Breaking A Leg For Amateur Theatre

Last time, I was expressing my bemusement at an odd turn of phrase in amateur theatre, indeed in theatre in general. The idea of saying 'break a leg' to actors before they go on stage, instead of the much more obvious offer of support, 'good luck.'

If you say that one more time...

I just want to look at some of the possible definitions behind this term. Some, may make sense. Others, baffle me. However, the internet has kindly offered up some interesting definitions (sources listed at the bottom, so you can make your own mind up).

Break a leg!

The history of this term appears to be a long one. How many of these origins have come retrospectively is a matter for debate. Given this is a personal blog, I haven't the time to be that thorough, hence adding the sources of information at the bottom. I'm going to list off some of the more "entertaining" suggestions, and you can make your own mind up.

Some are fairly boring. There is an assertion that it is based on an older expression 'May you break your leg' which was linked to a bow to acknowledge the applause received. In this way, it was wishing the performers a good performance. This, while plausible, is boring and no fun. In a similar vain, it could be linked to early days of vaudeville, when performers didn't get paid unless they made it on, so they were encouraged to 'break a leg' meaning to break the line of legs that surrounded the stage. Again, plausible, but boring.

Break a leg Mr President...

Slightly more fun, but still routed firmly in the theatre, it could link to John Wilkes Booth, the man who shot Abraham Lincoln. As he tried to flee, he lept onto the stage, breaking his leg. How this equates to good luck is beyond me, as the President got shot, and he broke his leg, is beyond me. This is one of the more entertaining ones though, so I'll leave it in.

Back to the theatre, and A&E

'I see great misfortune...'
'I know he said good luck again.'

Returning to more theatrical interpretations, one that comes from the Elizabethans and the Greeks. Audiences didn't clap in Elizabethan times (apparently) instead stomping their chairs. The hope was that the show would be so good that the chair leg would break. The Greeks were slightly more barbaric than damaging furniture however, as they stamped their feet. So the phrase was about getting the audience to break their legs (which seems a little excessive.)

To finish, I will mention another odd theory. There is a German phrase 'Hals und Beinburch' which transtlates as 'break your neck and leg'. This originates in Luftwaffe slang, basically wishing a good landing on the pilot. This may have been a corruption from a Hebrew blessing, which kind of stuck.

I still don't know why you say break a leg

All these theories are fascinating and reading the Internet's offerings has been interesting. However, I'm still not sold. Yet, I probably will still say it. Actors are creatures of habit and as such we are unlikely to change. i guess that might be the best reason. Someone said it, the show was excellent, so it just kind of stuck. What do I know though? I'm just an amateur theatre lover with time to read a few articles online.

Chris is a member of Codsall Dramatic Society. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for all your amateur theatre news in Codsall & Wolverhampton. 

http://www.theatrecrafts.com/page.php?id=603

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break_a_leg

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/33955/why-do-people-say-break-a-leg-to-actors

http://plays.about.com/od/basics/a/breakaleg.htm

http://www.wordorigins.org/index.php/site/break_a_leg/

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/break-a-leg.html

http://www.theimportanceofbeingtrivial.com/why-actors-say-break-a-leg.html

"Break a leg!"...Wait what?

Actors are a superstitious bunch...

"Look, I'm sorry I said 'good luck' ok!?"

Ok, I give up! I've been involved in amateur theatre most of my adult life, and there is one thing I simply don't understand:

WHY SAY 'BREAK A LEG' BEFORE A PLAY!?!?

Seriously, think about it. That is the LAST thing you want anyone to do when they go on stage. No one has ever come out of the theatre and said 'Yes I enjoyed the show, but I would have enjoyed it more if the entire cast were on crutches!' No director has ever walked into the changing rooms following a play, ranting that there is no one on their way to A&E after the performance. So why say it?

'Good Luck...'

"I said is again didn't I?"

Some people are superstitious. I can understand that. A bit. I am not. I have a black cat, I walk under ladders and I think walking on the cracks in the pavement is awesome. If anything, I'm the opposite of superstitious.

I happen to know that historically at least, actors and theatre types are superstitious people. I'm not defending it. I just happen to know that this is a fact. The wonderful scene in Blackadder: The Third where the two actors explain to Blackadder why they go through some silly ritual when anyone mentions Macbeth speaks to emphasize this point. Again it, to me, doesn't defend it. I merely explains it.  Or gives another crazy example of acting superstition (Why can't I say Macbeth near a theatre? Is Shakespeare's ghost watching me?)

