Director’s Note: Don’t Just Say the Word

Learning your lines is important. Speaking clearly is important. Using expression is important. But there’s another question that can transform a performance:

Why is your character saying these words?

Every time your character speaks, they want something. They might want to persuade someone, make them laugh, win an argument, hide something, impress someone, ask for help or simply be understood.

This is your character’s intention.

Before you perform a piece, try going through it and asking: What am I trying to achieve here? Then look for moments when that intention changes.

Perhaps you begin by trying to stay calm, but then decide to challenge the other person. Perhaps you're trying to make them laugh before suddenly admitting something serious. Perhaps you start confidently, but gradually realise you're losing the argument.

Those changes are where a performance becomes interesting.

Instead of thinking, “I need to sound angry here,” try thinking, “I need to make them listen to me.” Rather than “I should sound sad,” perhaps your thought is, “I don't want them to leave.”

The emotion will often follow naturally.

So this week, take your LAMDA piece and write one simple sentence at the top:

What do I want from the person I'm speaking to?

You might be surprised by how much that one question changes your performance.