Fabricated Players begin marketing shows to unborn audiences

THE Fabricated Players have launched an ambitious new marketing strategy targeting people who have not yet been born in an attempt to secure the future of amateur theatre.

The scheme was introduced after the society’s publicity team concluded that repeatedly advertising productions to the same 400 local Facebook users was producing “diminishing returns”.

Publicity officer Amanda said: “Everyone talks about attracting younger audiences.

“We’ve decided to get ahead of the competition.”

The society will now begin promoting productions to children due to be born over the next nine months, with the ultimate aim of converting them into regular theatregoers by approximately 2045.

Amanda said: “Most societies wait until people are 20 or 30 before trying to reach them.

“By then they’ve already developed interests.”

The campaign begins during pregnancy.

Expectant parents will be offered a Fabricated Players Future Audience Pack, containing a babygrow, miniature programme and voucher entitling their unborn child to 10 per cent off selected Tuesday performances once they turn 18.

The voucher expires in 2049.

Posters are also being placed near maternity services carrying the slogan:

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO BOOK

alongside details of the society’s forthcoming production of Blithe Spirit.

Amanda said: “Obviously the babies won’t understand the poster.

“But brand recognition is subconscious.”

The society initially proposed playing promotional announcements directly to unborn children through headphones placed against pregnant women’s stomachs.

This was abandoned after several complaints and what the committee has described as “an unfortunate afternoon at Boots”.

Instead, expectant parents will be encouraged to play recordings of Fabricated Players productions at home.

The publicity team believes regular exposure to amateur dramatics in the womb could create a lifelong association with theatre.

Treasurer Martin said: “There’s evidence babies respond to voices and music.

“So presumably if you play them our Oklahoma! often enough, eventually they’ll buy a ticket.”

The society is also collecting expressions of interest for productions taking place decades in the future.

Several unborn children have already been provisionally added to the mailing list for the 2046 season.

Planned productions include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and whatever musical the rights are affordable for by then.

Amanda said: “We’re building a pipeline.”

The strategy goes even further.

Couples who indicate that they may consider having children in the next five years are classified as prospective future audience generators and will receive targeted advertising.

Single people are considered “longer-term leads”.

The committee believes the campaign could eventually solve the society’s ageing-audience problem.

Based on current projections, the first recipients should become regular ticket-buyers sometime around 2050.

Martin said: “Obviously some of us won’t be here to see the results.

“But the important thing is that Hamlet will be.”