Article written by Breanna Smith.
Like home is where the heart is, a theatre is the heart of a play. While some aim to perform a certain play, many more aim to perform at a certain theatre. This is because a theatre has power and an effect over a story. This is done in many ways and at many times within a play. So, today we look at how a theatre affects a show.
When we walk into a theatre, it sets the mood. Yes, sometimes props are waiting on stage or there is a screen with a title and music in the background, but often it’s from the feel of the room. A show is able to feel heartfelt or professional before a note is played. We are able to feel the formal, dedicated beauty of a performance in the Concert Hall at QPAC, compared to the dedicated work of many over the years that you feel when walking into Schonell Theatre at St. Lucia UQ Campus, the latter being helped with archways from the sixties. When walking into a theatre, we get our first look at the show and our first judgement of it – and a large part of it, is the theatre.
A clear example that a show is affected by a theatre, is the setup of the stage. A theatre with a revolving stage is going to use it, and this allows for the stage and story to be presented in a new and changing light. The depth of a stage in a theatre affects a storyline by allowing the show to focus on closer conversations, and it can also involve smarter separation of zones for scenes and sets. A deeper stage has the opposite effect. The scene needs to stay very close without wasting the space on stage and making the space feel unused. This can lead to the need of more props and the rework or even redesign of the scene (either planning or presentation).
Other ways in which a theatre space can affect the play, are parts of the theatre that are one of a kind and are not in every theatre that you go to. A theatre that has archways alongside the audience's seating can be used as frames for characters to get closer to the audience and bring the show right to their seats. A theatre with a second-floor area to perform (think of the two old men from the Muppets) allows for attention to be drawn away from the main stage, plus it adds an additional layer to the stage which takes the show to new heights. A large performing space such as Boondall have a second performing space in the crowd and, once again, this allows for the show to be brought closer to those at the back, but also allows for surprise. After the show starts, many forget these second stages are in place, leading to surprise and joy when either a surprise act arrives out of this section of the stage in the crowd or the performance move closer towards those in the cheap seats.
A quick note on the cheap seat. I find that in a large theatre, you often have a feel of your worth. Many times, when at shows at QPAC in their Lyric Theatre, you often feel the distance. You don’t feel as close when on the second or third floor, and it takes a lot more effort to feel a part of the show –something that you feel in many theatres, and is one of the joys of performance theatres over movie theatres. I remember enjoying Mary Poppins at QPAC a few years ago, but only felt close when Mary Poppins flew over the crowd, up close. It took a lot of work in such a large theatre, compared to eye contact and less interactions in a smaller theatre.
Another way a theatre is able to affect a show, is through seating. Different theatres have different capacities, and seating arrangements lead to many different ways to view a show. Even if it is performed by the same cast, it will be seen differently based on the audience's view. But what I am talking about here is not the cast, it is about those who view the show and those alongside them seeing the show. When seeing a show that is set up for group dinner theatre, you are more likely to talk to those around you and learn about each other and what you have in common. A smaller, cosier theatre is where you are more likely to talk to those around you about the show and what's happening in the event, where a bigger, more modern theatre is where you are more likely to keep to yourself and your friend group. There is nothing wrong with this, but in some setups, you are more likely to interact with others around you besides saying, “Sorry I bumped you". The feeling of a theatre often dictates how we interact with those around us before the show even starts.
In the weeks since my reviewed show, I have noticed one thing. The theatre affects the show. From how the cast interacts with those watching, how the audience interacts with each other, how the story is told, and what we expect from the show when we sit down. A theatre is able to tell us the story of how we all came to this place to share a story, and is the start of the story being told. A theatre allows us to come together and share an evening. Different theatres allow for changes to plays and changes in who sees a play, plus how they feel about it. A theatre, I find, affects a story and an experience more than you think until you take a step back and look.
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