There is nothing more freeing than to be completely vulnerable. You are stripped of all inhibition, self-consciousness, and walls that could be used to hide behind. It is then that you are completely free to reveal the truth. It may sound weird to connect the words “freedom” and “truth” with “vulnerable,” but I believe that this is the essence of Theatre.
The images and people around us influence our thoughts and actions. We are told how to dress and behave. Our personal attributes may be seen as flaws, resulting in unnecessary suppression. Our personalities are stifled by the pressing need to fit in. We are put into categories that define who we are and who we can and cannot hang out with. I find this to be excruciatingly wrong because it is our differences that make us interesting and there is so much that we can learn from interacting with people whose views and personalities contrast with our own. I love that as soon as we hit the stage, all of these preconceived notions are erased. No one cares what your major is, which sport you play, or where you are from; everyone is a part of the same production. What makes you different, and sometimes awkward, in real life can be used to enhance your character and therefor enhance the production.
When you are on stage, you know that all eyes are on you. You can either view this as intimidating or as an opportunity. During a performance, you have a strong influence on what an audience will see, hear, and feel. Likewise, the audience affects the actors by their responses during the performance. This relationship creates a line of communication in which every day taboo subjects that would normally be swept under the rug can be presented and pondered, in a safe environment.
Theatre allows the truth to be displayed in a way that is nonthreatening. The actor is free to be honest and vulnerable because it is the actions and words of his or her character that are being performed. Audience members are safely seated in chairs where they can observe and mull over the content. As opposed to listening to a lecture, observing theatre is a much less threatening way to get the point across. Rather than having a message yelled at you, you are able to watch a scene unfold where the situation is happening between characters.
I believe that Theatre has the power to bring about a social change and that this blessing can be credited to the stage’s sense of freedom to exclaim the truth.
