As a performing artist, I have had the opportunity to be part of various theatrical shows, ranging from musical theatre to devised theatre. Personally, I feel that theatre turned me into a better individual. It has helped me mature in various ways, mainly with regards to:
- Creativity;
- Discipline;
- Teamwork;
- Commitment;
- Confidence, and;
- Appreciation.
CREATIVITY
The arts in general are a source of inspiration and creativity. Watching different pieces and works has inspired me to come up with my own new, fresh and crazy ideas. I have also been inspired to attempt working on my own projects and potentially developing them into something bigger. Thanks to theatre, I discovered a more creative side to myself which I had not explored as much before I got involved in the arts.
DISCIPLINE
Theatre instils in us thespians a sense of discipline. In theatre, deadlines are imperative, therefore constant attention and cooperation are necessary to put up a high-level production. This skill is also important at school and at the workplace, therefore it is a necessary ability for those individuals who truly want to succeed in their career, whatever their career may be.
TEAMWORK
Something which is very important when working in the arts is teamwork. It is quite a crucial element in anything really and truly since, whenever a group of people are somehow working together, teamwork is needed. Being part of the theatrical community truly emphasises the importance of this. A great singing number is made up of different voices singing different harmonies simultaneously which all have to match perfectly with one another. Group dance numbers require that the dancers’ movements are synchronised with one another. Otherwise they would not look as nice. If one actor messes up a line, it might throw off the other actors as well. Then again, if one actor messes up a line, it is the job of the other actors to keep the scene going by improvising, if needs be. Teamwork and trust are two very important elements in any production.
COMMITMENT
Being part of a production brings along with it hours upon hours of rehearsals and preparations. This requires a lot of commitment. The more committed you are, the more respect you earn. When the people around you see that you are committed, they feel at ease to trust you with something. In order for a show to be put up well, the cast depend on each other’s commitment. Otherwise, it would all break into pieces and the production ends up not reaching its full potential. This applies to every decision we take in our personal lives. Once we choose to commit to something, the right thing to do is to remain committed to it, unless, of course, the circumstances do not allow it.
CONFIDENCE
Performing in front of large audiences has helped boost my confidence not only on stage but also in my everyday life. Knowing that you are playing a different character does help boost your confidence on stage. Yet this confidence does not remain with that character only. On the contrary, it resonates in the actor’s personal personality as well. Due to the confidence I gained from my theatrical experiences, I have become better able to present presentations, to deliver better speeches and to learn how to create well formulated arguments. I have found this set of skills extremely helpful in my day-to-day life.
APPRECIATION
After having the opportunity of watching and staging different types of theatrical pieces, I learned to appreciate the work that is put into producing these performances. Sometimes, works of art might look unusual or “weird”. Yet each of these works of art behold within them a story which the artist wants to convey to those who view his/her work. It only takes an appreciative and critical eye to be able to see what this story is. This applies to anything, not only the arts. Every movement we make, every thought we think, every breath we take – these are the little things we should learn to appreciate. Theatre and the arts teach us how to do so.
Art is something so deep and meaningful that we may not always understand it completely.
Unfortunately, we tend to ignore how powerful art truly is. Notice how beauty, strength and power all fade away with the individual who beholds them. Yet art remains – always. Be it a poem, be it a play, be it a sculpture – it remains for centuries.
All of these qualities create not only professional artists, but also intellectual human beings.
Bradley Cachia 