One superstition at a time though eh? So, why break a leg? Why not 'fracture an arm?' Or 'rupture a spleen?' Or why not just plain simple 'GOOD LUCK?!?!?!'

Now, despite appearances to the contrary, I am a level headed person. What I question is blind parroting of the same 3 words with no concept of why. Obviously, it is intended to convey good fortune to the actors about to go onto stage. Yet the question of why we use this phrase baffles me. So, over the next couple of posts, I'm going to look into this. I'd like to start with the phrase in theatre. When was this phrase first associated.

Defend the indefensible

In a 1921 edition of "New Statesman", Robert Wilson Lynd talked about this curious phrase in terms of theatre in his article 'A Defence Of Superstition'. He described theatre as the second-most superstitious institution in England, after house racing. In horse racing, wishing 'good luck' is also considered unlucky, so people were encouraged to say something horrible, like 'May you break your leg' which in horse racing I'd assume is a far more likely occurrence than in theatre. Though he didn't directly link the phrase to actors and performers, could this be the first link?

In no uncertain terms, Edna Ferber's 'A Peculiar Treasure' which detailed her fascination with the theatre appears to be the first written evidence linking to theatre this strange phrase. To quote, she believed that ' ...all the understudies sitting in the back row politely wishing the various principals would break a leg' which is nice. Bernard Sobel writes in 1948 linking this more directly to the subject matter. In his book The Theatre Handbook & Digest Of Plays, he records actors using this term as saying 'good luck' was bad luck.

It is my opinion that this goes deeper than that. Next time I write, I will trawl deeper into the subject matter, hopefully uncovering some more insights into this strange phenomenon...

Chris is part of Codsall Dramatic Society, who meet once a week at Codsall Village Hall, Wednesday 7:30pm. Like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter for more amateur theatre news and views in Codsall.

"A Defense of Superstition". The Living Age 311. 1921. p. 427. As published in The New Statesman, 1 October 1921.

Ferber, Edna (1939). A Peculiar Treasure. Doubleday, Doran & Co. p. 354.

“Wild About Wilde”

Why is amateur theatre so mad about Oscar Wilde? Memories Of West Moon Street

Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime was published, along with other short stories, over 100 years ago in 1891. Yet here we are in 2014 and CDS has just finished performing a play written in 2007, by American, Rob Urbinati, based on this story. So how has a Victorian Irishman had such a resounding influence on British, and indeed international, theatre? In his day, Oscar Wilde was an infamous public figure; a poet and a socialite with flamboyant dress and a rapier-like wit.  With his plays, Wilde sought to critique Victorian society and expose its decadence, hypocrisies and contradictions. Indeed, his only novel, The Picture Of Dorian Gray, caused widespread outrage upon its release. Wilde’s legendary wit is obvious in all his work and his social commentary about the aloof nature of Victorian high society is evident throughout.  In an interview given to Samuel French publishing house, West Moon Street author Rob Urbinati describes his play as ‘a contemporary "take" on a Wilde play.’ When comparing West Moon Street to his earlier play, Hazelwood Jr. High he explains ‘They both deal with a group of characters in a tight social circle who are oblivious, or at least choose to behave as if they were oblivious, to the moral consequences of their behaviour’ (‘Breaking Character’, 2011). From Lady Windermere’s Fan to The Importance Of Being Earnest, Wilde exposed the world to his stark social commentary made palatable by his classic British humour and sense of farce. Whilst his stories have stood the test of time and are still regularly performed on both stage and screen today, he is perhaps most remembered for the many quotes and idioms without which the English language would be considerably the poorer. Codsall Dramatic Society are an award winning amateur theatre group based in Codsall, Wolverhampton. We meet Wednesday nights at 7:30pm at Codsall Village Hall. Why not come an join us as we hunt for out next play! For more CDS info and fun, why not like us on facebook or follow us on twitter @CodsallDramSoc.    1-http://www.breaking-character.com/post/2011/08/01/Focus-on-a-Playwright-Rob-Urbinati.aspx

Pre rehearsal?

It's worth explaining here one of the main reasons I got into amateur theatre. I wanted to meet people, to make friends. I was new to Codsall, and I didn't want to go mad from loneliness...

After all, who couldn't love me?

