“So what else can I be doing?” It’s a easy query, and one that you just would possibly effectively have requested a instructor, mentor or colleague within the performing trade. It’s a query I hear loads when instructing, teaching, directing actors—and infrequently requested by performers who’re doing every little thing proper. They’re coaching, they’re auditioning, retaining their showreel present and their headshots contemporary. “So what else can I be doing?” My reply is at all times the identical: “Begin seeing theatre as an actor.”
Actors have to see stay theatre so as to study their craft and broaden their data of the artform. They’ll see different actors at work, and discover ways to wield their very own expertise, in addition to develop an understanding of how a narrative is crafted for a stay viewers. As well as, seeing theatre as an actor helps your trade; you may community, socialise and keep updated with what sort of work is being completed.
The significance of seeing theatre is paramount for any actor—display screen or stage. Even when you’ve got no need to creep the boards your self, you’ll be taught a lot from the easy act of watching your friends, your trade colleagues, do what they do. The place else do you get to see anyone on the identical journey as you apply the identical expertise completely unfiltered? Get in on it!
Seeing Theatre as “Actor” vs. “Viewers”
What’s the distinction between an actor seeing theatre and the expertise of most people? For essentially the most half, it’s similar—and this is a crucial factor for you to bear in mind as anyone with aspirations within the artistic industries. It’ll cease your expertise of seeing theatre changing into a purely academic or career-motivated train.
Theatre can entertain, educate, encourage, provoke, amuse, delight and even horrify. It may be a deeply uncomfortable expertise that pushes you to emotional and bodily limits. And it might make you are feeling such as you’re residence. Resulting from its ‘stay’ part, theatre is inherently intimate for an viewers: it guarantees and delivers on stay and direct connection between artist and viewers.
So the trick for seeing theatre as an actor is to look at it by means of the lens of viewers and artist. Take pleasure in your self, lose your self, get swept up within the expertise, however not a lot that you could’t analyse how it made you are feeling one thing.
This may even hold you engaged if the play is especially terrible. Slightly than writing off the expertise as an costly mistake, problem your self to work out why it’s making you are feeling a sure manner. On the very least, you’ll hopefully keep away from the identical errors in your personal, future work.
What to Look For on the Theatre
You’ve purchased your ticket, you’ve sat down in your seat, you’re filled with low cost pink wine and Maltesers. When the lights come down and the present begins, what do you have to pay attention to? Brief reply: lots. Let’s break down what you would possibly analyse under.
- Writing and Storytelling “The play’s the factor.” Take some knowledge from Hamlet and begin with the textual content: the story, the writing, the phrases as carried out. What are you meant to consider? What are you meant to really feel? Is the story clear, or complicated. And whether it is: is that an intention. (See additionally: Creating Theatre Literacy)
- Route Attempt to turn out to be conscious of the director’s position on this manufacturing. Does the present have a singular fashion or ‘imaginative and prescient’? For those who’ve seen work by this director earlier than, are you able to monitor their influences or how they’ve developed? How have the performances been formed? Do characters ‘gel’ with each other? Talk?
- Design Design is one thing most individuals solely discover when it’s very good or very dangerous. More often than not, it’s invisible: so make your self conscious. How are props, costume and set realised? What do lighting and sound do to create the world of the present? How do design parts help the actors at work?
- Viewers Response Typically, you be taught as a lot a couple of present from the viewers as you do from the individuals on stage. Are they having time? Are they shifting of their seats? Are you able to see the tell-tale glow of individuals checking a flight-moded cellphone for the time? What about you: are you having time? Is the present all you had been promised? Are you being stunned or disillusioned? If that’s the case, why?’
After all, the massive factor to search for when seeing theatre as an actor are the actors themselves. We’ve given this matter its personal fancy subheading (under), however don’t neglect to look previous your personal self-discipline to the entire entire of the manufacturing. Theatre, like movie, like several artistic endeavour, is at all times a group sport. And that features not simply solid and crew however critics, audiences and the bigger artwork world.
Studying From Theatre Actors
There may be a particularly useful Latin phrase that was as soon as the motto of the Western Australian Performing Arts Academy (WAAPA): “ars celare artem.” This phrase roughly interprets to “it’s artwork to hide artwork” and it refers back to the skill of excellent actors to make their craft look pure, easy, actual.
Good stage actors typically appear to be they’re simply exhibiting up and baring their souls. The fact is their efficiency is solely concealing their method, their ability—and sure many years of coaching and expertise. Proper when a efficiency feels completely pure: that is the second to essentially hone in on how a second is performed. What selections has the actor made that appear so invisible?
