When I was 11, my mum signed me up to audition for my local youth theatre. I was expecting to perform a scene or monologue and maybe do some devising in small groups. Oh how wrong I was. The next few hours consisted of breathing on the floor, inhabiting animals and improv. I hated every second of it.
And yet I couldn’t wait to go back.
I had always been a very shy kid. I struggled to fit in and make friends, so I spent years of my life trying to craft a palatable personality that would guarantee my likeability. Then every Saturday morning, I had to let all of that go in the pursuit of truth and authenticity.
I wasn’t very good at it. My performances were frequently described as ‘predictable’ and ‘calculated’. I was giving the audience what I thought they wanted. I was greatly overthinking it. Which is exactly what I spent my teenage years doing.
But with time and a great deal of patience, the teachings of my directors began to sink in. They changed my life.
I think it’s only fair that I pass on what I’ve learnt, particularly those not as dramatically inclined as myself.
1. Don’t think, just be
Responsiveness is a key principle of acting, particularly in the methodologies of Meisner and other pioneers of American theatre. They train you to simply listen to the other people around you and your environment and then respond impulsively. Don’t plan it, don’t even think, just be.
That principle carries into everyday life. The more you try to give people what they want, to “people-please”, the more you will lose touch with your authentic self. You will also absolutely kick yourself if it backfires. Sometimes the truth hurts. But you want people in your life who accept your authentic self. Then they’ll be there for you through thick and thin.
2. Do less
I’ve lost count of the number of times a director has repeated over and over, “Do less”. On stage, you think you need to exaggerate and make everything crystal clear to the audience. But we as people are complex and nobody, not even ourselves, will ever truly understand us. So if you’re trying to do that on stage, no one will believe you.
In the age of social media, it’s so easy to think that you aren’t doing enough. We get highly edited versions of people's lives that are presented as truthful representations, so it’s easy to feel down when your own life bears no resemblance. Rest is so important and burnout is real. You truly can do less. That doesn’t make your life any less valuable and it will probably make you happier.
3. There is a reason behind everything that we do
Part of an actor’s preparation for a role involves a deep dive into a character’s backstory. What are the key factors of their life that inform their behaviour? How did they grow up? Who do they surround themselves with? What are their deepest insecurities? What are their dreams?
I don’t believe that ‘bad’ people exist. There are of course people who do bad things. But they are a product of their circumstances. Most people in prison grew up around crime, drug use and/or extreme poverty, I remember being taught at primary school that bullies only act that way because they themselves are struggling with something. As much as people can hurt you, and this in no way excuses that, there is always a reason behind their actions. The kindest thing we can do as fellow humans is make the effort to understand, even if we can’t forgive.
4. “Invent nothing, deny nothing, accept everything”
This is a quote from playwright and practitioner David Mamet, and in short, it means that when you are onstage you should never manufacture anything, whether that be emotionally or physically. If something unexpected happens, like a technical issue or an unexpected line delivery, you cannot deny that that has happened. You must accept it as the truth and react accordingly.
A common piece of advice given to those nervous about something is to “only worry about what is in your control”, or “whatever will be will be”. It’s pretty much the same principle - sometimes life will throw curveballs at you, sometimes people will surprise you in good or bad ways, sometimes you will fuck up. Once something has happened, there’s nothing you can do about it. You cannot, and should not deny it. Acceptance of both your failures and successes is a core pillar of contentment.
5. Let all of your preparation go
Following on from everything above, the last step before an actor steps onstage is to let everything go. Worrying about your lines, a dodgy prop or thinking about every given circumstance you have delved into in rehearsals will result in a bad performance. Because it isn’t truthful. You have to be responsive and in the moment.
So the next time you have a job interview, an assessment or anything else you have studied hard for, let all of your preparation go. Whether you have done enough or not, you cannot change the past and at that point, you probably cannot change the outcome. You cannot suddenly become a better candidate. You must just accept the version of yourself at that exact moment.
It should help take the pressure off. And whether the outcome is what you hoped for or not, you’ll get through it either way.
Theatre is an exploration of the self and the human condition. So it follows that the study of acting can be a healing and transformative pursuit. Books on acting are, I have found, far more beneficial than any self-help books out there. Taking the time to really know yourself is the most important part. And that isn’t exclusive to drama - it will truly benefit your life.
All my love,
E