So I met the good people of Codsall Dramatic Society, and we had a nice time at rehearsals for the show that the were performing at the time (Brush Up Your Shakespeare) and once the rehearsals are done, they did what they usually did. They popped out to their local pub.

Nothing wrong with this. If I'm honest, it was nice to have a drink with a group of like minded people and get to know them a bit better. Given I've been a member of the society now for 18 months+ now, it was obviously successful, and a great advocate to the benefits of amateur theatre as a way to meet people. If they're anything like the Codsall lot, its a sure fire way to make new friends.

For a play, I swear...

But before a rehearsal...

This last week, I was involved in an additional rehearsal for Codsall Dramatic Society's latest play, West Moon Street. These normally take place in various locations. We've had them in peoples houses, other rooms at the Village Hall, even Codsall Parish Rooms when we haven't been able to get in at the Hall. However, this time, the instructions read like the night in reverse.

We were told to meet at our local pub.

I haven't drunk that much honest...

Don't worry we haven't given up on rehearsals, the director hasn't lost the will to live (yet). The Crown in Codsall had said we could use their function room for our additional rehearsals. The space is good and if I'm honest when in amateur theatre, space is space. It makes little odds where we rehearse, so long as we get to.

So cheers to the Crown for letting Codsall Dramatic Society rehearse in your function room. It's always nice to be part of such a brilliant community. And it means we didn't have far to go for a drink afterwards!

I'm in West Moon Street, a play presented by Codsall Dramatic Society & Codsall Community Arts Festival, at Codsall Village Hall, 12th - 15th March. Tickets on sale 25th Feb, check out Codsall Community Arts Festival and Codsall Dramatic Society for more details.

Promoting Amateur Theatre & Amdram

21st Century Publicity for Amateur Theatre

Lets start by being honest

My "job title" (if you could call it that) is "publicity". It is a curious one. I'm made to think of that old proverb "If a tree falls in the wood, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Not that I'm comparing our productions to a huge tree falling over, no, our productions are usually much more dangerous.

Particularly where Luke (middle one) is involved

Having said that, a lot of amateur theatre is advertised by word of mouth, particularly in Codsall Dramatic Society's case. Being in a village, we often get our best publicity by people talking to other people, mentions from the Vicar and so on.

However, we are now moving into the 21st century. The internet looms large over us all, with Facebook, Twitter and many others becoming more and more prevalent. And while sites like eBay make buying that last minute prop much easier, we now find ourselves in the world of online bookings, online blogs (like this one) and more often than not, online messing around!

Combining The Two!

So we now find ourselves in amateur theatre needing to be aware of online presence as well as our presence on the ground. How can we do that you might ask? Well, for our last production, Puss In Boots, we decided to take a bit of a novel approach.

Trains late again...

The reasoning went something like this: We've got time to kill on a tech weekend, so lets get on with actually getting people to come and see the show by wandering around the village, in costume, and take some funny pictures so people will know there's a play going on!

So off I set with two members of cast, Puss and her best mate Dusty, with someone to hold their coats for good measure. We went into shops, to famous landmarks and to various other locations around the village to take a kind of "Where's Wally" type game (sorry Karen). Having wandered around town, I set these pics to run on Facebook, inviting people to like the pics if they spotted Puss. This worked brilliantly on two levels:

1. People in the village saw what we were doing and asked questions. In this way, we continuedthe word of mouth, getting people excited about the upcoming production.
2. The following online involvement proved a boom too, with people seeing the pictures in their friends newsfeed because they liked the photo. Many new people saw our production for the first time because of this.

In these troubled times

Let's be honest, times are hard for everyone. In this way, an amateur theatre production is good value, as long as the quality of show is always good. Thankfully for Codsall Dramatic Society, this has rarely been a problem. So it's about getting people to come and see these fantastic shows, available for a fraction of the price of a professional one, or even the cinema. This is just one novel way of letting people know about it.

Or like this blog, writing about it for a while to encourage publicity :)

Codsall Dramatic Society is performing "West Moon Street" by Rob Urbinati at Codsall Village Hall 12th-15th March, in association with Codsall Community Arts Fesitval! Tickets on sale 25th Feb! For more info, visit our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter!

Happy New Year Amdram Fans!

Happy New Year!

