The Role of the Specialists - The Director

The director is responsible for the artistic effectiveness of the production as a whole and his/her work normally begins with the script. The Director must be thoroughly familiar with the play in order to cast and rehearse the performers and to guide the members of his production team such as the designers.

By examining the play's structure, the Director seeks to realise how the playwright creates mood and draws responses from the audience. He/she may divide the play into sections, analyse the characters behaviour and mood in each section, and then determine how each section relates to those before and after it.

The Director must also understand each character's function in the play and what demands the role may make on a performer. Although during the rehearsal process he will want input from the actors and actresses, he will still wish to have an initial sense of each character's personality, physical characteristics, emotional range and vocal qualities.

From the script, the Director will visualise the scenic, costume and lighting requirements of the production. If it's a new play, the Director may work directly with the playwright, suggesting changes and cuts and this process will continue throughout the rehearsal period.

If the play is older, the Direcotr may wish to make changes to the text so that a modern audience can better understand the language and action. He may seek the help of a Dramaturge to make revisions. A Dramaturge is a historian or literary scholar who advises the Director on matters of style or historical detail.

Before begining rehearsals, the Director will discuss his interpretation of the play at pre-production meetings with the set/scene, costume and lighting designers. These specialists will make suggestions about design and the Director will may make specific requests. The Director makes sure that the proposed settings and costume designs will reflect the action, mood, theme, characters, and period of the play.

After these pre-production meetings with the technical and design specialists, the Director will proceed with the casting of the play. There may be open auditions, certain performers may be invited to audition for particular roles. The auditions may consist of rehearsed readings, the acting our of certain scenes from other plays and/or improvisations. The Director will try to cast a role with the other roles in mind in order to create a balanced and varied cast.

Once the cast have been selected, rehearsals will be organised. The rehearsal process varies from Director to Director but the main concern for the Director will be to work closely with the performers in partnership, to draw out the most effective performances possible and to enable a unified company.

In reharsals, particular attention will be paid to Movement, which is essential to blend one scene into another to create a sense of flow and development. The Movement must always be appropriate for the character, situation, mood and type of play. Gestures and facial expressions supplement the effects of movement.

Many of the rehearsals will take place in a rehearsal room where chalk lines or tape will indicate the stage floor plan. Only basic furniture and props will normally be used.

The rehearsal schedule normally begins with the reading , studying and discussion of the play. Then the Director arranges the pattern of the performers' movements - this is known as "blocking". Next comes the work on characterisation, line readings, stage action, changes of mood, and blending the performers into a single unit.

In technical rehearsals, problems of lighting, costume, scenery changes etc., will be resolved. Finally, in dress rehearsals, the Director, having combined all the elements of the production together, presents the final product as it will be seen by the audience.

At this point the production will be "handed over" to the Stage Manager who becomes fully responsible for the production performances, the Director's job being done.

In Community Theatre, the Director often remains available throughout the performance run, giving notes where necessary, and supporting the Stage Management team because many of them will be training.

Thank you for reading this article, if you have any questions relating to community drama workshops or theatre, please do not hesitate to email me. At Suite 101 we are here to help.