Theatre Experience: Similarities And Differences

Perhaps you’re thinking of joining a theatre crew. You spent much of your childhood attending plays while getting captivated by the fantasy being brought to life before your very eyes and now you want to become part of it. While it is true that most who are in the theatre did join for this very reason, there are some points where the similarities of watching and participating detour into major differences. I preface this with a brief glimpse into my background. First off, I was not an actor. I loved the theatre very much and wanted to become a part of it, however I was not one for being on stage performing. The technical department was the next logical choice so I joined to operate the sound and lighting. I bring this up only so you realize …show more content…
My theatre experience came from a high school, so the phenomenon I’m about to explain was actually shared both by people in the production and many of their friends and family in the audience, however in a larger professional production, it is less likely the spectators will feel this due to not having a personal relationship with the actors. The more you get to know somebody, the harder it is to watch them act. You get to know their real personalities and when you see them acting out a character, rather than getting lost in the performance, you often times find yourself thinking about how funny it is hearing your friends talk that way. As a result, even though you see many more plays than you otherwise would as simply a spectator, you often aren’t as engaged in them. This is not dissimilar to the experience of seeing a big time movie actor, typecast for a certain type of acting, playing an unfamiliar role. You think more about how odd it is than about how good they …show more content…
This last point is important to understand because it will be the difference between successfully enjoying your time in the theatre and wishing you never joined at all. When you work a small production, they tend to stick to well-known plays. This is because recognizable names are more likely to bring in an audience. You will find yourself often doing the same plays over and over again. You will find yourself getting bored of many of the classics. Remember, the theatre for spectators, is entertainment. The theatre for those who participate is work. You need to know this going in so it does not take you by surprise and ruin your experience of the