Theatre director

From ArticleWorld

The theatre director is one of the most important people in a theatre performance. He oversees everything from technical details to acting and gives directions to everybody involved from the light engineer to the supporting actors. In some cases, the theatre director (known also as just a director) will need to work with the playwright to create the needed script. He is the one that puts his vision of the play on stage, directs the evolution and chooses what needs to be done in the performance.

History

Nowadays a theatre director is necessary in a production. Although this is the current trend, in the past the position did not exist. In 1800, the first directors appeared and accomplished to achieve the current status only in the beginning of the 20th century. Before that, the position was occupied by actors involved in the performance or by the playwright. Most productions consider the theatre director a vital part of the production and only few plays are put on stage without one.

Types of directors

There are several types of directors. They are different from one another mainly because of the style of directing used. With theatre, evolving the director also improved and several ways of directing were developed. It is up to the individual to choose what style to use from:

• Negotiator – The director takes into account the personal views of the actors and shapes the play according to that and his own ideas.
• Dictator – The theatre director does not take into account the view of the actors. He/she will choose everything and will not consider changing his ideas.
• Creative Artist – The director takes into account everything but will put his view first on the “to do” list. He can be convinced to change the perspective but only if given the right reasons to do so.
• The confrontationalist – The director talks about everything and asks for opinions. He/she will engage in a dialogue with everybody and based on that the decisions will be taken.