I was 8 years old when I was first trusted with a role in a school play. Dressed in my frilliest best, ribbons and bows intact, I was in front of at least a hundred students. Mid-way through the play, my co-actor fumbled with her lines. And in that moment of distraction, I blanked out. I forgot every line that I had so earnestly rehearsed, and I stood blank in front of an audience of sniggering eight year olds. From then onwards, I was always chosen to be part of the choir and was never trusted with a speaking role again. And there ended my stage career, says Delna Mistry Anand, who today believes that theatre can heal!
Many years later, as I watch my own children ace their lines on stage, I was nudged by a friend to join an acting workshop; “Matchstick Monologues – The Power of One” led by the maverick director and theatre coach, founder of The Hive Jimish Thakkar. The 8-session workshop taught us basic stage techniques, voice control, body control and concluded with a rendition of a monologue, which I decided to write myself.
Through the exercises and classwork, I realised that an acting class is not reserved for aspiring Broadway actors or actresses. Acting, in its truest form, isn’t about faking it. It is actually quite the opposite. It is about living truthfully with the imaginary world of the script, and responding through our own repertoire of emotions. It is about digging deep into the emotion you have once felt and bringing that out truthfully into the script. There are emotions that are lying half-baked within. Unhealed grief, unattended anger, unaddressed jealousy – and acting can bring you face to face with those emotions.
Here are some of the biggest benefits of taking up a theatre class:
Allows you to vent emotionally
This is a big one. Being the very first stage performance for most of us, we were asked to pick a familiar topic for our monologues. An ambitious choice perhaps, but I chose to write mine myself, choosing a subject close to my heart. I knew I would need to dig into the deepest recesses of my being to perform the dramatic scenes. With the guidance of my wonderful acting coach Jimish, I gave myself time and space to connect with grief, old grief, that sat comfortably within. It gave me that outlet to deal with it and as a result, set it free. Acting gives you that emotional outlet to tap into passionate emotions like anger, despair, love and yearning, where no holds are barred. This was the biggest take away for me.
Helps You to Communicate More Effectively
Effective communication can change the world. Have you ever noticed that if a brilliant idea spoken in a weak, unsure voice never quite makes the cut? But when suggested with enthusiasm and the right pitch, is nothing short of a Eureka moment! That is what effective communication is all about. Acting teachers are masters of diction and dialogue. In an acting class, you will discover how to enunciate so everyone can comprehend you, experiment with new tones that add meaning to your vocalizations, and become more confident in the unique voice you have.
Overcome self-consciousness
Acting is being aware of yourself, your feelings, what your body is doing, what to do with your hands, how to shift body weight and so on. But when your awareness becomes a distraction, you’re self-conscious. A noted actor once said, ‘a tense instrument cannot fully express itself’. The work of acting is to make every moment appear natural, effortless and spontaneous. Different acting techniques help actors develop reliable tools to manage themselves and their performances. a great deal of learning to act is discovering what works best for you, no matter what script or part you’re performing.
Intellectually Challenging
In theatre, there is always room for improvement; the learning never stops. The value of reading a book, attending a class, seeing a show or even observing people in the street is infinite. Even the most experienced actors still hone their craft through attending theatre, seeing films and reading scripts. Jimish said to us “I’ll teach you the techniques, and they’ll click at different points.” He couldn’t have been more correct. Each actor makes discoveries about themselves and their practise at different points in their life, and it is these lightbulb moments that inspire you to develop your skills, refine your techniques, and investigate ideas about human behaviour.
Improves Your Focus
A big part of acting comes from observing and listening to people and the way they interact through regular life. Whether you’re people-watching or performing a scene, the ability to focus and hone into someone’s energy is absolutely vital. Ever wonder how actors who play dead or asleep don’t get distracted by a funny scene happening on stage? It’s all about zoning in on something or someone else. This ability to focus is so beneficial in life; it helps you to give your full attention to someone or something without being distracted by other factors. You can then be a master of switch on- switch off, and that is a life skill.
Being authentic
One of the biggest issues in society today, is the fear of being different. Most people are scared to stand apart. However in the world of theatre, not only are these differences celebrated, but they define you as a performer. Playing different characters forces you to know yourself inside and out- you can’t do justice to a role if you’re not emotionally available yourself. This openness translates into everyday life, creating a self- awareness that allows you to be comfortable in your own skin and enjoy your differences.
There Are No Rules
And finally, the best (and sometimes worst) part of acting is the absolute freedom it gives you. There are no rules; you are free to explore and fill your assigned character the best way you know how. On the day of our monologue performance, Jimish said, “Today, you’re on your own. You have the tools and what magic you create with it on stage, is yours and yours alone.” Although he was there for guidance, the infinite choices were daunting. This is where trust comes in. Trust in the vision, trust in your fellow actors to push you to respond in the best way, and trust in yourself and the interpretation you have chosen. There is no right or wrong. Every actor is different, constantly shifting and moulding as they gain life experience and develop new thoughts and ideas to bring to their craft. There is nothing more exciting than being given the freedom to invent and play without restrictions; this return to childhood is not only healthy and enjoyable, but an important lesson in living without fear of judgement.
I am not sure when I’ll get the opportunity to perform on stage again, even if I will. But I can confidently say that taking the monologue class at The Hive changed my life. I was able to forgive my eight-year old self for forgetting the lines; I was able to connect with various emotions intimately and express them in ways I’d never do in real life; I am able to communicate more clearly and yes – I finally understand why my children love theatre so much.
Jimish Thakkar, Founder of The Hive has left Dubai and moved to set up The Hive in Brampton, Canada. He can be reached on jimish.thakkar@gmail.com
The Hive is now managed by Dubai based radio personality Malvika Varadan. https://www.instagram.com/liveathive
By:
Delna Mistry Anand.
Delna Mistry Anand teaches meditation for the modern mind, integrating techniques for mindfulness-based stress reduction, spiritual guidance and more. Using a combination of
healing modalities along with traditional practices of meditation and pranayama (breathing techniques), she leads people to reconnect with their inner wisdom and bring about their own spiritual healing in a deep and profound way. Delna is a certified life coach, meditation teacher, sound healing practitioner, Reiki master, alternative healer and a gifted intuitive mentor.
Contact Delna at @delnaanand