First Theatre Interview

1st Interview 14/9/10

With an anonymous local community theatre person.
With paraphrasing.

1.So why community theatre?

It is an outlet for my creative side. I work in an area that has a 'military' like structure that allows very little room for individual expression, and the theatre allows for me to explore and express my creative side whilst also getting to meet a lot of people, I might not meet otherwise. Why on the community aspect? Well it allows me to explore this passion whilst remaining in the area where I work, and well...that is the best of both worlds right?


2.Have you always been musical?
I do not view myself as being particularly musical...I am more of an entertainer. It's like a part of my personality. It is something that I enjoy, all aspects of entertainment, and it is like some subconscious aspect of myself that draws me to it.

My enjoyment of entertainment is more through an informal delivery, I was not specifically brought up in a musical household. That is not to say that there wasn't music, it just wasn't the focus...it was in the background.


3. Do you have a musical household?
Not really, everybody tends to do what they want, and what they are interested in. I think my interest might have a flow on effect, but in the end, my involvement is more of a personal thing...that sounds a bit selfish. But its not, because everyone has their own interests, some like sport, and others like creating their own bands, well I am interested in this.


4. What draws you into musical theatre?
It is the opportunity to gain that well rounded entertaining skill. Where you develop skills in acting, singing and movement...it is a rounded form of entertainment- and that is what I like about it. You get to explore yourself and characters through a presentation to the audience.

The community theatre group does not have the harshness of well a professional production. I mean that it is a place that aides in giving you confidence in getting in front of people, and performance. That is not to say that we are not professional, I just mean that...umm..that the audience is less judging of your performance because they expect a little less than a professional production...they are more likely to be less judgmental, and not attack your performance. In fact they are more likely to admire and acknowledge your efforts, because if you give a good performance, you feel good about yourself, and they feel good about the show, you know.


5. Would you consider doing a straight play or film?
I am open to doing these, but really I prefer the musical, because of that well rounded aspect I mentioned before, and I like the flashy, theatrical and colour of a musical production. So I would not rule out being involved in them, I would prefer to be involved in the musical shows.


6. What were the best and worse aspects of being involved in community theatre?
Best
Well it gives you the opportunity to express yourself, and to meet a large amount of new people in one go. People that you might not have had any opportunity to meet because this is the only interest that you share. I think that is great...just being able to meet others and share the same interest in artistic expression.

Also since it is an entertainment based hobby, family and friends usually seem very supportive of it, also since it is entertainment they have a harder time of trying to get out of seeing one of my shows (laughter).

Worse
Sometimes as in all groups, professional, community or work based there are cliques, that sometimes make it difficult- but we usually in the end are able to blend the whole group so that we are able to present a great group effort in our performances.

Sometimes it feels that the community/amateur group is taking aspects from the professional field that might deter people from getting involved. Sometimes it does help to know people, instead of merit. Though this is not unique to theatre, it helps with jobs of all fields. Just a little unnerving that some things are merit based and only that, and others are more subjective. Perhaps nothing is really merit based? It is not a major concern, but well it is what people hear through movies and culture as a whole, so well it is a negative...but it is not like it is unique to this alone, so we all get on.


7. If you could go through it again would you change anything?
Umm I think I would try to just be able to adjust to some of those little annoyances by trying to be more open to the experience. We all come with our own biases and emotions that we filter these through, and well we need to realise that in the end we are all working towards putting on a good group performance. Things might seem annoying but they are not major. I think people need to focus more on that, and we all need to work on it.


8. What do you do when you are not involved in a show?
I work, I live, and I guess my creative outlet is reading...I'm not going to tell you what I read.


9. How do you deal with rejection?
I guess I put a lot of hardness upon myself by tending to over-analyse the audition. I have no issue with performance, but as all theatre people will tell you, an audition is different, it is more a direct judging atmosphere. They see you for a little short portion and they make a decision on you, its pretty much like your job interviews, except instead of saying why they should employ you, you try to do it through singing. You get less pay in this though (laughter).

Personally I think you know if you do well in an audition- and if you feel that you did and you don't get in...well of course it is a bit of a kick to the gut...you feel as if you...haven't achieved...you feel less confident about your abilities, right? But the strength of a person is pulling yourself out of that, and the over-analysis and just trying to move on...hopefully to a new show (laughter).

I find that it helps if you have been in a show before, or know people who also auditioned because then you can well bounce off your disappointment through others. Though sometimes it backfires by feeling jealous of others who got in...but well people should not be islands.

Some people go into auditions with a sense of super self confidence- I kind of 'American' development in people. Well I'm not like that I think I judge myself a lot harder than those people...I like to think of myself as a realist. I can usually tell if I went bad, because I didn't prepare or because of some other aspect...if I know I could have done better then of course I feel bad if I do not get in, but it is my own fault right... but if I prepare a lot for it, and improve well eventually somebody says yes.


10. I hear you have started to take some singing lessons- has it been helpful?
Yes, they have taught me things like breathing techniques and the confidence of singing in front of people- it helps prepare you for auditions- wink wink. I think that my voice was very raw (though I had been told it was beautiful- my own worse critic again) and that this whole process aides in getting me molded.

I think that we all have a preconceived idea of what a singer is, and I as I have said consider myself more of a entertainer so when they said my voice was good, well you kind of thank them, but the hardest thing is getting over your own personal inhibitions...but I think I am making progress.


11.Congratulations on getting a part in an upcoming show how does it feel compared to previous announcements?
Mixed- well I have been in other shows but I was more new to the field and thus I was ecstatic that they took a leap of faith in me...especially since it was rather a last minute decision to even get involved. This one coming up is slightly different- I prepared hard for it, and well it sort of feels like an affirmation of the hard work I put into it.


12.Was there any particular reason you were drawn to this show?
Well being community based theatre there is not like we are starved for choice we have a few companies and this was the next one coming up- so I went. That was my first impression, but when I started preparing for the show I really started to love it...and I think that came through in the audition process.


15. What are you most looking forward to about the show?
I am looking forward to performing...that's why we do it. Sure the rehearsal process is good, and there will be tricky parts to learn...but if I had to choose the part I am most looking forward to, you can't go beyond the thrill of performance.


16. If people wanted to get involved, what would you suggest?
Just going in for the audition, and have fun with it...we all want to enjoy ourselves, and we all want to have fun. Even if you go to just laugh at the whole process...right Dale? (laughter).


I thank my guest for letting me interview them, it is a shame that they wish to remain anonymous- but the theatre as we know is a ego full place...it is nice to see now and then, a humble voice echo out.

Dale Stam

If you want to be interviewed leave a comment or facebook your details.