From myself to all amateur theatre fans, I wish you a happy 2014, here’s a tasty amdram feast to look forward to, another play I'm in…

Codsall Dramatic Society & Codsall Community Arts Festival present West Moon Street, a farcical mystery-thriller based on a short story written by Oscar Wilde and skilfully adapted for stage by Rob Urbinati.

Young Lord Arthur is deliriously happy – just down from Oxford and soon to marry – when a mysterious palm reader predicts he will commit a murder. A proper English gentleman, Arthur believes it is his Duty to get this killing business over with before he ties the knot. But his education has not provided him with the required skills, and a hilarious series of mishaps ensues as he sets about finding a victim.

Codsall Dramatic Society and Codsall Community Arts Festival

Tickets On Sale February 25th

Wed 12, Thu 13 & Fri 14 March at 7.30 pm, £7

Sat 15 March Matinee at 2.30 pm, £6

Codsall Village Hall

For more from Codsall Dramatic society, visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit us at Codsall Village Hall, 7:30pm most Wednesdays!

It's been a while...

Hi everyone (or if I'm right and no-one else reads this, hello mum!)

I realise I've not written as much as I probably should have over the last few weeks, but I've been directing Codsall Dramatic Society's production, "Puss In Boots"! We've had really good reviews, and fantastic audiences, and I would just like to say thank you to all the cast and crew who gave their time and their efforts have resulted in a fantastic production! They can all be very proud of what they achieved.

But now that's done, I can bring you more funny insights into amateur theatre from the ground level. I hope to get a part in "West Moon Street", Codsall Dramatic Society's next outing, opening March 12th.

For more info, check out our website, here, Codsall Dramatic Society co uk or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. More info coming soon!

Challenging Your Pre-conceptions - Playing Someone You Hate in Amateur Theatre

Time...

I've taken time to reflect on last weeks post, and noticed it to be pretty aggressive. You see, it's hard to see the wood for the trees when you're so jaded from a particular part, as I was at the time...

Rest and Xbox, that's what I needed...

Having taken the time to pause and think about it, as much as I couldn't stand Mike as a character, I should be grateful for the opportunity. You see, as valid as the points I raised last time were, it's these sort of trials that make you a better actor.

I'd like to balance last weeks post this week with a new post about the benefits of playing this sort of character.

Improving your acting

As I said last week, playing characters like this is very challenging. You've got to work hard to get the motivations right, or the characters comes across as stock.

But surely this can only make you a better actor? Treat acting like a muscle, if you let it become stagnant, you'll never get better. If you constantly test it, stretch it, then you will get better at it. For all my complaining, this is the best way to improve as an actor. Testing yourself, pushing yourself to improve. it's how the best become the best. So instead of moaning, we should embrace this challenge and see it head on.

Being someone else

Lets face it, at the end of the day, acting is escapism. We act to be someone else. To imagine ourselves in someone elses shoes. And in order to do that we have to vary our characters. It can be very easy to become type cast, to be seen as the same person every time. So it's surely a benefit to play lots of different characters. To become someone else, to act in different ways to how you normally would, that is the natural. And this leads me nicely onto my last point...

It's fun!

How this point slipped past me the first time is beyond me, but here it is. I'll go slightly away from Mike here, to talk about one of my favourite characters, King Rat from Dick Whittington. 

This guy was an amoral, rude and aggressive schemer. Yet I had so much fun playing the character, doing things I would never do. 

Sitting back and seeing this, while Mike wasn't a lot of fun, he did often in "The Memory Of Water" sit back and wind the other characters up. Which now I look back on it, was kind of fun. His attitude to woman couldn't really be further from mine, but when you look at it from the point of view of comedy, there is a lot to recommend the part. It was fun to rile the other characters intentionally. Not something I try to do, but entertaining for the play.

Summing up

Amateur theatre is difficult at times. Playing challenging characters is one of the many challenges it throws up. Yet I can't deny it's fun. A lot of fun...

I'm off on holiday till 23rd October now. For more amateur theatre news, check out Codsall Dramatic Society on Facebook and Twitter, @CodsallDramSoc.

Playing Someone You Hate In Amateur Theatre

Sorry I've been away...

It's been a busy couple of weeks. Those of you who read this blog will know that I've been involved in Codsall Dramatic Society's latest production, "The Memory Of Water". 

Now this has been very draining, for reasons that I haven't made clear, because it would have been a bit of a spoiler. The reason it was more draining than usual is because I couldn't stand him!

Look at this guy! Eugh!

