Directing Education
Because
of the relatively late emergence of theatre directing as a performing artsprofession when compared to for instance acting or musicianship, a rise
of professional vocational training programmes in directing can be seen mostly
in the second half of the 20th century. Most European countries nowadays know some form of
professional directing training, usually at drama schools or conservatoires, or at universities. In
Britain, the tradition that theatre directors emerge from degree courses
(usually in English literature) at the Oxbridgeuniversities has meant that for a long time, professional vocational training
did not take place at drama schools or performing arts colleges, although an
increase in training programmes for theatre directors can be witnessed since
the 1970s and 1980s.
As with
many other professions in the performing arts, theatre directors would often
learn their skills "on the job"; to this purpose, theatres often
employ trainee assistant directors or have in-house education schemes to train
young theatre directors. Examples are the Royal National
Theatre in London, that frequently organizes short directing
courses, or the Donmar Warehouse on London s West End, that
employs resident assistant directors on a one-year basis for training purposes.
Styles of Directing
Directing
is an artform that has grown with the development of theatre theory and theatre
practice. With the emergence of new trends in theatre, so too have directors
adopted new methodologies and engaged in new practices. Generally speaking,
directors adopt a style of directing that falls into one or more of the
following categories
The
dictator
In this
style of directing, the director has a strongly assertive role and is very
dominant in the process of creating a theatrical work. Rehearsals are more or
less fully controlled and predictable, with the actors having little or no say.
The
negotiator
The negotiator is a
style of direction in which the director focuses on a more improvised and
mediated form of rehearsal and creation, using the ideas of the production team
and actors to shape a theatrical work in quite a democratic style.
The
creative artist
The
director sees himself or herself as a creative artist working with the
materials of dramaticcreativity, be they the actors,
designers and production team. The "creative artist" wants input from
the actors but, as artist, has final say over what is included and how ideas
are incorporated.
The confrontationist
In this
style of directing, the director is in constant dialogue and debate with the cast and the production team about
creative decisions and interpretations. The director seeks out and actively
engages in such exchanges. Out of these exchanges, which can sometimes be
heated or risky, comes a final contested product.
Many
contemporary directors use a creative amalgam of styles, depending on the genre of the theatrical work, the nature of the
project and the type of cast.
Once a
show has opened (premiered before a regular audience), theatre directors are
generally considered to have fulfilled their function. From that point forward
the stage manager is left in charge of all essential concerns.