Theatre is therapy. I dont mean actual techniques like psychodrama and drama therapy, although of course they are official therapeutic techniques. Im talking about walking into an empty space and connecting with a feeling and a character within yourself, and losing yourself in the act of opening to that impulse. Yesterday, I attended a workshop where I did an improvisation based on anger. It had been a while since Id been on stage, I teach more theatre than I act these days. I went up there, in that initial nervous hush, and I connected with a feeling of anger and a character and I trusted the ride. The result astounded me. I had been bearing residues of anger toward someone for a while, and by taking on this unrelated role and connecting with anger as a feeling in general, I felt liberated by the improvisation. That residue of anger found a release, and oh-how-good it felt! Thank you, Sondos Shabayek, for asking me to join the improv... I had forgotten than theatre is therapy just on its own. Even if we dont intend it, it happens. It happens by walking out into that empty space full of possibilities and trusting the ride. Because if acting is connecting to true emotions, then the theatre is always a therapeutic space. What a gift :-)
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 08:11:22 +0000
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