Seeing Theatre as an Actor

“So what else can I be doing?” It’s a easy query, and one that you simply would possibly effectively have requested a trainer, mentor or colleague within the performing business. It’s a query I hear lots when instructing, teaching, directing actors—and infrequently requested by performers who’re doing every thing proper. They’re coaching, they’re auditioning, conserving 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 to be able to find out about their craft and develop 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 Business; you possibly can community, socialise and keep updated with what sort of work is being accomplished.

The significance of seeing theatre is paramount for any actor—display screen or stage. Even when you have no want 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 people? For probably the most half, it’s an identical—and this is a crucial factor for you to bear in mind as any individual with aspirations within the inventive industries. It’ll cease your expertise of seeing theatre turning 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 could make you are feeling such as you’re dwelling. Because of its ‘stay’ element, 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 observe it by way of the lens of viewers and artist. Get pleasure from your self, lose your self, get swept up within the expertise, however not a lot which you can’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 individual, 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 purple wine and Maltesers. When the lights come down and the present begins, what must you 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)
• Course Attempt to turn into conscious of the director’s function on this manufacturing. Does the present have a singular fashion or ‘imaginative and prescient’? If you happen to’ve seen work by this director earlier than, are you able to observe 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 assist the actors at work?
• Viewers Response Usually, you study as a lot a few present from the viewers as you do from the folks on stage. Are they having a superb 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 superb time? Is the present all you had been promised? Are you being stunned or disillusioned? In that 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 (under), however don’t neglect to look previous your individual self-discipline to the whole entire of the manufacturing. Theatre, like movie, like all inventive endeavour, is at all times a group sport. And that features not simply forged 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 like they’re simply displaying up and baring their souls. The truth is their efficiency is just concealing their method, their ability—and certain 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 decisions has the actor made that appear so invisible?

As a information, assume again to your individual performing 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, irrespective of how transcendent, offers with the identical fundamentals. Even Sizzling Priest Hamlet.

The place to Discover Good Theatre

Hopefully we’ve received you impressed to get on the market and seeing theatre: extra theatre, any theatre! If you happen to’re questioning the place to search out stay exhibits, let’s discuss 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 guess. Anticipate large exhibits, ‘identify’ actors and a mixture of classics and new work. The draw back is the price, which might set you again over 100 models 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 night time.

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 powerful unbiased 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 transferring to ‘main-stage’ work within the higher tiers of the Business.

Impartial theatre is absolutely its personal tier. It could include smaller corporations of one-to-two creatives who produce a present or two a 12 months, or extra established unbiased 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.

Newbie 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 newbie present as a studying expertise. However that’s to not say that you simply received’t have a helluva time.

And eventually, 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 further imaginative. If you happen to’re fascinated by making a car for your self, festivals are an important place to start out some fact-finding and inspiration.

Is Theatre Boring?

No. Nicely. It may be. However isn’t that the identical for every thing?

Lots of people are likely 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 lots 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 most effective makers perceive this. For you, as an actor seeing theatre, this is a crucial factor to recognise within the work you see. It could 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 every other medium is immediacy of satisfaction. You possibly can’t simply pop on a stay theatre present such as you would possibly a film in your tv or a sequence in your telephone. (I imply, you might, however you’d want a troupe of actors dwelling 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 trying 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: “Take in 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 “how one can learn.”) As a result of it helps you perceive what’s been accomplished/tried/dropped/failed earlier than. It helps you contextualise your individual fashion and strategy to performing.

Performs and movies and theatre and the appreciation of them are the language of writers, administrators, producers: the folks you’re hoping to impress in a casting. Study to establish their iNFLuences, study to talk their language.

Conclusion

So there you’ve it: why you need to be seeing theatre as an actor. Head alongside, get impressed, broaden your horizons and study out of your friends who share your similar path—irrespective of how far forward or behind you they might be.

And in the long run, don’t neglect a very powerful factor: seeing theatre is enjoyable. It’s inspiring, it’s satisfying. And earlier than it, it’ll be you up there…

Good luck!