people hoping to change the condition of artistic affairs. All of this enthusiasm and optimism must be shouldered by a group of people who are as hardheaded as they are talented; a group of people dedicated to maintaining both the artistic and practical integrity of such a space. For what is this space if not a resource? And resources, of course, must be fostered and cared for in order to prove beneficial. What this space needs is a group of people who want to nurture and take care of it, and I think those people will be easy to find.
What is the purpose of this space? Quite selfishly, its purpose will be to showcase what its members can offer to the growing artistic community. While this space will serve as a creative fertile-ground, it will also seek to challenge to nature of the Entertainment Industry itself. Through this space, we will conduct a showbusiness experiment. We hope to manipulate the old system of headshots, portfolios, cattle-call auditions and artistic-representation. It is my great hope that this space will serve as a template for a new era in the artistic world. But I digress. Most importantly, The Now Theatre will be a means for people to create what they want based on what they care about and not based on what will sell or pay their rent. This theatre should function as a tool to help artists get exposure and work. It is unlikely that this space will provide anyone with a steady paycheck, so its objective should be to educate company members about their craft outside of a school setting, learning through trial and error, perseverance and dedication.
In light of all this experimentation and artistic education, it is important that this ensemble focuses on the integrity of its material. The plays will be chosen for what the literature says, who it affects, and how it can change or educate. We, as a group of artists and storytellers, have a duty to push the limit, to create tension and confusion where necessary, and to force discussion out of people. Ideal art should be a conversation, with both sides working hard to provide arguments, rebuttals, and, more generally, to improve humanity. With these ideas in mind it is imperative that the group picks material that doesn’t influence thought or impose ideas, but material that opens minds and sparks conversations about what is happening in our world. The same will be expected of painters, writers, and musicians. The need to discuss and educate is the single thread that connects all disciplines in art, and that thread is something that this group is going to focus on most.
Lastly, what to do about a name? Names, like ideas, I am told, are a dime a dozen. However, a title is important if it is to accurately inform people of what we are planning to create. The question now is how to do that without sounding pretentious or amateur. My friends at the Rogue Theatre seem to have perfected this. A name like The Rogue is a wonderful combination of playfulness and a defining purpose. With much thought, I have come to the conclusion crowning this group, space and idea “The Now Theatre”. This name clearly illustrates the characteristics that I am trying to put forth. “The Now”, to me, says ‘Immediate Theatre’ as defined by Peter Brooks; raw, current, energetic, and strong theatre is what we, as a group, will create.


The Now Theatre
Matthew Bowdren
Artistic Director