How to Perform in the Theater

Usually you will have a few rehearsals in the theatre before opening night, use this time to simply get used to your new and probably overwhelming surroundings. Get a feel for the stage by doing this it will calm any nerves.

When rehearsing on the stage, remember your stage directions and relate them to the stage, there will probably have to be some changes made but simply do as you have always done unless told otherwise.

Be patient! the director and stage crew will be having to sort out the technical side of the show such as set changes and lights. There will be a lot of repetition and mistakes made so patience is crucial

Remember to make your face visible to everybody in the theatre, tilt your head slightly up and look at the dress circle, but feel free to move your head up and down and use different imaginative spots to keep your performance upbeat.

Accentuate your movements, make it so people at the back will be able to see you, small acting is for the screen, remember there are people in the back rows, move around if your director allows and smile it will keep the energy up also.

Speak up. It's no use speaking like a mouse as no one will be able to hear you, indeed you may have a microphone but that can't do all the work you need to make the sound for it to be amplified.

Don't move things around. Having a strict discipline backstage is key, do not move any props even if they look like they have been left there, although they may look like clutter they may have been placed there for someone to run off stage and grab it. Do not run as it can be very dangerous such as set changes.

Love what you are doing, it will show in your performance and will keep the energy up in the theatre.

Listen. After the show the director will probably have notes for the cast, listen to these carefully and remember them for the next show.

Perform every show as if it was your first and your last and give it your all and this will keep the energy up.

Improvise. If you forget lines, some actors go off the script and improvise/ad-lib only do this if you are experienced as it can be hard to improvise successfully and try to get back on the script.

If another actor on stage forgets their line and you know it help them out try to merge their line with yours they will thank you, remember you are all a team.