Pensando o(s) público(s) do Teatro Martim Gonçalves

Abstract

This dissertation approaches the theater audience and, more specifically, the audience of Teatro Martim Gonçalves (Martim Gonçalves Theater), which belongs to the Theater School of Federal University of Bahia (Escola de Teatro da Universidade Federal da Bahia). At first, through a perspective that puts and holds the audience always in sight, the work raises some historical information about the Theater School and its founder and first director, Eros Martim Gonçalves. Based on this context, through official reports and old bordereaux from the box office that were recovered, a large volume of data is presented regarding the spectators who have been in the Martim Gonçalves Theater between the years 2009 and 2018. Given the maximum capacity of the audience, 192 seats, the average audience of the theater productions that were on display during that time is calculated and reported. We then set out for a reflective argumentation, dialoguing with authors who have dedicated themselves to researching, understanding, and theorizing the problems and nuances of the relationship between audience and theater. Some fundamental points related to the theme and object of the study are discussed, outlining management, communication, and marketing strategies that can be applied to the Martim Gonçalves Theater, so that new audiences can be attracted to the space, besides the existing ones being maintained.