As I reflect on World Theatre Day, I am grateful for all my memories of live theatre. I remember laughing till cried, being frozen in silent by a tragic ending, and I remember saying “I had no idea what it was like to walk in their shoes…until now.”
Theatre is more than “theatre”. Live performances build bridges from heart to heart, showing us new perspectives, eras in time, struggles, triumphs and new ways of living or merely surviving – hopefully with grace.
We Need More Bridges
To promote peace in an increasingly fractured world, I strongly believe that we need to more build bridges between people and perspectives. We need to get close to what seems far away. Closer to the problems at hand. And, at times, closer to discomfort. When we do, we can see the different angles from which to view the world. From these vantage points we gain a better understanding of different people, cultures and various ways of being. We need bridges to cross over and thresholds to peer into, to help us learn and grow into our better selves. There are theoretically so many ways forward – but in my opinion there are few as powerful, tangible and effective bridges as theatre!
Theatre Inhabits Your Heart
Live performance opens the doors into the human experience allowing viewers to enter into deeper understanding, compassion and maybe even solidarity. Actors skilfully convey messages of the heart and soul, allowing us to experience different ideas and perspectives that allow theatre-goers to crossover the bridge into another person’s world. And when we do, along the way, we are changed. Changed in a way that is more than the collection of new information, but in a way that inhabits your heart.
Agent of Change
Theatre is a powerful agent of change. You’ll laugh, cry, lament, gasp, smile, sigh and hopefully come away better. Better for the new way of seeing the world. Even if you don’t understand it, you can honour the new perspective and make space in our community for more. We have been transformed when we can look up, cross the bridge into an expanded community, with more horizon to explore, more understanding and hopefully more acceptance – because of Theatre.
For this reason and so much more, this art-form needs to be preserved, respected, funded and celebrated! With that I issue a gentle challenge to search for live theatre in your area! Book tickets and support the building of bridges, the expanding of connections, the deepening of understanding and the broadening of your horizons.
Dawn Gill
Secretary, MT Space Board of Directors