The Impact of Theatres on Our Community

BY KENDRA GEMMA

They say that all the world’s a stage, so it makes sense that local theatres have a powerful impact on their communities. Of course, they entertain and enlighten us. But their reach goes far beyond just performance. The theatre brings economic growth, educational opportunities, creative outlets, and social benefits.

Economic Growth

The health of the local economy matters to everyone who resides in the area because it affects nearly every aspect of life. All businesses, including nonprofit ones, can play a part in the strength of the financial stability of the area.

Even when most of its performances are put on by amateur actors and volunteer stagehands, the theatre still creates jobs and increases revenues for other local businesses. The theatre itself employs staff who serve in managerial, behind-the-scenes roles, who pay taxes and spend some of their income locally.

It’s not only employees who benefit financially from the theatre. Neighborhood restaurants have more patrons on show nights. Other businesses, like printers and dry cleaners, may also profit from a partnership with a local theatre.

Plus, a robust cultural scene can make a city more attractive to potential new residents, whose presence will create more economic growth down the road.

Education

In any thriving community, education extends beyond traditional schools. The learning opportunities presented by local theatres are almost too numerous to count.

Amateur actors and stagehands of all ages can hone their ability to work with others, build their self-esteem, and improve their cognition in areas like memorization and problem solving. Other interpersonal skills such as communication and compassion are also developed through the theatre.

Those working behind the scenes can pick up or sharpen their sewing, carpentry, or design know-how. Some theatres even have workshops for aspiring playwrights, songwriters, and makeup artists, to name a few.

Many theatres offer teachers and homeschooling parents special programs that present classic literature adaptations on stage, offer interactive study guides, or other entertaining ways to educate kids.

Creativity

Of course, the theatre is often an inspiring place. Actors try out new ways to deliver a line. Costumers choose how to dress the performers. Choreographers devise dance sequences. Set designers create backdrops. Directors come up with inventive staging techniques. And the audience members themselves may feel compelled to write or draw or compose something new in response to the play or musical they watched.

Sparking creativity doesn’t just lead to producing an expressive outcome, although that in itself is valuable for mental wellbeing. It’s also important to cultivate creativity because it can ultimately improve our community and our world at large. Innovative thinking is what solves problems, helps people adapt to change, and become more productive.

Social Interaction

In our modern-day world of video games, virtual meetings, and AI, almost everyone has taken to hiding behind screens, losing the ability to socialize in person. This is especially true of kids today, who often spend a lot of their free time alone or only interacting with others online. Older adults sometimes become isolated as they grow older. Both populations, and those in between, can benefit from the social interactions afforded by participating in the theatre.

By joining a theatre troupe or taking a class, residents can meet neighbors they might not have come into contact with otherwise. Not only is this a great way to make new friends, but it can also expose people to others who might not share a common age group or ethnicity. The latter allows for a greater understanding of different people’s needs and ideas, potentially leading to less divisiveness and more caring.

In addition, the cast and crew of any production have one main goal – to entertain their audience. No one can do this solo. Everyone must work as a team to ultimately achieve this goal together. A shared sense of accomplishment is satisfying and reinforces the importance of teamwork in our society.

By supporting our local theatres, as a patron, as a donor, or as a participant, we can enhance our personal enjoyment of our community and make it a better place to live for our neighbors, too. So, buy tickets for a show this fall, volunteer, and perhaps audition for a role. See you at the theatre!