Sam Mendes on his Rehearsal Process | National Theatre

Summary

The transcript details a director's unique rehearsal process, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and experimentation. By arranging the rehearsal room in a circle and keeping the company together, the director fosters a collective exploration of the play. Techniques such as role-switching and physical activities are employed to unlock scenes and encourage actors to lose self-consciousness. The process is described as personal and eccentric, with the director using Shakespeare's own recurring motifs as inspiration. The goal is to find the most effective and organic direction for the production through trial and error.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The director emphasizes the importance of a collaborative and imaginative approach in the rehearsal room, valuing the input and insights of all participants.
• 🔄 The director's methodology evolved over time through trial and error, shaped by the enjoyment found in the rehearsal process and the need for a consistent approach to directing.
• 🤔 The rehearsal room is used as a space for experimentation, with the director encouraging actors to explore scenes through various games and exercises.
• 💡 Role-switching and physical activities are employed as tools to help actors gain new perspectives on their characters and the dynamics of a scene.
• 🤝 The director mentions the use of the entire company as a resource, involving them in the creative process and using their collective imagination.
• 🌟 A memorable example is given where actors played a scene as if rowing a boat, which physically unlocked the scene and improved the actors' connection.
• 🍽️ The director discusses setting scenes in different contexts, like a dinner table, to reveal character dynamics and relationships.
• 🔍 The process involves exploring multiple versions of a scene, with the director mentioning different iterations of the first scene of a play.
• 🚫 The director acknowledges that not all ideas from the rehearsal room can be transferred to the stage, but the process is valuable for discovering what works.
• 🔑 The director's approach is described as personal and eccentric, with a focus on losing self-consciousness and creating an environment where there's no right or wrong.
• 🔄 The phrase 'by indirections find directions out' from Hamlet is used to illustrate the director's belief in the value of exploring various paths to find the right direction for a production.

Q & A

What was the director's initial approach to working with a company and arranging the rehearsal room?

Initially, the director did not have a set methodology and struggled as a young director. The approach evolved over time, and the director found it effective to arrange the rehearsal room in a circle and keep the company together for the duration of the rehearsal process.

How does the director utilize the collective imagination of the company during rehearsals?

The director believes in using the collective imagination of the company, recognizing that there are intelligent insights within the group. The director's role is seen as editorial to some extent, but the process is largely collaborative and exploratory.

What is the significance of experimenting with scenes and roles during rehearsals?

Experimenting with scenes and roles, such as switching roles or involving the entire group, helps to reveal new insights and understandings of the play. It can also unlock scenes in different ways, such as through physical tricks or by changing the dynamics of a scene.

Can you provide an example of a physical trick used during rehearsals to unlock a scene?

One example given is playing a scene from 'Twelfth Night' as if the characters were rowing a boat across a lake, which helped to physically release the scene and allowed the actors to relate to each other more accurately without focusing on the text.

How does the director handle scenes that become too dark or academic during rehearsals?

If the mood becomes too dark or academic, the director might introduce a silly or playful element to lighten the mood and unlock the scene, such as playing a scene with a different physical constraint or setting.

What is the director's approach to using props or settings to enhance a scene?

The director might use specific props or settings, like a dinner table or a wheat field, to enhance the dynamics and reveal different aspects of a scene. The choice of props or settings is often intuitive and aimed at bringing out the physical life of the scene.

How does the director deal with getting stuck with one or two ideas during the rehearsal process?

The director frees themselves from getting stuck by experimenting with various versions of a scene and by using the collective imagination of the company. This process helps to avoid repetition and self-consciousness.

What is the significance of the line from 'Hamlet' quoted by the director, 'We shall by indirections find directions out'?

This line from 'Hamlet' reflects the director's rehearsal process, which involves exploring various paths, even if they seem indirect or wrong, to ultimately discover the right direction for a scene or production.

How does the director ensure that actors lose self-consciousness during rehearsals?

The director encourages actors to play and lose self-consciousness by creating an environment where there is no right or wrong, no audience, and no fixed entrance or exit. This allows actors to try things freely and without fear of judgment.

What is the transition process like from the rehearsal room to the stage for the director?

The transition from the rehearsal room to the stage is often straightforward, with the director moving the entire rehearsal into the stage space. Adjustments are made as necessary, but the core of the work done in the rehearsal room is retained.

Why does the director consider their working method to be personal and not recommend it to others?

The director views their working method as personal because it has emerged from their own experiences and preferences. It is an eccentric approach that may not suit everyone and is tailored to the director's specific way of working and collaborating with actors.