“Live theatre for children is right up there in importance with reading aloud. It used to be part of our heritage many years ago and we've lost it and we've lost everything to screens in this culture and we need to bring it back.” ChildrenCultureReadingImportanceTheatre Author:Rosemary Wells
“Now things on TV are every bit as good or better than what you find in movie theatres.” Theatre Author:Alan Ruck
“In my years of working in theatre and TV I've learnt that my main skill is not the instrumental playing but the idea of what to play and my interest for so many kinds of music. Often people ask me to contribute to projects when they don't stay in just one genre. I feel more like a composer who just has to play his own things.” PeopleKindInterestTheatreAsk MeComposer Author:Gregor Schwellenbach
“I'm not from a theatre background, I'm wary of rehearsals. But what I do like is hanging out together, on location.” TogetherTheatreHanging Out Author:Peter Weir
“Culture has to be constantly on the vanguard, too. It should be educating people, as it does in Latin America: thousands of great theatres, art cinemas, millions of free books distributed by the governments, public poetry readings, free public lectures, and all sorts of bookstores are open until early mornings, exhibitions reacting to the needs and sorrows of society, concerts of engaged music.” PeopleArtBookCultureReadingMorningSorrowTheatreLatinLatin AmericaEarly Morning Author:Andre Vltchek
“Please just look at those Indonesian cities: Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan... are there any other cities on earth, of that size, with such an absolute chronic lack of culture, and institutions that are supposed to make people think? Like theatres, archives, grand libraries, concert halls, art cinemas, progressive bookstores... There is nothing here.” PeopleThinkingArtEarthCultureLibraryTheatreProgressive Author:Andre Vltchek
“I'm gonna say this and I really mean it - I'm very thankful that I'm not a huge star. I've all the stardom and celebrity that I can handle. But I also have peace and quiet. I am left alone. And I am not recognized everywhere I go and it's perfect. I can come and fill the theatres and I get on stage ... people say: "Well, oh yeah, that must be him," you know?” PeopleMeanPerfectQuietTheatreReally MeanLeft AlonePeace And QuietVery Thankful Author:Don McLean
“I always grew up around acting. I did commercials as a kid and all that kind of stuff and my oldest brother did theatre in High School. It's funny, when I was 15 I had a friend of mine who dragged me away to a camp at Boston University. It was the first time truthfully that acting didn't feel presentational; it felt very personal. I didn't just feel like I was singing and dancing for my friends in High School. It felt like I was doing a scene and all of a sudden I started to feeling something - I started to feel emotional.” KindFeelingsKidsSchoolActingEmotionalBrotherSceneSingingHigh SchoolFirst TimeDancingTheatre Author:Patrick Wilson
“It's very hard to just break into movies. I always felt like it would be giving up a theatre career to go and try and be in movies. So, I thought I'd exhaust the theatre thing, go as far as I can, and originate roles, be on Broadway, maybe win some Tony Awards, and then hopefully some door would open. Luckily, it did.” GivingTryingWinningBreakGiving UpTheatreHopefully Author:Patrick Wilson
“When I went to LA I was almost 30, I'd been nominated for two Tony awards, and on the New York theatre scene I was pretty well known. I went out to LA to meet with casting people, and I remember walking into one meeting and saying: "Hey, how are you? I'm Patrick..." And they said: "I'm so sorry! I thought you were British!" When I asked why, she replied: "Because you're 30 and I've never heard of you!"” PeopleRememberWalkingSceneMeetingsSorryTheatreWell Known Author:Patrick Wilson
“When you're younger you don't care so much, but as you get older you have a family and stuff like that. But I've always kept my foot in theatre and I've kept my foot in independent film, so I'm really happy going back and forth. So, if I can't find the meaty roles in studio films, then I'll go back and dig up a little independent where I can flex my muscles a little bit.” CareFilmIndependentTheatreReally Happy Author:Patrick Wilson
“I think it's a great thing that women went out in droves to see Sex and the City movie. I think it's wonderful and I think women have always shown they're looking both to be entertained and challenged in a theatre. I don't think women are afraid of movies that make them think; make them feel sad. The movies that I've been associated with are not exactly Sex and the City but women are leading the way to the theatre on those. They used to call it a date movie where the girl gets to choose.” ThinkingGirlWonderfulTheatreGreat Things Author:Debra Winger
