Our shared motto – compliments of Mr. Shakespeare, of course – has always been, “The play’s the thing.” As a director/teacher, it is equally important to remember that our actors are children, possessed of delicate egos that must be treated with care and respect. There exists the continual responsibility to position these youngsters for success. Here are a few fundamentals for ensuring that your students have a positive and engaging time as they become part of Shakespeare’s world.
A Golden Rule
Always offer praise, in this way enhancing and building students’ confidence at every opportunity. In a firm but gentle manner, carefully motivate, reassure and encourage. Remember the maxim: praise in public, criticize in private.
To Audition – or Not to Audition?
Remember that no step in the mounting of a production should ever be at the expense of the children or their self-esteem. Auditions can be stressful and unpleasant even for the most seasoned of professionals. For our children it is something which they can and should be spared, so it is earnestly recommended that auditions be avoided.
It is far more important to become familiar with your children and their individual talents and abilities. Have those who want speaking parts – and not everyone will – memorize a short passage from the play to be performed. It can be recited in front of the class as part of a lesson familiarizing the children with the musicality of Shakespeare’s language. By this method, all the students will have the opportunity to participate at this early stage, and each child can then be steered towards the role for which they are best suited. When in doubt, you can always remind students of the words of the great Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski: “There are no small roles, only small actors.”
A Place for Every Child
As a director, you must be certain to include every one of the children who wish to participate. There will almost certainly be students who do not feel comfortable onstage but still want to be part of the play; for these children, create a Tech Team. There is a wealth of opportunity for them to feel fulfilled with work on the scenery, costumes, props, and program.
The role of stage manager is also a very important one, and it presents a great opportunity to utilize dependable children who do not wish to perform. The stage manager is the overall supervisor of the stage and the actors and is essential to any production. It is their responsibility to “keep the book” – that is, to sit beside the director recording any information such as new blocking (the movement of the actors onstage) and to note any changes to the text. It is also the stage manager’s job to be “on book.” They follow along with the script to be sure that the words are spoken correctly and that all stage business is consistent and correct.
A Note on Technical Elements
No technical aspect of the production – lighting, props, set design, costumes – should ever overwhelm the children and thereby upset the delicate balance of the performance. Approach the stage set and properties not as extravagant distractions, but as simple and essential tools that serve the children and the play. As Sir Derek Jacobi put it so eloquently, “All of Shakespeare’s plays can be done with nothing. Absolutely nothing but the words.”
The Importance of Being Off Book
It is an honor to speak Shakespeare’s words and bring his characters to life – but this can only be done when a young actor knows his or her lines! It is imperative that each student memorize their lines by the time formal rehearsals begin. In our classes, a youngster who showed up for rehearsal still “on book” (that is, needing to hold their script to say their lines) was invariably met by fellow actors with the refrain, “The play’s the thing! Learn your lines!” Theatre introduces children to great joy and great responsibilities – simply put, the children need to take their fun very seriously.