YV: Love the Drama: Inside DramaSoc
A shortened version of this article was published in York Vision Issue 268, in November 2019. Read more articles here.
The Drama Barn, featured image by DS Pugh
If you’re interested in theatre, DramaSoc has a wide variety of ways to get involved, one of which involves Open Drama Nights, or ODNs. Lucy-Jo Finnighan takes you through what it’s like to direct one.
For those that don’t know what ODNs are, they are free Monday performances that the Drama Society puts on in the Drama Barn almost every week of term. Unlike the more well-known weekend shows, which tend to perform professional works, ODNs are mostly student-written. In my opinion, ODNs are just as great an experience as weekend shows, if not more so, as you’ll often be directing your own work. So far, I have written and directed three plays for Open Drama Nights, so to those who are interested in directing, I can offer you some advice from experience. I would get into what it’s like writing a play, but that’s another article in and of itself!
Pitching and Preparing
This is more a job for the writer, so I won’t get into the pitching process much. But I shall say that while it’s not mandatory, I’d recommend being involved with another show before you pitch an ODN yourself. Since the pitching process can be quite daunting, it’s useful to gain some experience within the Drama Barn beforehand. At least to see what said Drama Barn is like, as that’s where you’ll be staging your work. It’s also a great chance to get to know people who could help you put a show on, such as those experienced in tech and/or costume. If you’re reading this while your pitch has already been picked to perform without prior experience, well then congratulations! Time for the real work to begin.
Thankfully, you’re not alone; there are Reps that are specifically there to support ODNs and any new writing. There’s generally a meeting after pitches have been picked to answer any initial questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out during the process! They can guide you through auditions (which as director, you’ll be running) and help you find any necessary production team. Unless you’re one of those people who want to write, direct, produce, and star in a show all by yourself, you’ll need a team to rely on. There are tons of people within the society who are looking for opportunities, so thankfully you won’t need to look far to find someone. Find yourself a producer, at least.
Auditions
When it comes to UoY DramaSoc, one thing I can say about auditions is that you’ll be alone a lot. Like, a lot. For the majority of the audition process, you’ll be sat in an empty room by yourself, with only the odd person nipping in and out. Don’t be disheartened; this is never due to your script or direction, it’s due to the habit that many members of the society have, which is waiting until the last day to audition. You’ll likely have a swarm of people arrive during the very final moments. My list of auditionees has often doubled on the last day, to both my joy and bewilderment. I admit that I have often been one of those auditionees.
However, there are things you can do to invite more people along. It’s important to set up a Facebook page for your show, and to share it as much as you can. Create graphics for the show, make audition event pages, and get the word out as much as possible. Also have script extracts prepared and place them outside the audition room, alongside a summary of what the show is about. You want to draw people in.
Once people are in, make sure to make them feel welcome! Auditions are nerve-wracking, so try to put performers at ease. It’s a good idea to have them read through the part, be given a little bit of direction and encouragement, and then read again, to see how they listen to said direction.
Don’t forget to grab their information so you can contact them about whether or not they will be cast. Casting is a lot easier for ODNs than it is for weekend shows; you can do it right after auditions end and you don’t have to run your casting choices by any other shows. Just make sure you post a cast list on social media!
Rehearsals
Rehearsals are the main part of ODNs. Make sure to plan beforehand; have the staging written out, think over the emotions of the characters, and dear God, make sure you have a room booked.
I’d recommend when giving direction, to always try and note one good thing your actor did, along with what you want them to improve upon. It’s also important to warm the cast up before rehearsals even start, with light exercises or games. Try to keep the rehearsals fun, as they’re a chance for people (including yourself) to make new friends, and for ODNs it’s often a person’s first time acting in DramaSoc. Obviously, rehearsals are there to make a great show, so push your actors to do their best, but your cast will always work better together if they’re having a good time. I’ve made a lot of friends through ODNs, and some rehearsals have been my favourite moments in my entire university experience.
Production
One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give you when it comes to ODNs is to keep it as low-key as possible when it comes to set, props, and costume. Not because people won’t believe in your big ideas, but because you have a single day to do everything. You and the cast are given the Drama Barn at 12pm on the Monday of your performance, and you have until 7:15pm to get everything ready. That includes setting up, discussing safety precautions and risk assessments with the IVC of DramaSoc, having a tech run, then a dress run, then hopefully a break before showtime, and then after the show you have until 9pm to pack everything away and get out. If you want the process to be as seamless as possible, you need minimal set and props.
You also need them because you have absolutely no budget. While you can use anything from the Drama Barn’s backstage area, anything new you have to pay for yourself. So if you don’t want to go broke, you have to get nifty. I once tried to play off an old telephone and an old radio as high-tech military communications equipment. And yes, it looked as silly as it sounds.
Showtime!
When it comes to opening night, it can be the most terrifying, or the most exciting night of your whole term. Most likely it will be both. Especially when it comes to certain genres; I remember watching the audience come in to see a comedy I had written, and the only thought in my head was, ‘Dear God, please let them laugh at this, please let them laugh at this!’
During the beginning of the play, you’ll find yourself gnawing at your knuckles, and whilst you have the utmost faith in your performers and prod team, in theatre something can and often will go wrong. But usually, that faith will be restored within mere minutes, you’ll be sucked in along with the audience, and you’ll find yourself beaming proudly at what your team has managed to achieve. Because it is a great achievement. You’ll head to V-Bar after the show, and drink as if you’ve handed in your dissertation.
Hopefully, this advice has proven useful to any of you. Even if it hasn’t, I still recommend getting involved in ODNs. Because after all those weeks of hard work, the shows do feel like your baby; your passion project. My ODNs are some of my proudest accomplishments, and I’ll always look back on them fondly. It’s stressful as hell, but I couldn’t recommend anything more.