Keith Bosler, director of the independent theatre scene, shares his insight on the challenges of pursuing a passion for the arts when financial rewards can be hard to come by.
Seasoned director in the independent theatre scene, St Leonards resident Keith Bosler, has 17 years of experience in the art industry. Although he has written, directed and acted on Sydney stages, he recognises the intricacies of pursuing the arts in Australia.
An unwavering passion always fuelled Keith’s path to the theatre world. Keith is a writer, producer director who loves comedy. “There’s a wonderful old Somerset Maugham quote: ‘They don’t write because they want to, they write because they have to.’ The innate desire to create drives artists, even in the face of financial uncertainty,” he chuckles.
To Keith, the journey of an independent artist requires talent, determination, and commitment, especially in a country where financial rewards are often elusive and independent artists often need another revenue stream.
Keith’s journey into directing was born out of a love for writing. He values directing as a means to bring his own written works to life and as a way to participate in the creative process. One of his notable projects is a reworked version of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, which he adapted as a comedy The Importance of Being Earnest Expedited.
“To follow that in this country generally means that you won’t make money from that. You need another revenue stream to survive,” he says. “I have a part-time job as well. Otherwise, I couldn’t maintain my career as an independent artist. To do a play requires a great amount of time and effort in preparation. I am very grateful to have the support of friends and my wife and children; it would be hard to do without them.”
He works as a development manager and fundraiser for the Sydney Fringe, an organisation he deeply admires for supporting the independent arts sector. The Sydney Fringe Festival is New South Wales’s most prominent independent arts festival, presenting over 450 events across greater Sydney each year.
“Sydney Fringe has a vital role in providing performance venues for artists who struggle to find suitable spaces,” he says.
“There is an ongoing struggle to persevere, to keep going in that environment when it is challenging to do what we do,” he admits. “And after COVID-19, it is not easy to find venues to perform in, not only in the city but also on the Lower North Shore and the Northern Beaches.”
“But we (artists) overcome it by understanding that we’re doing this to have fun,” Keith explains. “The love for our craft and the joy of working together keeps us going.”
The rewards are not primarily financial, but stem from the fulfilment of pursuing one’s artistic purpose and, for Keith, the most satisfying aspect of his work is the audience’s laughter. “The laughter, by far, is the most rewarding thing,” he smiles. “I measure the success of a production by the enjoyment it brings to the audience.”
Keith firmly believes that supporting independent artists is crucial for any vibrant city. “Independent artists are the city’s lifeblood. They bring vibrancy, colour, light, and shade. They inject diversity and creativity to make the city a more attractive place to live”.
And for aspiring artists, Keith says: “Life is too short, and they should push, follow their heart, follow their dreams every time.”