4th September, 2009 - Ideas About Directing #11

Idea 11 – Create Moments of Magic


It seems to me that theatre can do one thing better than other media, and that is to create little moments of magic. If you get it right in the theatre, you have the opportunity to make people’s hair stand on end, or to make them jump in horror, or to make them see things in a new way. But you need to work hard to create these moments, and for my money, a play ain’t a good play unless you try to find these moments.

If you don’t do this, then you might as well be making a film or (worse) taping a radio production. All the sparkling dialogue and clever relationships are fine and dandy, but there should be a trick or two in the magic trunk to create something wonderful.

You won’t always manage it of course, but you should try.