The article below was written by Brooklyn Earl, a grade 9 student and graduate of youthLEADarts programs.
Unexpected things can happen in theatre. For example, I was recently in a production of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and on show night all of the actors were backstage getting ready. That’s when the fire alarm went off. Everyone had to go outside for about an hour until we were allowed to go back into the theatre. Once we finally got the all-clear, we rushed back to our places as if nothing had happened. The audience never knew whether or not the show was going to continue, but that’s kind of the point.
That experience reinforced for me that theatre is all about adaptability. No matter how much you rehearse, something unexpected will always happen, and as an actor you have to stay calm, flexible, and committed to the story you’re telling. The show really does have to go on, and when it does, the challenges you face often become the moments that teach you the most.
The theatre, and being an actor have been good teachers for me. The lesson I learned here was, don’t worry about unexpected things happening. Just keep moving forward.
