Im nothing special. (In fact, I'm a bit of a bore.) If I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before. But I have a talent, a wonderful thing, cos everyone listens when I start to….sorry…bit of an Abba moment there. But it's got me thinking about talent. That 'wonderful thing' that now even has a whole set of programmes devoted to finding who's got 'it' in Britain. And what is it that makes everyone listen when I start to….bake ? Mow the lawn ? Read the gas meter ?
You see I've never really considered what 'it' is the 'it' I've got. And yet I find myself writing this as someone who in a few months time is about to step on the stage of the RSC to perform in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". How did that happen ? (Well of course I know HOW it happened, but it's still a state of mind that I'm constantly pinching myself about. Ouch ! There I go again..)
I am an amateur actor and have been for many years. And yes, in that work there's been the moments where I've hoped that Speilberg will be in the audience and recognise my acting prowess and star quality and whisk me off to Hollywood to star as E.T.'s father in the long awaited sequel……come on…we've all had those dreams ! But we know that in the amateur world that rarely happens and the best we can hope for is maybe a decent mention in a five star review in the local news Arts section, or something on Twitter telling the social media world how fabulous we were dah-lings ! It's brilliant to be celebrated by your community and peers, knowing that you have done a 'good job' with your performance and in the bar afterwards we love the praise and plaudits. So I guess in our amateur world, we obviously have 'it' -the difficulty is that avenues to celebrate that fact are very rare. We are not in it for the 'Money money money'; we do it because we love performing. We are all 'super troupers'.
If you're a musician or a dancer, TV caters for your 'it' with a number of talent programmes where you can demonstrate your ability. I 'd love to see a delivery of a Shakespearean monologue win 'Britain's Got Talent' or maybe a Bergomask dance storming to the final of "Got to Dance" ( or even getting a SEVEN ! from one of the judges on 'Strictly'). But sadly, acting in terms of demonstrating your 'it' has no outlet in TV. And of course, that leaves a lot of amateur actors with no route to showcase their talents to a wider audience.
Which is exactly why we need more projects like Dream 16. The RSC have taken a bold and imaginative step with the Open Stages work to include and celebrate the amateur community work. In a genius move, hundreds of amateur actors have been able to share their 'its' not only on RSC stages, but in auditions across the country with their companies. We've been given access to workshops with trained practitioners, tasks to challenge and develop our skills and countless opportunities to engage with professional theatre at its best. Of course, there's lots of examples of community collaboration and initiatives between professional theatre and amateur groups across the UK….but this has to be globally a real first.
And the thing we all appreciate the most is that the professionals never treat us as amateurs, recognising that we all have something to offer and that they stop and listen when we start to….....act. The feedback we are receiving as participants in the project is theatrical gold. When it comes from someone who 'knows their stuff' it's the stuff that 'Dreams are made of'. I like hearing I've got a good Bottom (not because I have body issues ) but more for the fact that it means something coming from the specialists in their field. Not only am I happy they decided to 'take a chance on me' (and all the other amateurs in this project) but "I have a dream " that this will just be the start of something big where our 'its' can be shared more widely.
When Abba won the Eurovision song contest all those years ago, no one had any idea of where it would take them. Everyone listened when they started to sing. Will us Dreamers, have the same success ? If you're asking me I'd have to say "I do, I do, I do I do, I do……."
Hmmmm wonder if they will make Titania into a Dancing Queen…...
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