The character was that of Mike, a man who's been two timing his wife for the last 5 years.

I'll just let that sink in for a second. This man has been cheating on his wife for 5 years! With the same woman! But his wife's ill so thats ok. Wait, NO IT'S NOT! That's worse! I seriously could not stand this man. His every line had an agenda, it was sickening to even think the lines, never mind speak them!

Now, this is an inevitability. At some point, you will have to play a character that you don't like. That doesn't mean I have to like it! So I'm going to rage for a little bit on how much I hate playing characters like this. Then maybe next week when I've calmed down, I'll be able to see some silver lining on this thunder cloud...

Getting into their head

Managing to get into the head of someone you despise is very difficult. Now thankfully with Mike, he seemed to have some personality. It's just that it wasn't a personality I'd ever want to be associated with. He is aggressive when he doesn't get his own way, resolute in not budging an inch, and more and more throughout the play comes across as spineless. Now I'm not saying that he has no redeeming features, it's just that they were buried under layer after layer of issues. Getting into the mind of a character like this is grueling. It's nigh on impossible. No one would ever like to imagine themselves like this. Some characters are simple. Those that you don't like are among the hardest to play. It's physically and emotionally draining.

The Lingering After Effects

Mike as a character stuck with me. Challenging as he was, in order to make him believable, I had to bury myself in the character. I had no choice, there's only certain ways you can do this. This makes you hate even yourself. I looked in the mirror, and he looked back, with his smug, womanising grin. I couldn't stand it. So what did I do? I shaved. I got a hair cut, I vowed not to wear that suit jacket until the look of it no longer reminded him of me. That is the lasting effect. It makes you doubt yourself. By getting into the character, you start to associate yourself with him. Sure, in a few weeks, I might look like him again, but by then I hope I'll have moved on and forgotten. 

Grrrrrr...

I might have calmed down in a bit. I think maybe I'll go and have a drink, a hot bath, and maybe next week, I'll be able to come back to this in a different light.

Chris is an active member of Codsall Dramatic Society. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter, @CodsallDramSoc.

Opening Night!

Codsall Dramatic Society Presents The Memory Of Water

Hey readers, I'm not going to be telling you more funny and heartwarming tales from amateur theatre. Tonight my new play opens! I would love to see as many people there as possible, so if you can be there, come and see it, it promises to be a fun night!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Memory Of Water Tomorrow

Theatre Fans!

My amateur theatre group, Codsall Dramatic Society, will be presenting "The Memory Of Water" by Shelagh Stephenson tomorrow night, and all week. Come and see the show! Here's some pics to wet your appetite!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Amateur Theatre Home Straight! - Tech and Dress Weekend

And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain...

I have no intention of quoting all that song, but for Codsall Dramatic Society's next production, the end is indeed near, as we have reached the tech and dress weekend!

You have GOT to be kidding me?

There is no one in amateur theatre who will tell you this is easy. It isn't. It's a none stop slog, getting the set up, the lights up, the seats out, etc etc etc.

I've been noticing a theme with a lot of my blog posts (as you might have, if anyone actually reads these, if so let me know. I get so lonely...) that my opinion on amateur theatre seems to be long, hard slog followed by huge success. Which you might now expect me to do here, talk about the giddy high of performance!

Only excuse for this surely?

Now I am going to surprise you readers! Here is a tribute. To the people who can so often be forgot in favour of the ponces up on stage in amateur theatre...

Just a little more blush I think dear...

Tech, Lighting and back stage

Did you see that eye shadow...

I have a huge amount of respect for these people. They work so hard and they hardly get any credit. Sure those on the sound and lighting desk at the back are almost always thanked in a play. Yet there are so many more people, who turn up week in and week out, who don't get credit. They work tirelessly, so the cast can learn lines, make sure they're ready. 

So here's to you, those who make amateur theatre possible!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

The Darker Side Of Amateur Theatre!

Where there's muck, there's brass!

I'll introduce this with a little about myself. I'm northen. That to you either means I'm hard working, dedicated, salt of the earth. Or it means I moan a lot and can't pronounce a lot of words correctly. However, no matter what you think, I know when hard work is important. Nowhere more so than in amateur theatre!

Would you believe one garage could hold this much? Only in amateur theatre...

