“Theatre is Life, Film is Art and TV is Furniture.”

A lovely little cultural blog!
Stage versus screen – which do you prefer?

Don’t get me wrong, I do have my selection of all time film favourites. However as a stage performer and having been involved in numerous musicals, plays and stage productions over the last 10 years, I feel that onstage performance, theatre, is much more rewarding not only as a performer, but also as an audience member.

It is true that movie and television audiences do not automatically bow down for Broadway royalty. Conversely, not every film heavyweight can earn respect onstage.

Screenplays, films, movies, however you care to label them, deal only with what an anticipated audience can see on a flat screen and hear from loudspeakers. Screen works are completely unlimited, and subject to endless amounts of editing, computerised enhancing and visual effects.

When it comes to entertainment, who doesn’t prefer live action??

Theatre, plays and musicals all deal with what an anticipated audience can see and hear on stage with LIVE actors. Any type of stage production tells its story in 'real time' in a living environment, which allows such an intense connection with the audience, as well as an exciting degree of spontaneity. As theatre is limited to the stage itself, performers must use exaggeration to clearly portray action and emotion to its live audience.

It is such a powerful and fascinating form of entertainment! Theatre can completely rely on the audience’s imagination to create and partake in its own “real world”.
No “Cut!”s or numerous scene takes. No time to re-take or edit scenes.

It’s interesting how with all the effort and excitement surrounding digital film and television and the ever evolving world of cinematography, nothing can quite compare to the raw thrill and beauty of live performance.