Up until the recent discovery of an ancient Egyptian scroll, society was led to believe that the concept of ‘theatre’ began with the first Greek tragedy. However, it seems that theatre actually began thousands of years beforehand. Even then, the stories played out related to every individual. Why is it then that nowadays though we would rather spend time in nightclubs or bars?
What is theatre? I can tell you that it consists of so much more than set design and stage costumes. It is an artistic display or raw emotion. Having said this I am left to wonder then why with dozens of theatres right on our doorstep aren’t we willing to queue up for hours just to see the new show of talent?
Theatre is the truest form of art because it is a live performance. Due to this, actors possess the power to truly capture the audience and have them recognize similar characteristics within them as the characters. In other words, the theatre is a great gymnasium of life, where you can challenge yourself and you can be the judge and spectator of your own performance. Theatre can even unite audiences across the globe, for instance; the morality play. Every man shows us how to deal with our common destiny. The audience is the predominant protagonist of the play, allowing the spectators to relate to the actors in the stage.
The stage is a great opportunity to bring together everyone’s fears, increase courage and self-confidence. Rather than a dozen takes or rehearsals, actors are expected to deliver 100% in that very moment to be even considered credible. According to Don Hall “you aren’t going to make a living as an artist in theatre”. In agreement with this we cannot deny that actors devote an incredible amount of time to a passion. This is admirable in itself but then to witness this live is a wonderful experience , do we value it fully though?
There is no doubt in saying that theatre can have a huge impact on even the youngest of hearts. Amateur dramatics and school plays give young students the opportunity to come out of their shells, defeat shyness and make new friends. It is the most direct way to communicate emotions and engage with a group of people.
Anthony Neilson has written that going to the theatre is not a duty but it often feels like it because it’s boring. I hope though that after this article you can appreciate this art form for what it is “ true talent performing a collective of emotions”. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since heckling is not appreciated and tomato throwing is not possible anymore but entering this world I can assure you would never be a mistake, in fact you’ll probably find that whether it is crying over the Phantom’s song or singing along to Mamma Mia for a moment you will feel your worries have been left behind and reality is a show away.
If you’re lucky enough to be a student then www.studentbeans.com offers discounts.
If you always find yourself as a full paying adult then this one is for you : TKTS is run by the Society of London theatre with daily discounts of up to 50%.
If you’re struggling to find entertainment as a babysitter , nanny or just a mummy then Timeout.com lists a range of theatre performances for children.