ABSTRACT
Small-scale groups are those of under ten people, usually only about four or five. The technical possibilities with this number of people are much greater; a bigger set can be erected for each performance but more importantly some members can hold the attention while others are engaged in other things. This could be supporting the main action with live music or visual effects, or preparing for the next sequence. For example, costumes can be changed, which gives an almost unlimited number of characters. This means that a story-line is possible; many groups of this size contain actors who would call their work ‘theatre’ rather than performers doing shows. Having more people also shares the responsibility for the success and failure of the show, which can reduce stress on one level. However, the internal organisation necessary for the required co-operation can raise other areas of stress.
