Entrepreneurial theatre management: creating opportunity and community in times of adversity

Abstract

The creative industries, particularly theatre, grapple with numerous challenges including economic instability and fierce competition for limited resources. The COVID-19 pandemic made the landscape even more precarious, leading to significant job losses for artists and organisations. Success in the creative industries, including theatre, now demands strategic planning and a readiness to take calculated risks. Responding to these issues, this research explores the innovative strategies used by regional theatre entrepreneurs focusing on entrepreneurial bricolage. Entrepreneurial bricolage is a creative method to leverage available resources to tackle challenges and can be utilised by theatre entrepreneurs to gain a competitive edge. Focusing on 13 fringe and community theatres in Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast, Queensland, this research explores the effectiveness of bricolage among theatre managers through semi-structured interviews. Four key themes emerged from the thematic analysis of these interviews: (1) collaborative bricolage; (2) proactivity; (3) community engagement; and (4) specific support needs. Network tensions, community resource utilisation, and entrepreneurial behaviour within regional theatres are addressed in these themes. The insights gained from this research provide valuable guidance for decision-makers and stakeholders as they navigate the evolving theatre landscape.