FEAR - What can you do? | theatre australia

FEAR - What can you do?

Koorliny | 31/01/2010 - 10:22

I find there’s nothing like being on stage and acting your little heart out, it is the most fun I have ever had, just the thrill of it all is an exciting feeling, except of course the “After party” but that I feel would be another post!!

But my post today is about fears! “Stage fright” the many ways it interferes with each of us.

Well it affects me ALOT!!, now I have been around the traps for a number of years so the stage is not a scary place, nor am I afraid once I’m up there, but the lead up is a terrible display of nerves, anxiety and just plain old OH MY GOD fear.

I still remember my first time on stage, The High School play, I had a fairly big part, but that opening night I stood on the side of the stage with the world spinning, feeling sick and as if I was going to pass out, then I took that step, you know the one where you look down at the back of the wooden flat where you limb passes the edge and is hit by the burning beam of the stage lights and for that split second everything slows down and you watch as your whole body enters through the beam edge. Or maybe that was just me!! LOL

Well from that day I never looked back play after play I could do without problem, I had discovered the ability to suppress my stage fright and it left me alone!!

Until recently anyway, I don’t know if trying to ignore my stage fears has caused it to come back with a vengeance, now whenever I try and take to the stage or even audition for a role, my body goes into spasm, the whole works, dry reaching, puking, you name it my body creates these events that you just can’t ignore.....

So my question is this, what can I do? Just keep pushing through, leave the stage?

Also interested to hear what other people experience and do before they get into their stand-by positions?

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there is an unconfirmed story

Author: Logos
Date: 31/01/2010 - 10:36

the laurence olivier suffered so much from stage fright throughout his career that right up to the end he requested that a bucket be kept in the wings so he could throw up when he needed to.
i don't perform much now but when i do i tend to compare the feeling to the excitemnt an athlete feels before a big meet. i used to run competetively as a school kid and compare the feelings.
the sense i feel as a writer or director is different it is a feeling of total helplessness as i watch the potential train wreck of my production racing to either disaster or success.

Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing.
www.tonymoore.id.au

When I trod the boards in a

Author: JoeMc
Date: 31/01/2010 - 12:17

When I trod the boards in a previous life, it wasn't so much stagefright before breaking the legs, but the sudden shock of realisation that I wasn't sitting in the audience watching the show I was actually on stage doing it!

The weirdest occasion was as wee 'Gangster' in a Ralph Reader "gang show' at the 'Ali Haly' in London, as part of the "boy scout review show" many eaons ago.

I remember the intro music of 'Crest of a wave' being played on the majestic organ & watching my self waking down the Albert Hall chorus stairs. Then sitting down amongst about a couple of hundred fellow red scarfed Gang show members & jioning in the mass hand actions to the song. Then on the action of slapping the knees & clapping the hands on " well do the hailing", waking up suddenly & thinking how did I get here?

That's scary & the old ticker hasn't been dicky ever since.

Which has nothing to do with swilling too much coffee & chain smoking working in theatre! {Well that's my excuse}

Common To All

Author: Labrug
Date: 31/01/2010 - 17:00

We all get nervous or Stage Fright. Some have learned how to "bottle-it-up" so to speak, yet I can't help but wonder what happens when the pressure gets too much.

For my own sake, I seem to have adapted to the nervous butterflies where, instead of trying to ignore them, or push them aside, I try to use them. Feeling the nerves before going on stage seems to keep me on my toes if you will. It sometimes does some interesting things to my performance also, usually for the better.

When I have attempted to hold it in, that's when things have gone screwy. I guess I try to accept it as a part of my performance. Fighting it just makes it worse.

My thoughts only.

Absit invidia (and DFT No no no )

Jeff Watkins
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Olivier's period of stage

Author: Noel Christian
Date: 31/01/2010 - 19:58

Olivier's period of stage fright came late in his career and was almost enough to drive him from acting altogether. This, at least, is what he once claimed in an interview late in his life. Whether or not he was spinning a legend is still disputed - the important point, and often overlooked, is that it can give great comfort to an actor to know that one of the most acclaimed and experienced actors of all felt the same frailties as oneself.

I don't suffer from stage fright, and never did, but I do suffer - periodically - from lethally high levels of stress, and I would suggest that you consider that your problem is not stage fright, but more prosaic: simple stress. The best thing to do is go to a doctor, get your blood pressure tested and submit to various other related exams. If stress is the problem, then it can be addressed without leaving lasting damage behind. There may be no need to leave the stage at all.

It stress is not the problem, but 'mere' nerves, then talking it over with friends and lovers may be the better remedy. You should certainly discuss the issue with your director. Sex might help (suggest not with director - but you know best).

If you are wondering how I can suffer from lethal levels of stress and yet not be dead, then your vexation is that also of my doctor. According to him, I died sometime on the Lincoln Highway in 1996 and no one told me.

Joking aside - don't let such a thing be said of you. Start with your doctor, go to your director only after that.

Noël Christian

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FEAR - What can you do?

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