Directing+Module

In debate, there is usually a question that is posed for debaters to answer. It is stated in the form of a resolution. So is the following question in which you may take either the affirmative or the negative position."Resolved, directing is a more important art and craft than acting."

A successful director not only understands the art of acting, but he goes a step further to visualize a whole production. The director interprets the text of a play and the action to tell the story according to his interpretation. Therefore, a play will be most successful when the director is able to coordinate the actors, pace the action, and illustrate the themes of the piece. He must be a “master of theatrical action” more so than any actor alone to create a successful piece (1).

Directing has not always been a part of theatre; the role came about during the Realism movement due to a want for attention to detail (2). A director allows the messages of a play to be conveyed efficiently because he brings coherence to a performance. The director has a vision for a play when he chooses to direct it, and he follows that vision from castings all the way to the final performance. While the actors focus on their characters, the director looks at the work as a whole to see where there are flaws and inconsistencies. He must know about every part of theatre to make suggestions to create a complete performance.

Equally as important as artistic vision, the director must be able to manage all of the performers, designers and workers required for a production. He must be able to foresee and fix logistic problems and maintain a positive work environment (3).

Directing requires a more expansive ability to visualize a story and the logistic sense to depict it so that it can be told to an audience through the coordinated work of a theatre company.

Word count: 274 References: 1) Arnold. //The Creative Spirit//, p. 135 2) Arnold. //The Creative Spirit//, p. 136 3) Arnold. //The Creative Spirit//, p. 145