Bugger Me!

I sat today for over two hours spellbound!

My employer presented me with the opportunity to listen to one of the most amazing speakers I have heard for a very long time. I say amazing because Robyn Moore’s words, her delivery and her passion touched me in a way that gave me, to use her words (again), and you ‘ll find me doing that a lot in this post, a ‘Bugger Me!’ moment. A moment when I said to myself, Yes!, this is exactly what I’m about, or more specifically, what I want to be about!

Robyn loves words. As a creative, particularly in the theatrical sense, words are my stock in trade as well. I love the way they can evoke, emote and change a person, emotionally, spiritually and even physically, in a heartbeat. I love how words can lift you from the depths of despair, break you in a nanosecond, but most importantly, make you laugh until your mouth or stomach or sides or all of the above hurt.

But it is the way in which these words are delivered that really intrigues me. I’ve known many people that are given words to deliver or select their own words and their delivery of such words, both semantically and physically do not do the words justice. I see words as the musical notes on the page and the human body and our voice, the instrument through which these words are heard and felt.

Robyn’s message to us, specifically from a marketing perspective, listed three things to consider to ensure that our message to others, gets through. Those points were:

1. Keep it simple
2. Make it memorable
3. Evoke an emotional response

I thought about this for a moment. Even though this was presented from a ‘marketing’ perspective, it’s how theatrical creatives can always ensure their message (remember ‘the play’s the thing’, Shakespeare) gets across. We can even give our audiences, just like Robyn did for me, ‘Bugger Me!’ moments. We always have to remember that our audiences wish to be entertained, moved and even transformed.

As a performer I always ask myself, would I like to be in an audience watching me? Again, this has nothing to do with narcissist behaviour but rather, am I entertaining my audience? Am I putting in as much energy as I did the first time I performed this show, because I have to assume that this is the first time the audience has seen the show and my performance. I have to remember, The audience is waiting to hear the words, so I must make the words and the performance great!

I apply the same analogy to directing. I always endeavour to get the cast to do things that they may not want to do but ultimately do things that they never thought they could. I expect the same level of energy from their work as they see in mine. I try and enable my actors to have ‘Bugger Me!’ moments as well. I do this through getting commitment from the entire cast and crew. Getting them to declare their intentions, put any negative opinions aside and hold on for grim death over the entire journey. When we achieve this as a group, the creativity and innovation flows like a torrent. Exactly, as Robyn, said it would.

Robyn Moore, thank you for time, thank you for wisdom, but most importantly, bugger me, thank for your words.

I loved them.

Every single one.