“Live theatre is great. I loved doing the League live because you get that element of spontaneity, but then when I'm doing live I start to crave the precision of filming. It's a different discipline; it's like a scalpel and you're very precise suddenly. It's scary as well because you think this is it, this is my one go at making it if I can the best it can be, because this is how it's going to be remembered and rendered and left on this film indelibly. And people are going to look back on this and that's that.” PeopleThinkingDifferentFilmDisciplineScaryTheatreLeagueSpontaneity Author:Reece Shearsmith
“When you come into a movie theatre, there are no windows, you don't hear the sound outside and you're ready for fantasy.” FantasyWindowTheatre Author:Bertrand Bonello
“I'm doing The Physicists, which is great, and I do have my agent to thank for that because a lot of agents try and talk you out of doing theatre. They don't push theatre because you can make more money doing television, whereas theatre wages are pretty shocking. But it's something I've always been keen to do and have been encouraged to do so, which is nice.” TryingNiceTheatrePhysicist Author:Miranda Raison
“I vacillate between feeling grateful for what I have in such hard times for the music business and being frustrated that I haven't moved up more quickly. It can be dispiriting to play the same small clubs tour after tour. You think: "When am I going to get to theatres, maybe even arenas?" But maybe that's not on the cards for me, maybe I don't have a wide enough appeal. Most days, I am happy to have the best job in the world.” ThinkingWorldEnoughFeelingsGratefulMovedTheatreHard TimesFrustratedMusic Business Author:Teddy Thompson
“I loved acting as a kid because I was kind of shy, so it brought me out of myself. Acting for kids is like playing house, you know? But growing up in Hollywood, it just made it seem possible. It wasn't like some idea of going to Hollywood; it was in my backyard. I lived two blocks from Grauman's Chinese Theatre growing up. It was what people did. It's an industry town. So it wasn't some far-off fantasy, it was like "Oh yeah, when you grow up, you do this because that's what people do here."” PeopleKindKidsHouseActingFantasyGrowing UpTheatreBlockChineseShy Author:Jennifer Jason Leigh
“Fifteen years before I became a screen actor, I was in the theatre. A lot of my work was comedy, which I loved doing. It's harder.” YearsActorsComedyHarderTheatreScreensFifteenFifteen Years Author:Ben Kingsley
“I think it took a long time for me to realise that as much as I respect reviews and do engage with reviewers as a viewer of the theatre, television and film it's really unhelpful. Even if people make perceptive and interesting comments about your performance, it is so subjective and you will come in and change what you do, you can't help it.” PeopleThinkingLongHelpingFilmInterestingTheatreRealisingComment Author:Romola Garai
“I love the theatre and I love working in the theatre but I'm a big cinefile and I love the movies. I also do scribble but to limited success! I think I find being in a room on my own quite hard, which I think a lot of actors do because what we do is so inter-active. It's a very supportive profession... despite its reputation for being highly competitive it's actually one of the most collaborative professions you can do in the arts because you're always working in a team.” ThinkingArtTeamArt IsProfessionTheatreReputationSupportive Author:Romola Garai
“I love the international feeling In New Yokk. Different foods. Different people. There's everything here. Museums, theatre, there's so much to do I feel guilty about not doing too many things.” PeopleDifferentFeelingsTheatreGuilty Author:Rachel Weisz
“My career has taken so many different paths to this point that I've come to realise that we're all the same, everywhere I've been. We're all just creatures trying to tell stories as good as we can, so whether that's in a tiny theatre or as part of the biggest multi-million dollar film, we're all still just trying to tell a good story at the end of the day.” TryingDifferentFilmPathTakenTheatreRealising Author:Mireille Enos
“Movies are not scripts - movies are films; they're not books, they're not the theatre. It's a completely different discipline, it exists on its own. I would say that the beauty of it is it's not the theatre, it's not done over again. It's done in bits and pieces. Things are happening which you can't get again. I forbid anyone to say "Cut", the soundman, the operator, or whatever.” BookDifferentDoneFilmCuttingDisciplineTheatreBits And Pieces Author:Nicolas Roeg
“I think it's very valuable as an actor to throw yourself back into having that direct connection with an audience on-stage and work that muscle. It is a very different type of work and equally fascinating. I mean, I've very much in love with filmmaking because I really love the way you can tell stories with a camera and how music and everything contributes to the story in a very direct way. But I also think it's very valuable to come back to theatre, so if the right script came along I would love to come back to London and do some more.” ThinkingMeanDifferentAudienceDirectValuableTheatreFilmmaking Author:Thekla Reuten
