As I wrote previously – before a slight hiatus for Easter – last Thursday saw my first foray back into the practical world of Acting – i.e. actually ‘performing’ for others.
I felt incredibly apprehensive as I let myself through the security gate and walked across the large, dimly lit loading bay beneath Waterloo Station. A small, illuminated doorway in one of the arches with a simple paper sign attached to the door announced that I had arrived at Network Theatre.
After a nervous (me, not the group) and, if I am being honest, slightly forced start I quickly found my self-consciousness beginning to fade away. And, as the session progressed through a series of games and exercises I became more-and-more at ease until by the end I was quite happily marching about the stage extolling the virtues of Calor Gas Heaters.
It felt amazing (and, considering my career break, natural) to be standing on a stage and doing something that I love, am pretty good at (he says modestly) and have been hankering to do all these years – even if I didn’t know it at the time.
While the session was a great opening gambit, it did flag up a number of areas that I need to continue to focus on and develop. Firstly, I need to work on being more open to my own ideas and not blocking myself by always focusing on being right – I know from experience that I can learn a lot more from my mistakes (I just need to remember that!). Also, my competitive streak sometimes got the better of me – I don’t always need to win (as anyone who knows me overcoming this is going to be a real challenge)!
As I sat on the train home watching the Central London skyline slip into the distance I reflected on what had gone before. It completely reaffirmed why I want to get back into this funny old business and that this is where I want to be in the future – I just need to keep working towards that goal until (hopefully) I can get there.
Fortunately, the confirmation of my Actor’s Centre membership also came through last week and, having paid my subscription, a world of new courses is now available to me. So, this evening I will be going through the programme of workshops and courses to select the ones I want to attend.
I am sure that as I approach the next workshop/class I will feel just as nervous, however, having got the first one out of the way I’m confident it will be a lot less daunting.
William Baylis 