As a information, suppose again to your personal performing fundamentals: how has the actor pursued their goal? What are their ways and actions? What are the given circumstances of the scene, and what’s prompted them to motion of their second earlier than? Any efficiency, irrespective of how transcendent, offers with the identical fundamentals. Even Scorching Priest Hamlet.
The place to Discover Good Theatre
Hopefully we’ve bought you impressed to get on the market and seeing theatre: extra theatre, any theatre! For those who’re questioning the place to seek out stay exhibits, let’s speak by means of some locations to look.
Prime-tier theatre is often funded—and so a nationwide theatre firm or state theatre firm is your finest wager. Anticipate massive exhibits, ‘identify’ actors and a mixture of classics and new work. The draw back is the price, which may set you again over 100 items of your native forex for a seat. Be looking out for offers, low cost Tuesdays and under-30s tickets to complement your viewing. Some theatres even have rush tickets on the door, for those who really feel like dressing up and making an attempt your luck on the evening.
Mid-level theatres rely in your location, and the tradition of your performing arts trade. Right here in Australia, the place that is at the moment being typed, mid-level theatre is principally non-existent. What we do have is a robust impartial theatre scene, with smaller-yet-reputable theatres producing our subsequent technology of expertise. A few of these corporations/artists/creatives could also be seen by extra established theatres, and discover themselves shifting to ‘main-stage’ work within the higher tiers of the trade.
Unbiased theatre is absolutely its personal tier. It will probably include smaller corporations of one-to-two creatives who produce a present or two a 12 months, or extra established impartial issues that obtain some authorities funding and are anchored by a brick-and-mortar theatre venue. The large distinction for many indie corporations is that they don’t have direct entry to their very own venue; they pitch to or rent established areas and produce their work there.
Novice theatre varies in manufacturing worth and high quality. As an actor on their journey into the skilled trade, you’ll in all probability get much less out of an newbie present as a studying expertise. However that’s to not say that you just received’t have a helluva time.
And at last, festivals. Theatre festivals, arts festivals, fringe festivals … they’re all ripe for locating and studying from contemporary and thrilling theatre. Most exhibits have a finances of $5-8, however that usually forces creatives behind them to be additional imaginative. For those who’re concerned with making a car for your self, festivals are an amazing place to start out some fact-finding and inspiration.
Is Theatre Boring?
No. Effectively. It may be. However isn’t that the identical for every little thing?
Lots of people are inclined to have dangerous experiences with theatre of their childhoods. There’s condescending pantomime, horrible newbie productions, or one thing you’re dragged to see as a part of an English syllabus. Really, it’s loads like Shakespeare being launched to you thru a monotonous group-read in a highschool classroom…
Theatre additionally has a cultural stink about it of being pretentious, lofty: a folly for the idle wealthy. However actually nice theatre is for everyone, and the perfect makers perceive this. For you, as an actor seeing theatre, this is a crucial factor to recognise within the work you see. It may be “good”, however if you’re genuinely feeling bored—regardless of giving it a good go—then that’s the fault of the play, not you.
One thing that theatre lacks greater than another medium is immediacy of satisfaction. You may’t simply pop on a stay theatre present such as you would possibly a film in your tv or a collection in your cellphone. (I imply, you may, however you’d want a troupe of actors residing in your home, on 24 hour name to carry out.) It’s an expertise that requires planning, power, an funding of time and very often a sum of cash.
However what pays off in seeing theatre is the live-ness of the expertise. It’s that direct, intimate connection you share with artists creating at their peak in the identical room as you. And in contrast to a movie or online game and even music, theatre occurs for you, as a result of of you. It’s communication—a communion—between artist and viewers. And it’s f**king magic.
Creating Theatre Literacy
One very last thing, and an necessary one: seeing theatre as an actor helps you develop your theatre literacy. On the prime of this text I opened with a query I’m requested by actors seeking to do extra for his or her craft and profession: “What else can I be doing?” After I give my reply, I often observe up with: “Absorb tradition. Learn books, learn performs, watch movies, go to galleries.”
Why is literacy necessary? (And by literacy we imply “realizing texts and tradition” not “how you can learn.”) As a result of it helps you perceive what’s been completed/tried/dropped/failed earlier than. It helps you contextualise your personal fashion and method to performing.
Performs and movies and theatre and the appreciation of them are the language of writers, administrators, producers: the individuals you’re hoping to impress in a casting. Study to determine their influences, be taught to talk their language.
Conclusion
So there you’ve it: why you have to be seeing theatre as an actor. Head alongside, get impressed, broaden your horizons and be taught out of your friends who share your similar path—irrespective of how far forward or behind you they might be.
And ultimately, don’t neglect an important factor: seeing theatre is enjoyable. It’s inspiring, it’s satisfying. And earlier than you recognize it, it’ll be you up there…
Good luck!
