Being a thespian is a name all theatre kids wear with pride. Actors to techs, the theatre is our sanctuary and an extension of ourselves. Oscar Wilde once said, "it was only in the theatre that I lived." This statement, in a nutshell, is what it feels like to be a performer.
You leave everything you have on the stage because that is where you are most alive. Theatre and performing is an art, one that flows in and out of thespians like blood pumping in and out of the heart. Look into the eyes of a thespian when they talk about theatre, and you'll see the blaze of the fire it set in their soul. These feelings and desires can never be truly explained, only experienced. Emotions always run high, on and off the stage, here is a list of the five biggest feelings every thespian experiences.
1. Pride
Thespians are proud people. While our egos can very easily become our downfall, they are also one of our biggest assets. Theatre gives you confidence in speaking and presenting yourself. Through your shows you begin to feel the power behind your abilities, your voice and your action. One of the best feelings in the world is stepping into the wings knowing you just owned the stage. That you made it your show, your stage, and your time to deliver greatness. When you see art fall into place and can identify that as being your doing, the pride swells in you. Thespians should be proud of all we accomplish from competitions to applause; we worked hard and earned that.
2. Stress
Nothing characterizes a theatre more than a bunch of overly eccentric people running around like chickens with their heads cut off. A theatre is a breeding ground for stress. Whether you just can't remember that middle section of a monologue or the lead's costume just ripped down the back, there is a lot to be potentially worried about. Unfortunately, while the theatre is the source of our love it also the source of anxiety. This is the same nervousness felt in the pit of our stomachs before going on stage or into an audition, but those flutters in your stomach are called butterflies for reason. Because once you're over the nerves they come out of you like thousands of beautiful butterflies. Thespians feed off this stress in the best way possible. We cycle this energy through ourselves and release it back out into our art. It fuels us, then dissipates as our voices ring through to the audience.
3. Happiness
Your heart and soul fill with happiness during performances, competitions and when you spend time with your theatre family. We do theatre because we simply love it and it brings us joy. Sometimes it is hard not to get caught up in things and easy to forget to smile. But theatre always manages to snuggle its way back to your heart and make the smile creep back onto your face. It gives joy, and what greater reason is there to do something than because it brings happiness into your life?
4. Sadness
Sadness can sweep over the life of a thespian quickly, whether it was because they messed up during a show, didn't get the part they wanted, or messed up tech work. The sadness of leaving the theatre or going too long without the theatre can just as easily consume you. However, just as stress, sadness is another fuel to your fire to be better and work harder. The intense feeling of sadness when separated from the theatre just encourages us to keep coming back and not quit what we love. When it finally is time to experience the sadness of leaving your theatre, you always leave with a heart full of warmth and memories.
5. Thrill
Being in the theatre is like a never ending roller coaster ride. It's a thrill ride of highs and lows. The joy and the glory that come with it constantly leave you on your toes. It can be anything from watching others perform to doing it yourself. The natural high after performing is one of the best rushes to feel. A good performance leaves an actor with a racing heartbeat and energy for days. It's glorious, and no thespian would exchange that feeling of being on top of the world.
Being a thespian is amazing. There are so many outlets in the theatre, all with their own uniqueness and beauty to offer. This art opens a new world of color and wonder. These are just a few of the many emotions thespians feel. If you haven't experienced it for yourself, open your heart and mind and go for it.
