The great philosophical question of the theatre world: are you still a director when you are not directing anything? And if you are, then what makes you one? And most importantly, what do you do with your life when you are not directing?
It’s now been 5 months since I was a real director, and here are some of the things that I find helpful when you are in a limbo state between being a theatre maker and that annoying friend who directed that play months ago and won’t stop talking about it.
Read & Listen
I put this one first because it’s the most obvious one. Naturally, read as many plays as you can, because that’s potential material for your next project. But also read that great book on naturalistic theatre a friend recommended month ago, read about styles of theatre you’ve never come across and about people I find inspiring. Also listen to podcasts. You might not know this, but theatre podcasts are actually a thing.
Here are a few of the books I keep coming back to and my favourite podcasts (wow, it’s a list within a list within a list)
Books
- Empty Space by Peter Brooke
- The Theatre and It’s Double by Antonin Artaud
- The “Theatre &” series. Very short, accessible books that cover every possible interdisciplinary aspect of theatre. My current favourite is “Theatre & Ethics”.
Podcasts
- Off Book by Young Vic
- The National Theatre Podcast
Experience
Since as a director you need to be prepared to deal with an unpredictable number of creative and administrative challenges, every skill ends up being helpful in some way. Try doing tech to understand what sitting behind a lighting desk really feels like, or volunteer for an organisation to gain a wider range of experience. Whether you are working for a student organisation or traveling in Cambodia, it will end up adding to your skills as a director.
Identify your weakness
Sounds dramatic. I suppose that is, in a way, a continuation of the second point. Your style of directing depends on your personality and background and you will find that there are things that are second nature to other directors, but a challenge for you. For example, I know nothing about voice work. I didn’t even consider that one day that will come up as an essential skill. But now that I know, I can start learning about it…. As terrifying as it is.
Think about the stuff you watch
Well, duh, you say. But I mean really think about it. I can no longer remember who told me that, but if you don’t like a show, consider how you could make something that would appeal to you out of the building blocks the show uses.
Another thing: I keep a notebook of theatrical moments / techniques I find cool. A few years ago, I saw a production of King Lear in Moscow where when Lear was blinded he tied a red ribbon around his eyes. It was very understated and very effective. So I wrote that down. Maybe don’t copy the things you write down exactly (that’s just bad manners), but they are a great source of inspiration when you are feeling stuck.
Bonus: Keeping a theatre blog is also very helpful.
Theatre Machine 