DIRECTING

A theatre director has responsibility for the overall practical and creative interpretation of a dramatic script or musical score, taking into account the budgetary and physical constraints of production. They are involved at all stages of the process, from the design and pre-production stages and rehearsal right through to the final performance.

Aspiring directors may also have backgrounds as actors, writers, designers, stage managers or producers. Some directors begin their working lives as assistant directors. Most directors, however, start their career in fringe and small-scale theatre developing their own work, often working on grant-funded or 'low-pay, no-pay' projects with like-minded artists. Some theatre companies employ a full-time director as an associate. The director then works closely with the artistic director, assisting with the programming for the season and directing some productions.

Most directors are usually employed on a freelance or fixed-term contract basis. They may also be employed as artistic or resident directors in repertory companies. Some directors are also writers, designers and performers and may write, devise, design and act in their own work.

 Most theatres are headed by an executive administrator or general manager answerable to a board, a local council or both. Large theatres may also have an artistic director who selects the plays to be produced in the theatre each season (and the director for each) and is responsible for managing the company and its finances together with the administrator. In the case of a small performing company, such as a touring fringe company or a theatre-in-education group, the director may also act as administrator or producer.

Most theatres are headed by an executive administrator or general manager answerable to a board, a local council or both. Large theatres may also have an artistic director who selects the plays to be produced in the theatre each season (and the director for each) and is responsible for managing the company and its finances together with the administrator. In the case of a small performing company, such as a touring fringe company or a theatre-in- education group, the director may also act as administrator or producer.

What does a director do?

programming and budgeting; working with writers through workshops or script development schemes; adapting a script and, if the play is newly written, working with the writer or collaborating with playwrights; breaking down a script, analyzing and exploring the content and conducting relevant research; translating and interpreting a script or musical score; conducting auditions for productions, selecting and hiring designers, musicians, etc.; managing time and organizing people and space; attending production meetings with set designers; conducting rehearsals; communicating and liaising with all parties involved, including actors, the creative team, the production team and producers; attending preview performances and preparing detailed notes for the cast and creative and production teams; helping to publicize the production by giving interviews and leading discussions.

Orson Welles Actor, director Theatre Film Radio

A black Macbeth

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From a director Two Directors were interviewed here’s what they had to say.

Watch and read a lot of plays. Know the script inside and out. What they said

What he said

He enjoys watching an actor progress. Visualize and map out each scene. You have to work around the space of the stage. Know your audience and how to work with your actors. A director needs to be open to ideas from his actors and other people. Read Uta Hagan's book.

What she said

She enjoys the creative process See what you like and don’t like in other productions. Take classes, become an assistant director. You have to deal with a lot of personalities. Actors will work differently. You don’t want to be a control Nazi. Try to alleviate problems before they come. Making sure everything runs on schedule, there’s a lot of scheduling Be Prepared from the beginning and make sure you have enough time for your actors to prepare. Know what you want out of your actors. Look at each French scene Make sure things like lighting, costumes are met. Write down a list of every prob. Set rules for your actors at the beginning. Don’t let the other actors direct each other.

Directing is hard. Like having a baby. Make it an enjoyable experience for everyone. Never, ever, ever complain about anyone in the show to anybody else in the show! As the director you are the example. The director is like a conducer who conducts this beautiful piece of music called theatre. Books she recommends on directing: A Sense of Direction by William Ball and On Directing by Harold Clurman.

WORK CITED Welles