Amateur Dramatics: Recently joined my local Am Drams and want to build my confidence up to take a part.....?

Question

I am a shy person, and have never acted before. However, I have a burning desire inside me to 'have a go' and dream of doing stagework. How can I get the confidence to get up on that stage??? I could be totally rubbish at it, but I am hoping that my shyness will disappear when I am another character. Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare. If you can get your hands on the script before hand, get it and read it. The more familiar you are with the play, the better off you will be. Chris had some VERY good advice and that is to just lose yourself in the character. There is a term called the "fourth wall" which means that the characters on stage have no idea that there is an audience out there because as far as they know, the edge of the stage is a wall. Another thing you might want to do is take an acting class. This will teach you the basics of acting and so if you go out for a play you will at least know what stage left/right, upstage, down stage, and blocking means. You can also go to a local community theater. If you don't get a part right away, you can volunteer to work backstage and then attend rehearsals and watch the process. The more familiar you are with the basics the more comfortable you will be. It may not come on the first try, but stick with it. I've know many people who are terribly shy in real life, but get them on stage and they shine. In true theater tradition: "break a leg!" (in theater is is bad luck to say "good luck"). Hope this helps.

Answer 2

When you get on stage just keep thinking to yourself it's your character on stage not you, that will help you relax a bit.Just remember that when you are on stage if they have good lighting you will not be able to see much past the third row anyway so it will seem like just a small audience.

Answer 3

Also try this approach. Repeat over and over to yourself until you believe it, "Acting is playing, playing is fun, any chance to act is a chance to have fun." If you approach all acting opportunites, auditions, rehearsals, performances as a chance to have fun (which they are), you will not be nervous about them, rather you will look forward to your turn to do it and enjoy it.