Once you’ve decided on a script, and signed up some actors, it is time to start with the rehearsal process. You probably already know that the rehearsal process will not just be essential, it will, without question, determine the quality of a production.
But how do you rehearse theatre, and is it difficult? It may just be one of the most stressful experiences of your life.
Script Reading
The initial step should be having all your actors present, and getting them to read through the script. As the script is read, actors should be encouraged to decide how each line will be delivered. What is the emotion behind each line? How is each line relevant? Could there be room for comedy here, or drama there?
Discussion should naturally occur, and decision should be made. Not just about the nature of each scene, and the overall production, but how the production will flow from start to finish.
Script readings should be done multiple times, until each actor is comfortable and understands what the tone and goal of the production is. Always encourage actors to be creative. Lack of creativity and heart will, ultimately, result in a bored audience that decides to visit https://casinositescanada.net/ on their phone, rather than endure a heartless production.
Blocking
Once the lines themselves have been dealt with, it must now be decided where each actor will be on the stage, for every moment of the production. When will they enter? When they will exit? How will they move, and interact with one another?
The whole production should be run through, scene by scene, with actors deciding on how they will approach each individual moment. Again; actors must be encouraged to be creative. The best moments may well happen by accident, simply as a by-product of the rehearsal process.
Also remember; scenes do not have to be blocked in sequential order. If some scenes need more attention than others, focus on those first.
Rehearsing
How often you run the production through, from start to finish, more or less comes down to one simple factor; how much time you have.
Essentially, the rehearsal process should be given as much time as is absolutely possible. Don’t start a production with too little rehearsal time available, ever. You will regret it.
Time management is a major part of rehearsing that many tend to overlook. It is, by far, the most stressful and anxiety inducing part of the process. You have multiple actors, with differing schedules, and in order to make the production happen, the needed actors must be present when required. Often, shuffling rehearsal times around can land up being the unintentional focus, resulting a gigantic mess of squeezing in actual rehearsal time when it happens to be possible.
Be absolutely sure that the actors who sign up have the time, and motivation, to be present when they are needed. It may not seem like it, but choosing actors based on how keen they are, and how much free time they have, may just be the smartest choices you will ever make. Write that down.
