Steph Gratton

Throughout this strange time of digital information, a global pandemic and everything in between, sometimes the one thing you need is to get away from it all. From the panic, the misinformation online, the anger – we all need to take breaks. For many of us over the last eighteen months (and counting), streaming services like Netflix, Disney+ and Spotify have been saving graces in the world of Web 2.0. With this notion of experiencing relief and joy in mind, I’d like to introduce you to Chookas – a streaming service specifically for Australia’s performing arts.

As the video above discusses, there are a few different concepts that this new service can provide. One is to give a voice to Australia’s struggling Arts community, wherein performances to live audiences have all too often been cancelled or postponed due to the rapidly changing nature of COVID-19. In hosting these filmed versions online and enabling audiences to subscribe on a monthly or yearly basis, said audiences will be able to choose from a plethora of plays and musicals, each of them featuring a predominantly Australian cast and crew in its portrayal. In fact, the name itself, ‘Chookas’, is Australian acting slang that is essentially the equivalent of saying ‘good luck’ to an actor. Through placing an emphasis on the near specifically Australian casts of actors and crew members alike, I hope to maintain the air of inclusivity that both actors of all backgrounds and Australians of all walks of life strive for.

Among the other aforementioned benefits towards the Arts sector on a country wide level, as well as being made by Australian theatre goers FOR Australian theatre goers, another strength for this program is that there is really nothing like it. While there are other streaming services – most of us use them regularly, after all – and some of those feature musicals, there are very limited performance-based services and none that have such a focus on local productions. A further key benefit is the addition of both larger, internationally owned shows with an Australian touring cast as well as these localised productions. As mentioned in the video, there will ideally be some shows you do know and some you have no idea what they are – and that’s what we’re after. We would love nothing more than for you to gain an experience through watching a performance that you never would have got to see in-person.

On a service front, Chookas main goal is to be easily accessible for our customers, enabling you to have as much ease in your usage as possible. One such feature that enables this is the pricing – I absolutely understand that some shows, especially the most popular ones, are often way, way out people’s price range. Add in the global pandemic, and it is incredibly difficult to find and watch live theatre programs, even more so during restrictions and lockdowns. Our subscription tiers range from monthly (AUS$10.00) to yearly (AUS$90.00), which is a similar price range to most film and television streaming services, and always gives you full access to our library of shows and acts, which would ideally hold over 200 performances and productions before the end of its first year under public release.

Another key feature for this start-up is that the performances stay there as long as they are licensed to. One very noticeable aspect that has changed for the better over the course of the last year is that many theatre companies are livestreaming their shows to a digital audience in addition to fitting in the in-person attendees. However, in saying this, these recordings of casts are often not able to be re-watched at a later date, which leaves it similar to live theatre. We recognise that sometimes, you get the urge to just re-watch something you greatly enjoyed and that is why we wholeheartedly believe in providing an on-demand service.

Credit: Netflix at home (https://flic.kr/p/97wvEk) by MoneyBlogNewz (CC BY 2.0)

It’s all very well and good to be saying all of this, but there would also be some risks and limits to the implementation of this service. One large example is the act of partnering with theatres and theatre companies can be difficult in starting out. A way to mitigate this issue would be prioritise the contact and negotiation phase of the licensing agreement to ensure that all stakeholders involved – that includes the theatres, us and you at home – receive the best outcome imaginable.

During the pandemic, we have all grown as both individuals and as a nation. More than ever, people are getting up and supporting Australian-based businesses. Now, we kindly ask, from one lover of theatre to others, to please consider our concept and help back the arts sector!