Things I Learned Directing Closer

I recently finished directing a production of Patrick Marber’s play Closer for Broken Bird Theatre at the Old Hairdressers in Glasgow.

I wanted to share some things I was reminded of, while working on the show.

1) Don’t paint a picture

The actor doesn’t need to paint a picture, in fact, they need to get out of the way of the story. Too often, it’s easy to tell the audience what to think and feel. It’s the worse kind of acting, indicating away to explain something to an audience, it’s the height of ignorance.

2) The audience should feel like eavesdroppers

The greatest compliment is that the audience felt like they were intruding into the lives of these couples and that tells me that the audience did not sense the ‘acting’ going on. If you get caught ‘acting’, the audience have to indulge you.

3) Let the lines take care of themselves

A little like my first point, but trust the writing, trust the words to communicate meaning, while you focus on being in a moment to moment interaction with the other actor.

4) It’s never too late to change anything

In Scene 1, it became clear to me that the dreadful sight lines in the space were causing the audience viewing problems. So throughout Act 1 and the interval, we reblocked the play. The actors were so secure in their performances, so steady in their lines that they treated the changes like a breeze. They rescued the production with their professionalism.

These are only small things, but it’s great to be reminded of them while working with actors.

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