Belly Dancers and Tree Surgeons

Published in the South Eastern Theatre Conference magazine Summer 2004.

This year’s SETC conference in Chattanooga promises to provide many members with results beyond their expectations. Professional technician David J. Glover reflects on the industry and the future.

Belly Dancers and Tree Surgeons?

I think the word I shall use is "inspired"!

Emancipated, creative and exhilarating would work too, but I’ll stick with inspired for now.

Recently I have been a tad “unfulfilled” by my professional career in theatre. I can hear the sharp intakes of breath even now, but be honest. You’ve had moments, you’ve regretted not becoming a short order cook / auto mechanic / tree surgeon/ belly dancer (delete as applicable). Life would be so much simpler if you had!

It’s a sad day when you wake up at 27 with a 1^st Class Theatre degree, 11 years professional experience, a teaching qualification, half a dozen plays, 8 years pro LX and Sound experience and a job on one of the world’s most luxurious cruise lines… and your bored! My chosen career bores me. I find no joy in theatre any more. I haven’t given a standing ovation (and meant it) for years and I don’t care! I spend shows wondering why I didn’t become a belly dancing tree surgeon.

I’m sure there are a few of you out there nodding and sighing - at times you’ve felt the same!

So, when we started the tech fit up for this year’s Ten-Minute Play Festival performances, I had little expectations. I’ve written for, acted, tech'd and improvised in similar shows, so I wasn’t expecting to be challenged, let alone changed. But as I sat at the lighting bored thinking about what colour of sequins might compliment my yellow chainsaw, I started to watch and, surprisingly, I was interested. I was not, however, watching the stage, but the audience.

You were there – you know who you are!

You were engrossed. Smiling and laughing and suspending your disbelieve. For the first time in years I felt a creative stirring. I felt you believing in those young actors who had created engaging, imaginative and above all entertaining pieces of theatre, and I remembered that I used to have a passion for theatre beyond my next pay check. When I eventually turned my attention to the stage I saw only one performer up there. Me! I saw me ten years ago before every show was resume, after paycheque, after rent cheque, after overdraft, after show, after show....

I witnessed something at this years SETC conference that has again inspired me. I saw audiences actually engaging with spectacle. Watching not just looking. I’d forgotten about that. I’ve spent so long concentrating on “making it” I’d forgotten what “it” was. I’d forgotten how to see.

I’d forgotten why I ever bothered starting out in theatre. But last month, surrounded by hundreds of talented, struggling, hopeful, auditionees and professionals I thought about how lucky I am and that without realising it I have worked my way to a very successful position in the theatrical industry.

I understand now that the ever-painful realities of our industry, which have been steadily pushing me away, have a greater purpose. As I embraced the atmosphere of the conference my last few years began to stretch out in front of me - a paved road of experience, ideas and opinions ready to lead me on further and deeper into my own creativity.

It’s strange what can put you back on track.

It’s not something they teach you at college.

Personally, I realise that I have not finished my theatre journey, I never truly started it. In 11 years of professional theatrical employment I have only been packing my bags and planning my route – excuse me if my metaphors seem mixed or cliché but my creativity has not been exercised for a while and I’m just glad that I have metaphors at all.

I don’t mind if you never see this article in print because at least I have written it. At least I have put pen to paper. At least I have structured something creative from beginning to middle to end. Theatre has inspired me again. I am excited by the very fact that I am writing this article now in the middle of a concourse in Chicago Airport because I couldn’t wait any longer to get my thoughts down.

I don’t know if theatre is it’s own reward but I’m coming back to find out.

Yes! “Inspired” is the right word.

Now please excuse me, I must away to sell my chainsaw on Ebay and burn my sequinned thong.

David J. Glover