This article has been written by Maureen, the newest member of the Unreality team. Welcome aboard Maureen!

From approximately April this year there has been talk on the grapevine of searching for and creating a new musical theatre stage star, for the role of Maria in one of London’s many West End Theatres. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber did own ten of these London Theatres at my last count and according to recent economic reviews, into there financial health a few are floundering to attract full houses over a length of time. One could say once a show has run its course, than that is it, how can you possibly revive it. Should you spend more on a few more lavish sets and change your major players, who can tell what the best course of action will be against the nations fickle musical tastes?

So Andrew this time round, intends to invest 4 million pounds on the latest production of, ‘ The Sound Of Music’ . Spending on this scale is obviously an investment, and I am going to say outright it is not being done for truly artistic reasons but rather with a serious expected return to counteract some of the shows that have had a down turn in profits. Nevertheless, by sheer enormity of the indiginous population count and with tourist figures escalating everyday for London, 4 million pounds could easily be recouped into the bank with a good year or less of ticket sales.

So the hunt has been on for a new Maria, the final of this hunt is on Saturday on BBC 1 at 6.45 pm. Whoever, is chosen by the viewers to be the next Maria Von Trapp with in the view point of the UK’s biggest theatre Producer one David Ian must appeal to the public and sell tickets. Will it be Waitress, Helena Blackman, 23,… or fashion student, Siobhan Dillon, 21, …or the peoples favourite- call centre operator, Connie Fisher, 23?

Over the last few years reality TV has certainly attracted the public eye, it has brought to the viewers attention ordinary everyday people and enabled the showcasing of both the talentless and the talented. I suppose you could say this is home grown entertainment for the first time elevated by television, marketing, merchandising. For the lucky ones who win, they have not had to succeed the hard way, by toil, grind, years of study and having to stay motivated in a negative world, where rejection is the norm.

Curiosity though at this point, makes me wonder why if we have so many talented people in Britain, why they don’t join in there local provincial theatre companies? These companies have for members good amateurs, semi professionals and people of professional standing. The shows the majority of them produce , grant it – do not run for years. Furthermore, they haven’t had the same level of investment – that theatres in the capital would have. Some companies have to beg for every penny of sponsorship from private investors and the rest is raised via charitable events and a little from arts bodies. There shows do not have the lavishly expensive sets and beautifully finished stage outfits many a production will cost somewhere within the region of 25k to 40k all in, just for a week or less. Rather sad, that once they have these funds the shows run for such a short spell and are every bit as good and in quite a few better performances by far, than some musicals in the capital, I have seen over the years. The reason their shows are so good, is that the members of such companies are very talented, just as dedicated and gifted to the art of performing – but the greatest of all is that they possess a love of music second to none.

Is it possible that the contestants of reality TV talent shows tell themselves the grass is greener in the capital than it is at home?

Provincial theatres do struggle to survive, many have closed down which is a crying shame. So if all the provincial theatres close where will the next generation of Maria Von Trapps get the opportunity to perform and develop? Surely, the Capital alone can not fulfill the artistic needs of the nation?

MAUREEN