The Great Acting Blog: “Notes On A New Theatre”

The Great Acting Blog: “Notes On A New Theatre”

This week I went to look at a venue which I may be able to turn into a theatre. I have been thinking about starting my own theatre for many years, but the stars had needed to be in a certain alignment for it to actually happen, and, well, finally, it seems that they are. I am however, very early in the process, there is an awfully long way to go before we can even begin to think about opening the doors. But the process has begun nonetheless.

The rationale for starting a theatre is clear. Controlling your own space means you can control the rhythm of your output, as oppose to having to work yourself into the schedule of other theatres or companies. And the goal for any actor is profligacy of output, as this is the way to produce truly great work – having your own theatre would enable such. Further, as artistic director, you set the agenda, and can therefore program exactly the type of plays you want to do, the ones which get your blood up. Of course, there are commercial advantages too: your theatre can act as a rehearsal space, which makes life easier financially and logistically. Also, theatre rents, even in small theatres, are so high that it does not make sense to hire them.

The theatre would twin as a film studio. I am thinking of the model of French auteur, Jean-Pierre Melville, who converted the top half of his two story apartment into a studio, and used it repeatedly throughout his career, and in different ways to create a diverse range of interiors for his films. So, my theatre would enable film production as well as theatre production, and film production would be worked into the repertoire. This would be complimented by doing regular screenings in the theatre, screening series to be exact, focussing on specific aspects of cinema, such as a “Great Actor” series. And further, as a commitment to the development and promotion of new cinema, a film festival may be inaugurated. So, we can see that the space could become a central hub for various activities. It would certainly be somewhere I would like to work.

Operating a permanent space, also offers the opportunity to implement your own values; ethical, technical, and aesthetic. These values would be demonstrated in the choice of production, the productions themselves, and in the culture of the theatre. All of this can be developed and harnessed in a “Laboratory”, an old idea which I couldn’t figure out how to make work until now: a Lab can not be an end in itself, but a means of developing the work of like minded artists, which would culminate in the film and theatre productions, and productions whose  aim would be to enrich and take pride in every audience member.

Who would work in such a theatre? Passionate artists who love to work,  and love to work hard. Not those who see it all as merely a job. And not those who moan when confronted by the true tasks of craft, but those who are thrilled at the prospect, those who want to give,who want to push themselves further and faster, who want to discover, those who want to come face to face with the mysteries of life.