Some Thoughts on Directing
Okay, firstly, my apologies, the blog has been sporadic over the past few weeks. I haven’t been feeling too well and found it important to restore my health. So apologies, I hope that I will make up for it in the next few weeks.
Today’s blog is slightly different in that I want to discuss directing, or air some of my thoughts related to the practice of directing. Directing seems like a topic that isn’t taught well. My experience of other directors is that they learned the job in the role, and no one took the time to explain even the basics of acting and stagecraft to them. Of course, there are many amazing directors, but there are also those that simply confuse and terrify their casts with implausible direction and bullying tactics.
In my opinion, the director’s job is to guide the actor to an understanding of the script that enables the actor to translate that understanding into something that they can DO and perform. The director has other roles of course, but the heart of the job is allowing the cast space to play. After a period of play, the director starts to fix some points but allows the actors further space, knowing that they will never stray far.
As a director, there are several elements that make up a successful production. I call this the (tongue in cheek here people) Triangle of Happiness.
Very simply, I feel that the elements that control the success of a show are THE CHOICE OF PLAY, THE CHOICE OF CAST AND THE AUDIENCE.
Each part of the triangle is equally balanced, so when one of these elements is unsuitable, disturbed, damaged or too heavily weighted, it throws the entire triangle out of whack. For this reason, when I’m choosing a play to direct, these are my THREE first and main concerns. By preparing all three adequately, I can ensure that at least I have laid the ground work for a successful show.
WAIT! How can you prepare the audience? Well, we’re simply talking about ensuring that the audience can accept the show that you bring them. It’s pointless bringing an amateur-musical-theatre audience to see Mark Ravenhill’s Shopping and Fucking, just pointless. You’re asking for trouble.
Play Choice, this is difficult, but you simply know that some plays will not play well with a contemporary audience. Is this a reason to prevent us from doing it? No. But, it’s worth considering it.
Casting. To me this is so important. One wrong choice and the rehearsal process can turn from pleasure to punishment very quickly. The dynamic of the cast is also a vital ingredient. We do not spend enough time ensuring that the ingredients in the mixture of our play go well together. Casting should take time – no wonder directors surround themselves with actors they trust. Who can afford (financially or through reputation) to cast unknowns when a known cast can pull off the job adequately? Better the Devil you know, than the Devil you don’t – as Kylie said :o)