When I tell people that I used to be shy and reserved it’s difficult for them to believe. I have theatre to attribute my bubbly and outgoing personality to. I believe the arts are oftentimes overlooked as useful and applicable, but it is certainly not a waste of time. Performing and observing theatre can both enact personal and universal change.
Theatre is able to tell stories that help enact social change. It talks about topics that sometimes seem difficult to tackle however theatre brings the audience into the experience. This helps the audience feel an emotional impact as if they were truly there. It starts a conversation with a message that changes perspectives of people. The aim of theatre is for the audience to leave a show feeling moved and then inspired to incorporate the moral into their own lives. Theatre is a gateway to understanding imperative topics by being put into the experience. I believe that this first hand stepping into a story is unique to the theatre. An actor has the important job of making the points of the shows clear and impactful. This great responsibility requires many skills that are strengthened by continuously performing.
In order to tell the story of a character accurately, the actor must be able to empathize and relate to not only the character they are portraying, but also those they interact with. They must have an understanding of people and how their dispositions affect relationships. Establishing relationships by interacting closely with other people also requires trust. This trust must be used to develop the comfort needed for an actor to establish on-stage relationships. Comfort on stage also means letting go of fear of embarrassment, rejection and appearances. An actor should not be afraid to look stupid or try new things. When one does what seems over-the-top is usually when the point of the play is the most effectively portrayed.
In summary, actors must be or become empathetic, trustworthy/trusting, (mostly) fearless, and effective at portraying a point. All these traits can be applicable to off-stage relationships. Since actors work so closely with people, interacting with others is second nature. Relationships are stronger because actors are able to relate to and empathize with a large demographic. Actors must be trustworthy and trusting, so they are more likely to be open and unguarded with other people. The fear of rejection and judgment they let go of means actors are more likely to take risks in what you do and diverge from the norm. Also, actors are so used to performing in front of an audience, engaging people and communicating well becomes simpler.
So yes, “theatre kids” may be stereotyped as the weird, overdramatic ones (and I will wear that title proudly), but I believe actors are also some of the most engaging and understanding people. The myth that you have to be outgoing to begin theatre is simply not true. I forgot the lines during my first audition and cried about it for two hours. Acting isn’t about perfection. It is about accepting imperfection, learning from it and improving. It is about telling a story that can change lives and it is about honing skills that will last a lifetime. I wish people didn’t regard theatre as irrelevant and negligible so often because I’ve seen it change perspectives, and I’ve seen it change my life.