“Filmmakers need to give the audience that something extra, an incentive to spend money and go to the multiplex - the ticket prices are high. Otherwise they'd just stay home, buy DVDs or download movies. But if there were only big budget movies it would be impossible for the film industry to survive. So I emphasize the importance of mid-range films. But those films need the support of theatre owners. The theatre chains have to have the vision to realize the need to support smaller films for the growth of the domestic film industry.” GivingHomeFilmGrowthRealizingVisionSupportAudienceImpossibleImportanceTheatreFilmmakerExtras Author:Gordon Chan
“My preference will always be theatre because it's where my heart lies and it's what I started with and eventually I want to direct it. It's where my real interest is. But I just love trying out new stuff. Acting for me isn't just for me about being in front of a camera ... it's so much more than that. It's always about telling a story and there are so many ways of doing that, so I'll always want to try something else.” TryingHeartRealLyingInterestActingMy HeartDirectTheatre Author:Gemma Arterton
“As my passion is theatre when I do a film I'm taking time out from my theatre career. So, I'm desperate to get back into the theatre. So, I have to make sure that I put my foot down, especially with the agents and stuff, and say: "Hey no, I'm doing some theatre!" It is hard but it matters so much to me that it's just something that's going to be necessary and people will have to deal with it.” PeopleFilmPassionTheatreDesperateTake TimeMy Passion Author:Gemma Arterton
“I love theatre. I think it's the home of most actors...most actors start with it. It's so enjoyable to do and to be able to see your audience. And the process of theatre is great.” ThinkingHomeAudienceTheatreEnjoyable Author:John Boyega
“I love film so much. I think theatre will definitely be there for me as well, but for now I'd like to do more films.” ThinkingFilmTheatreLove Films Author:John Boyega
“I'd love to do a play a year, if I'm honest, but it depends what comes up. But I do love theatre and it's very different from TV and film, not better or worse.” DifferentFilmHonestTheatre Author:Rupert Evans
“I think since I was in drama school, I wanted to direct in the theatre. When you are an actor, you just have to open your eyes and you start to learn a lot about how to survive on set and what's important and how to tell a story. Directing is really about putting yourself out there, to be slapped in a way. You know that in the kitchen, you're gonna get burned. It's very scary but very exciting as well. If you have something to say, you have nothing to lose and you probably learn from the experience.” ThinkingImportantEyeSchoolDramaDirectExcitingScaryTheatreKitchen Author:Gael Garcia Bernal
“Theatre can entertain, provoke, challenge, investigate, comfort and educate. It's arrogant of a playwright to think education is more important than anything else. Writing for the theatre does not give you permission to lecture, hector or bore.” ThinkingGivingWritingImportantChallengesComfortTheatreEducateArrogantProvokingPlaywrightHector Author:Alistair Beaton
“In 8th grade I started doing theatre and I remember it was as though I had taken a trip to a foreign land that I had never seen before yet felt completely at home. I remember feeling a genuine wave of happiness and of feeling complete.” FeelingsHomeRememberTakenWaveTheatre Author:Patricia Clarkson
“In theatre you can't ad lib, so you want to pick really good material, like David Mamet or Shakespeare or whatever. You want to be really careful about what you do. But in the movies, you do have more wiggle-room. You do have more opportunities to improvise. It's fun to improvise, but I still think it's better to have a great script.” ThinkingOpportunityFunCarefulTheatre Author:Sam Rockwell
“All drama teachers are very effusive, very emotionally open, very big, and gesticulate a lot, and are very physical. Those people don't work in banks and they don't work for pharmaceutical companies. They teach drama, or they may be theatre directors. That's why I love people who are openly gay in theatre, because they have license to do what they like, and there's a kind of artistic liberal tolerance thing that goes on.” PeopleKindTeachTeacherDramaGayTheatreToleranceArtisticPharmaceutical Author:Steve Coogan
“I don't think that on a daily basis, people need to be so concerned with others think. When someone comes forward and is an individual, such as a Lady Gaga or a Katy Perry, people respond to them because there is that sense of innocence. It's obviously dress up and theatre. I never lost that I think part of that is growing up gay and part is growing up overweight. You never lose that, and I never want to lose touch with that whimsy, that sense of innocence. I also love the reaction it elicits in people. I like that it makes other people happy.” PeopleThinkingIndividualGrowing UpGayConcernedTheatreInnocenceOverweight Author:Brad Goreski
