“There is a difference between crafting dramatization, and experiencing traumatization.”

We’ve seen the “I have to break you to build you back up” director. We’ve seen the performers who’s “method” is to terrorize and traumatize themselves and those around them. We know the dancers, movers, and performers willing to throw themselves to the ground again and again to get the move right.

But what if we took care of ourselves?

What if we put away the notion that trauma is art, or that trauma is needed to make art. Joy can make art. Love can move you.

I used to believe I had to suffer to make good art. I wrote the best songs when i was miserable, and I was a pretentious young 23 year old that thought “no one will ever understand me” and that I was a better artist for it. I had to be Hamlet. Flash forward three years, I’m doing violence and intimacy direction for a university production of A Street Car Named Desire with a “method” Stanley Kowalski. How do I protect this young actor? Tell him that just because he can take the slap doesn’t mean he should have to? How do I help him understand that while art can be healing theatre is not therapy, and the place for his unresolved rage struggles are not directed towards his cast mates on stage or off?

I began to think about sustainability: Great, you hit the ground once, now do it 8 more times a week. Same spot. Maybe it’s because I’m nearing 30 and have decided to begin the most physically intense training of my life. Because reasons? Who knows. What I do know is that I’m a lot happier as a person, and a much better artist now that I’ve started treating my craft and how I practice theatre and movement as a process of healing and bettering myself as a person, rather than waiting and expecting each new show to bring some cathartic release in the process. No character can be more legitimately grounded than you are. You can play ungrounded, but playing grounded is something we do on a daily basis when we don’t have time for ourselves.

But Charlie, what’s the difference between using theatre as therapy, and art being a healing process?

1) GO TO THERAPY. I love you. Your cast loves you. We are not, and should not be your therapist.

2) In the age of actor advocation, advocate for your health. Sleep well. Eat well (note: eat WELL, that includes your happy, but perhaps not healthy foods. Comfort is care) Love your body and be gentle and playful with yourself.

3) Boundaries are gifts. This includes the boundaries your body tells you. “this is trauma” listen. (Know the difference between Drama and Trauma!)

4) Do your prep to be the healthiest, most present person possible, then trust yourself and your work.

None of these are radical discoveries or even original ones, simple realizations like this are what led to the creation of intimacy direction. There is a large movement / awakening happening right now within the arts of realizing that the romanticizing of trauma perhaps doesn’t serve us. That being the performer willing to have no boundaries, perhaps is harmful to one’s self and others. To be honest, using the term “the wholistic acting method” makes me internally groan, so if someone has a better name I am all ears.

There is a difference between crafting dramatization, and experiencing traumatization. We the artist must know the difference. A lot of us are good are caring for others, but you cannot refill someone from an empty cup, and we must learn to take care of ourselves as well.

The Myth of Suffering for Art