Taking Direction
One of the things I value most in a performer is the ability to take direction and I think that's often misunderstood. Taking direction doesn't mean blindly doing exactly what somebody tells you. It doesn't mean switching your brain off. It doesn't mean losing your own creativity. In fact, some of the best rehearsal room conversations I've ever had have come from performers asking questions. Theatre is collaborative. I ask questions all the time; about scripts; about characters; about stories; about audiences. So I don't expect performers to simply nod and agree with everything I say.
What I do expect is a willingness to explore, because that's what rehearsals are for. They're not about proving who is right, they're about discovering what works. Sometimes I'll offer a note because I can see something that isn't quite landing with an audience. Sometimes I'll suggest something because I think it might unlock a moment. Sometimes I'll ask a question because I'm genuinely curious about where it might lead. None of those things are criticisms, they're opportunities.
One of the quickest ways to stop a rehearsal moving forward is when an idea is dismissed before it's been explored. We've all heard phrases like:
"My character wouldn't do that."
And sometimes that's true, but, sometimes we don't know it's true until we've actually tried it. I always encourage performers to explore first and decide afterwards. Because some of the most interesting discoveries happen when we step outside our first instinct. I've lost count of the number of times I've watched somebody reluctantly try an idea, only for it to become one of their favourite moments in the show. Equally, there have been plenty of times where we've tried something and decided it wasn't right. That's fine too. Trying something doesn't mean you're committing to it forever; It simply means you're giving the process a chance. I think that's where trust becomes so important. As a director, my responsibility isn't to have all the answers. My responsibility is to create an environment where people feel safe enough to explore. Safe enough to take risks, safe enough to fail, safe enough to suggest ideas of their own. Because the best rehearsal rooms aren't built on fear, they're built on curiosity; and curiosity works both ways.
Some of my favourite moments as a director have come from performers bringing ideas into the room that I'd never considered: a choice, a relationship a reaction, a question. Something that suddenly makes me see the story differently. Those moments are exciting. Because directing isn't about controlling every detail. It's about guiding a company towards the strongest version of the story and sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected places.
For me, taking direction isn't about obedience- It's about openness. It's about being willing to listen, being willing to explore, being willing to challenge yourself, being willing to discover something you didn't know when you walked into the room, because that's where growth happens. And that's where some of the best theatre is created.The performers I remember most aren't the ones who always had the perfect answer. They're the ones who were curious enough to keep asking questions and brave enough to keep looking for better ones.