“I still audition a lot - it depends on the medium. For film, I audition just like everyone else, because it's a different set of casting directors. For television and theatre - well, for theater, there's some auditioning that has to happen, just for them to know that you can sing it, and how you'd take on the part. But for TV, things are getting a little better with, "Would you like to be a part of this?" But that's really for one - night things. It sounds like a pompous answer, if I say people are calling me to ask me to do things.” PeopleDifferentFilmNightTheatreAsk MePompous Author:Neil Patrick Harris
“Coming at the acting business as a technician, I really enjoy the process of working. I really enjoy being in a rehearsal room, starting a theatre piece for the first time. I really enjoy shooting in front of the crew, and I really love going on location. I think all that is just so exciting. So I've never really been drawn into the fame of being an actor, which in L.A., is part and parcel of the deal. I think for a lot of people, especially kids, it's hard to not get wrapped up in the world of the perks that the job brings.” PeopleThinkingWorldKidsEnjoyActingFameFirst TimeExcitingTheatreParcel Author:Neil Patrick Harris
“To be honest, I am not theatre-trained and though I am confident in my skill set, to do theatre requires a better-tuned set of muscles and I sometimes defer to actors who are better trained. But at the times I do want a shot, I'll go for it, especially if the piece speaks to me and the opportunity comes up. The immediate response from a theatre audience is so thrilling, affirming, and soul-feeding; to know how you've affected an audience at curtain can be ego-blowing, both good and bad.” SometimesOpportunitySpeakAudienceHonestResponseTheatreBeing HonestGood And BadAffirming Author:Tamlyn Tomita
“I was on Broadway for three years with Spiderman and that amount of time spent on a show - it's a grind being on Broadway. The people that do that are probably the hardest working people. I shouldn't say that, because there's a lot of hard work that goes on in film and television, as well. That consistency of the grind of eight shows a week - I feel ready to go back to it now after having a bit of a break. I like to have the chance to jump between different art forms, whether it be theatre, film, TV, music. It's really wonderful to have opportunities in different arenas.” PeopleArtDifferentFilmOpportunityChanceBreakWonderfulWeekHard WorkTheatreConsistencyGrindTime Spent Author:Reeve Carney
“The minute we don't finance the arts, the accountants, attorneys and politicians keep taking the cream of money off the top and it doesn't trickle down unless all of society understands that we must support the arts, whether it's ballet, opera, fashion. Fashion is like opera, is like ballet, is like theatre. It's a visual theatre.” ArtSupportFashionPoliticianTheatreFinanceBalletAttorney Author:Carmen Dell'Orefice
“Family seems so rich and complicated to me. There's meant to be this unfailing biological loyalty and yet at the same time it's this theatre for various kinds of cruelty. I know it doesn't always work out that way, but the worst possible behaviour is sort of allowed for. It looks to me like an endlessly rich container for really terrible drama, but also pretty grand love. It accommodates such a variety of feeling in such a natural way, and it feels so relatable, and yet it's such a funny construct, socially, the family.” KindFeelingsNaturalRichWorstTerribleDramaVariousWork OutComplicatedTheatreLoyaltyCrueltyVarietyMeant To BeRelatable Author:Ben Marcus
“Actors ought to be larger than life. You come across quite enough ordinary, nondescript people in daily life and I don't see why you should be subjected to them on the stage too.” PeopleShouldEnoughActorsActingStageOughtOrdinaryTheatreDaily LifeLarger Than Life Author:Ninon de L'Enclos
“When I come into the theatre I get a sense of security. I love an audience. I love people, and I act because I like trying to give pleasure to people.” PeopleGivingTryingPleasureAudienceSecurityTheatre Author:Vivien Leigh
“I think any classical training in the theatre is of enormous value.” ThinkingValuesTrainingTheatreEnormous Author:Vivien Leigh
“It's one of the tragic ironies of the theatre that only one man in it can count on steady work - the night watchman.” MenNightWomenWorkTheaterTheatreIronyMemorableTragicOne ManSteady Book:Tallulah: My Autobiography Source: Tallulah: My Autobiography
“A theatre receives recognition through its initiative, which is indispensable for first-rate performances.” FirstsPerformancesRateTheatreRecognitionInitiativeIndispensable Author:Franz Liszt
“I was never a hugely successful theatre designer. I painted a lot of scenery and did the lighting, and my lighting business grew out of that.” SuccessfulGrewTheatreDesignerLightingScenery Author:Kevin McCloud
“From there I did a one year theatre acting course in Fife, and then three years of drama school in London.” YearsSchoolThreeCoursesActingDramaLondonTheatreThree YearsTheatre Acting Author:Ewan McGregor