Acting Requirement: The Heart and Mind Of A Giant

A reflection on my time at Shakespeare and Company & one very important lesson I learnt there.

Hi Actor,

The words "Shakespeare demands the Hearts and Minds of Giants" echos through my mind. In 2019 I had the wonderful pleasure of training with 'Shakespeare and Company'. What a magical time that was. The learning was deep and transformative. I, to this day, continue to learn from my studies there. This was largely the formative beginnings of who I am as an artist today. This is when acting began clicking for me. Funnily enough I was well into my journey as an actor already. I had studied it at Acting College for 2.5 years, performed in some films and toured with an educational theatre troupe for another 2 years - being paid as a professional actor, to perform every day of the week, most of the year. My understanding of acting was somewhat deep already and I certainly wasn't a novice by the time 2019 came around. But it was here on the snow covered grounds of 'Shakespeare & Company', located halfway across the globe in a little town called Lenox, here something profound clicked for me. Somewhere in between Voice class, Movement class, Basics class, Stage Combat, Clowning, Actor/ Audience Relationship exercises, Sonnet work, Scene work, Rehearsals and the in-depth conversations surrounding the role of theatre - I felt it. Something totally free, uninhibited by judgement, expansive and so deeply human. I felt an all body connection to the art form of acting. Nothing like 70+ hours a week of relentless creative excavation to bring on a transformation. 😂

One of the many things I learnt there was that Shakespeare requires the hearts and minds of giants. The only way to serve his writing is to come into the room with your full self. I've grown to know that this is the whole truth behind the art of acting. We can't afford to leave any part of us out of the room.

But how? Here's how:

Be a student.

Be curious.

Listen.

Question the status quo.

Question the norms.

Read books.

Develop your own voice.

Feel deeply.

Engage in interesting conversations.

Look for opportunities to connect deeply to your friends and those you choose to surround yourself with.

Consume art.

Read Philosophy.

Be curious.

Don't be "nice".

Be kind, always.

Be generous.

Give without expectation of anything in return.

Be aware of your mistakes but not ruled by them.

Fess up when you make them. Even the big ones. Especially them.

Get used to the discomfort of growth.

Always be looking for how to get better.

Practice mindfully.

Practice with intention.

Get comfortable with silence.

Be healthy.

Eat well, sleep well & exercise to keep yourself sharp.

Be patient.

Write. Formally and informally. Write a blog or novel or poetry or other.

Write in a journal - 3 pages a day.

Take risks.

Be open to being wrong.

Do the scary thing you've been putting off. And then do the next scary thing. And then repeat.

Be scared and do it anyway.

Be honest with your friends.

Have interesting conversations.

Love.

Laugh fully.

Bring your full self: your capable, creative, broken, rehabbed, strong, emotional, sexual, funny, quirky, dorky, suave, foolish, clown-like, imperfect, mature, childlike, scared, brave, ashamed, wonder filled, hurt, curious, healthy, healing, raw, unapologetic self - bring it all with you, into your work & play.

I have attempted to articulate here all that we must use in our art. Reality is, this list is forever expansive. This is just the beginning of it. Like with any pursuit of mastery, the process is endless and scary and thats the beauty of it too. I think I decided to be an actor because instinctually I knew it required me to to grow, to expand and learn.

I'm going to continue to learn and grow every day and this is my invitation for you to do the same.

Talk soon,

Lachy

Lachlan is an Australian Actor who has been working within the industry nearing a decade. He’s worked in Film & Theatre.