Respect for the Rehearsal Space
I took a photo back in 2005 at The Arches Theatre in Glasgow, where I was directing a collaborative piece called Matryoshka. It is of our rehearsal room viewed through the window. To me, this is the world that we habit, our sacred space, our place of worship, our home, our workplace, our creative zone, it’s where the caterpillar turns into the butterfly. Most people don’t see the butterfly in the picture, it’s just a room, but I say respect the rehearsal space. It’s a transformation space, the place where literature becomes performance, where page is translating physically to stage.
I was passing by a studio at the Scottish Youth Theatre. On the door was a printed sign telling all what was being rehearsed inside. Whoever it was printed by, MUST be involved in theatre. They also should know how to spell REHEARSAL, yet they failed miserably with RehearsEL. In the past, I’ve also seen it as REHERSAL too. Does it matter? Am I a pedant? Maybe, but to me, if you can’t spell the thing that you do, you’re missing something OR you don’t care enough. Anyway, to me, you behave towards the big things in life, the same way you do in the small things.
Whether this is your permanent space, or it’s a space that you use for a couple of weeks, you must respect the space. It will fill with rehearsal paraphernalia over the weeks, but that doesn’t mean that you should add to it. Take out your water bottles. Offer to empty the overflowing bin. Do not EXPECT stage management to tidy up after you. Do not EXPECT anyone to tidy up after you. You’re an actor, not a child.
Here are 10 pointers to respecting the Rehearsal Space:
Do not smoke, drink (water is okay) or eat in the Rehearsal Room.
Do not be rough with the rehearsal room furniture, someone else may have to use it after you.
Turn the lights off when you’re done.
If something is broken – tell someone!
Turn your mobile off when you come through the door and leave it off until lunch/breaks/end of day.
Keep chatter to a minimum when you’re not working, others ARE working.
Try to leave the room on breaks, it means that you come back fresh.
The rehearsal space is sacred, do not bring strangers into it unless you must.
Consider it home, make yourself at home, but treat it with respect.
On the last day of rehearsal, before you head to the theatre, TAKE YOUR CRAP WITH YOU :o)
Enjoy your next rehearsals!