Codsall Dramatic Society members over a couple of Saturdays recently sorted out the costume store, basically a garage that the society uses to store all the costumes that have been used in the past to entertain, sadden and baffle audiences in our many amateur theatre productions (not to mention embarassing every member of cast we've ever had...)

Trust me this isn't even the worst one...

Yet out of these strange and indeed entertaining experiences, there is so much to be gained. No longer is the dragons head that was once used so magnificantly for that one play 10 years ago lost (though on reflection it could use some febreeze), returned are those somber army uniforms, that made many an old lady weep in our last great war epic and rest assured, no ugly sister will ever be without a costume again...

Trust me, this isn't even the worst thing we found...

Without this kind of effort, amateur theatre would never get off the ground, we'd be languishing in barren rooms, with no props (since when does orange juice even look like whiskey) and no costumes (we've still got clothes, steady on!) Amateur Theatre globally relies on people mucking in. So to all you people, I salute you!

Want to come and see this maniac in action? Come and see Codsall Dramatic Societies latest offering, The Memory Of Water by Shelagh Stephenson!

Weds 25th – Fri 27th September 7:30pm tickets £7.50, Sat 28th September 2:30pm (Matinee only) tickets £6.50 at Codsall Village Hall.  

Not suitable for those under the age of 16 years.

Tickets available from Knit & Stitch, Codsall and Ian Rigby Jewellers, Birches Bridge. You can call our Box Office 07792784908, or reserve online at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk.

For more information check out our website at www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk or find our Facebook page and click on ‘Like’ to be kept up-to-date with the latest news at CDS

Amateur Theatre And Learning Lines 2 - The Script Strikes Back

I left you all last time pondering the best way to learn lines. I'd looked at using a Dictaphone, getting to whole cast to record it, or even using Que cards. So what other ways are their to learn lines? Anyone in amateur theatre knows how important it is.

4.  Mind Mapping - Walking it through, Roman Style!

This suggestion made me think a lot. Amateur Theatre requires similar levels of professionalism to professional theatre (if it is to be successful). So employing such a technique, with proven scientific pedigree (yes I know wikipedia isn't THAT scientific) would make sense. It involves using spacial awareness to help you learn lines. Like, walking through a garden, and associating your lines with different points in the garden. By unlocking an otherwise unused part of the brain, more mental capacity is used.

It's great in theory. However, if my last paragraph hasn't given this away, I must admit I don't quite understand it. I saw the technique used on TV, and I still didn't understand it. It does seem to work, but in order to put it into practice in amateur theatre seems a little extreme. By all means, try it, but I think there must be a simpler way.

5. Little by Little

This is another tried and tested method, practically written in the bible of amateur theatre. Learn your lines just a little bit at a time. Do a scene, part of a scene, or even a page, make sure you get it right, then move on to your next objective. Perfect, you learn the lines, and you will have confidence on opening night right?

It is  a well thought out idea. Yet I know many in amateur theatre will be thinking, "How long can this take?" There's the problem. Time is a problem people in amateur theatre are all too aware of. If you have a big part, learning lines in this way may leave you rushing to the end. The ending of the play being the bit people will remember. It's a worthwhile technique, but do require a time commitment that not everyone can give.

6. During Rehearsals

I must admit that this is the method I usually use to learn my lines. I find that lines flow more organically within the setting that is the stage. I worry before any amateur theatre production because the lines aren't always readily there. Yet when i get on stage, I find it easier, because I'm in the situation those lines were meant for. Maybe its to do with spacial awareness again (those Romans might be cleverer than I thought...)

However, it's risky. If you aren't sure going on, how can you be sure it will be alright on the night? How do you know you will remember them? There are hundreds of words to learn, if you paraphrase even one, how much could you throw your fellow cast members? I've dried on stage before. Could this be half the problem? Do I leave my lines too late?

.....Does It Really Matter?

The final sticking point. In amateur theatre, how dangerous is dropping the odd line? Answer? Not a lot. You and your fellow cast members have been doing these scenes time and time again. With a strong cast round you, you can get away with it. When I've dropped lines in the past, I've asked people I knew in the audience and they never notice. So enjoy the thrill of amateur theatre. Learn your lines, but above all, enjoy it!

Want to get involved in amateur theatre in Wolverhampton and Codsall? Visit Codsall Dramatic Society or like us on Facebook. Come see our next amateur theatre production in Wolverhampton and Codsall, The Memory of Water, by Shelagh Stephenson, 25th-28th September at Codsall Village Hall.