Exit the King eugÈne ionesco
translated by neil armfield & geoffrey rush
artist note: oliver dennis I’ve been ruminating about the rehearsal hall. This place. Here. You might be surprised to find out, given the requirements of the profession, that not all actors like performing in front of an audience above everything else. Some actors do, perhaps even most – but not all. Some prefer the rehearsal hall to the stage. Here is where the messy, embarrassing, mistake-laden, glorious, hysterical muck of being an actor is done. If you like discovery, if bravery moves you, if breakthroughs make you cheer, if friendship warms you, if a problem challenges you to overcome it, if laughter makes you joyful – you might like it here. Here, of course, is the realm of the director (I’m tempted to make some King analogy). Albert has been my director on a dozen or more shows. I couldn’t be prouder of the work he’s doing with us on this very difficult play. He’s directing with confidence, precision, humour and feeling. One of the advantages of doing so many plays together is the shorthand of communication. Sometimes without words and with a cheeky smile he can convey a note and we’ll giggle like kids. Here is usually a very private place. Actors, director, stage managers designers, dramaturge (if you’re lucky enough to have one). We’re not used to showing our work before we get in front of an audience with the final product – let alone showing the process. But here, in this rehearsal hall, we have had more visitors than in any production I can remember: students, the new Soulpepper Academy, our production sponsor and gentleman Phil Taylor, a novelist, company members. To us the life of the rehearsal hall is old hat, routine. But when you see it through the eyes of an “outsider,” you feel like you’re letting them in on a secret, giving them a taste of the alchemy of theatre. And it makes me wish everyone could experience that. It’s not possible to let you all into the rehearsal hall but my hope is that we can bring some of the rehearsal hall to you – to show you our discoveries, to be brave, to warm you, to challenge you and to make you laugh. Here.
Oliver Dennis, King Berenger in Exit the King