Step behind the velvet curtain and into the dramatic world of Western Australian theatre with a revealing new book that chronicles decades of artistic passion, personality clashes, and precarious productions.
Bums on Seats: An Unofficial History of Theatre in WA offers a candid look at the state's performing arts scene through the eyes of Ron Banks, former arts editor of The West Australian newspaper.
A Front-Row Seat to History
Banks brings his unique perspective from 25 years covering the arts beat, delivering insider accounts of the triumphs, disasters, and sheer determination that shaped WA's theatrical landscape. From makeshift productions in community halls to multimillion-dollar performances in state-of-the-art venues, this book captures it all.
More Than Just Reviews
This isn't your typical dry historical account. Banks focuses on the human stories behind the productions—the visionary directors, temperamental actors, dedicated stage crews, and passionate audiences who kept the curtain rising despite countless challenges.
'Theatre in Western Australia has always been a story of passion over practicality,' Banks observes. 'What fascinated me were the personalities who refused to take 'no' for an answer, who mounted productions against all odds, and the audiences who supported them through thin and thinner.'
From Fringe to Mainstage
The book traces the evolution from amateur theatrical societies to professional companies, including:
- The birth of major institutions like the Perth Theatre Company
- Groundbreaking productions that put WA on the national arts map
- The ongoing struggle for funding and audience engagement
- Memorable opening nights—both glorious and disastrous
For anyone who's ever waited in anticipation for house lights to dim or marvelled at the transformation of an empty stage into another world, Bums on Seats offers a compelling backstage pass to the drama behind the drama.
