New Theater Opening and the Growth of Theater World in Osaka Metropolitan Area

—Implications to Theatrical Arts Support Policy of Urban local Government—

Abstract

In Osaka metropolitan area, many new theaters opened since the late 1980's, and the openings triggered increase in the number of various types of drama stages and growth of local theatrical performance companies. The objectives of this research are to examine the growth of Osaka theater world through the new theater openings and to give suggestions to local policies for promoting theatrical arts. We investigate the title of 5241 stages performed over the period from 1986 to 1993 in Osaka area and analyze the changes in the local theatrical world brought about by the new theater openings. The result shows that stage structure and management policy of individual theaters determine the character of stage performance, and the new theater openings have contributed to increase in number and variety of the stages performed in this area.