“So what else can I be doing?” It’s a easy query, and one that you just may properly have requested a instructor, mentor or colleague within the appearing business. It’s a query I hear rather a lot when educating, teaching, directing actors—and sometimes requested by performers who’re doing the whole lot proper. They’re coaching, they’re auditioning, protecting their showreel present and their headshots recent. “So what else can I be doing?” My reply is at all times the identical: “Begin seeing theatre as an actor.”
Actors must see dwell theatre with a purpose to study their craft and increase their information 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 dwell viewers. As well as, seeing theatre as an actor helps your business; you possibly can community, socialise and keep updated with what sort of work is being performed.
The significance of seeing theatre is paramount for any actor—display or stage. Even you probably have no need to creep the boards your self, you’ll study a lot from the easy act of watching your friends, your business colleagues, do what they do. The place else do you get to see any individual 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 of the people? For essentially the most half, it’s similar—and this is a vital factor for you to bear in mind as any individual with aspirations within the artistic industries. It’ll cease your expertise of seeing theatre changing into a purely instructional 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 house. As a result of its ‘dwell’ element, theatre is inherently intimate for an viewers: it guarantees and delivers on dwell and direct connection between artist and viewers.
So the trick for seeing theatre as an actor is to observe it by way 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 may’t analyse how it made you are feeling one thing.
This will even maintain you engaged if the play is especially terrible. Moderately than writing off the expertise as an costly mistake, problem your self to work out why it’s making you are feeling a sure method. 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 stuffed with low cost crimson wine and Maltesers. When the lights come down and the present begins, what must you concentrate on? Brief reply: lots. Let’s break down what you may analyse beneath.
- 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)
- Path Attempt to turn out to be conscious of the director’s function on this manufacturing. Does the present have a singular fashion or ‘imaginative and prescient’? In case you’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 unhealthy. 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 Usually, you study as a lot a few present from the viewers as you do from the individuals on stage. Are they having a very good time? Are they shifting of their seats? Are you able to see the tell-tale glow of individuals checking a flight-moded telephone for the time? What about you: are you having a very good time? Is the present all you had been promised? Are you being shocked or disenchanted? If that’s the case, why?’
In fact, the large factor to search for when seeing theatre as an actor are the actors themselves. We’ve given this matter its personal fancy subheading (beneath), however don’t overlook to look previous your personal self-discipline to the entire complete of the manufacturing. Theatre, like movie, like several artistic endeavour, is at all times a staff sport. And that features not simply forged and crew however critics, audiences and the bigger artwork world.
Studying From Theatre Actors
There may be an especially 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 potential of excellent actors to make their craft look pure, easy, actual.
Good stage actors typically seem like they’re simply displaying up and baring their souls. The truth is their efficiency is solely concealing their approach, their ability—and sure a long time 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 appearing fundamentals: how has the actor pursued their goal? What are their techniques and actions? What are the given circumstances of the scene, and what’s prompted them to motion of their second earlier than? Any efficiency, regardless of how transcendent, offers with the identical fundamentals. Even Sizzling 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! In case you’re questioning the place to seek out dwell reveals, let’s speak by way of some locations to look.
Prime-tier theatre is normally funded—and so a nationwide theatre firm or state theatre firm is your greatest wager. Count on large reveals, ‘identify’ actors and a mixture of classics and new work. The draw back is the fee, which might set you again over 100 models of your native foreign money 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, when you 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 business. Right here in Australia, the place that is at the moment being typed, mid-level theatre is mainly non-existent. What we do have is a robust unbiased theatre scene, with smaller-yet-reputable theatres producing our subsequent era of expertise. A few of these corporations/artists/creatives could also be seen by extra established theatres, and discover themselves transferring to ‘main-stage’ work within the higher tiers of the business.
Impartial theatre is actually its personal tier. It may well encompass smaller corporations of one-to-two creatives who produce a present or two a yr, or extra established unbiased considerations 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.
Beginner theatre varies in manufacturing worth and high quality. As an actor on their journey into the skilled business, you’ll in all probability get much less out of an beginner present as a studying expertise. However that’s to not say that you just gained’t have a helluva time.
And eventually, festivals. Theatre festivals, arts festivals, fringe festivals … they’re all ripe for locating and studying from recent and thrilling theatre. Most reveals have a funds of $5-8, however that usually forces creatives behind them to be further imaginative. In case you’re fascinated about making a automobile for your self, festivals are a fantastic place to begin some fact-finding and inspiration.
Is Theatre Boring?
No. Effectively. It may be. However isn’t that the identical for the whole lot?
Lots of people are inclined to have unhealthy experiences with theatre of their childhoods. There’s condescending pantomime, horrible beginner productions, or one thing you’re dragged to see as a part of an English syllabus. Really, it’s rather a lot 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 really nice theatre is for everyone, and the perfect makers perceive this. For you, as an actor seeing theatre, this is a vital 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 dwell theatre present such as you may a film in your tv or a collection in your telephone. (I imply, you may, however you’d want a troupe of actors residing in your own 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 final thing, and an necessary one: seeing theatre as an actor helps you develop your theatre literacy. On the high 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 normally comply with up with: “Absorb tradition. Learn books, learn performs, watch movies, go to galleries.”
Why is literacy necessary? (And by literacy we imply “figuring out texts and tradition” not “methods to learn.”) As a result of it helps you perceive what’s been performed/tried/dropped/failed earlier than. It helps you contextualise your personal fashion and strategy to appearing.
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, study to talk their language.
Conclusion
So there you’ve it: why try to be seeing theatre as an actor. Head alongside, get impressed, broaden your horizons and study out of your friends who share your identical path—regardless of how far forward or behind you they might be.
And in the long run, don’t overlook crucial factor: seeing theatre is enjoyable. It’s inspiring, it’s pleasant. And earlier than it, it’ll be you up there…
Good luck!
