3 Reasons Your Theatre Company Should Stay Small
Intentionally Small Theatre Companies
Theatre companies, like any kind of company, are not immune to the allure of growth.
It's easy to believe that Bigger is Better, and that increased size will also equate to an increase of funding and an increased ability to produce the sort of work you'd like to produce. And to some degree, that's true. But being small can offer a lot of advantages too.
1-Every Voice Carries More Weight
What's the difference between being in a symphony and being in a punk band? Besides the dress codes, the numbers of people involved are vastly different. When it comes time to make creative decisions, how much input can one violinist have when there are thirty violinists? A violinist in the symphony, and a bassist in the punk band both consider themselves artists, but the degree of creative volition they each have varies immensely. Really, it comes down to the question: Do you want to work for an organization that values every member's input, or do you want to work at a place where you're the paid labor?
2-Focus and Agility
The more people you have working on a project, the harder it is to keep everyone on the same page. Communication is expensive, and buy-in is expensive--and you need good amounts of both in order to operate efficiently in a creative environment. Keeping your team small and agile will allow you to focus on what matters most.
3-Ability to Take Risks
Staying small allows you to take risks. The bigger and more established your company is, the less likely it is that you will be able to defy established traditions or change audience expectations. Some of the best theatre companies in the world are intentionally small for precisely this reason.
More often than not, the business sector's goal of growth-for-growth's-sake runs counter to the goals of the artist: independence, autonomy, and innovation.
If you plan on putting the art first (along with the artists who make it) then you would be wise to consider the merits of an intentionally small company structure.
