Theatre, music, and dance exist all around us and it is the purpose of formal performing arts to remind us this is so. Deftly using all the dimensions of human expression engages the audience with reality in new ways, reflecting their own experience back at them or connecting them with a foreign one.
Methodical and patient exploration of a script or story inevitably yields a unique interpretation. Rushing or forcing a choice can damage the story’s integrity. Spontaneity is also essential but requires structure to be effective.
An actor’s imagination engenders belief in the audience. Imagination is most engaged when an actor’s reality aligns with the circumstances, language, and style of a story. Imagined reality can be just as palpable and truthful as physical—theatricality comes when physical reality and world of the play do not align.
Anyone can be a storyteller. I take an “accessibilty-first” approach to collaboration, built around ability, experience, and need, with nothing being prescriptive.
All storytelling is worthwhile and important. While simple and entertaining stories can be effective, I especially appreciate storytelling with ambitious theatricality, profound questions, connection to tradition and community, multi-layered dramaturgy, and/or (at the the very least!) a good sense of humour.