Thursday Theatre Thoughts: What Theatre Means to Me

Gabrielle Hammond

gabsbitesizeblogs@gmail.com

Hey my lovely theatre lot. Today I am speaking about what theatre means to me. Theatre has been a huge part of my life from the very beginning and is not going to go away anytime soon, it is centre stage in my life, always and forever.

From a young age my mum would take me and my sister to watch the theatre (mainly musical theatre). These shows that I can remember included Annie, The Sound of Music, Grease and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. All great introductions into the world of MT. Now my favourites still include Joseph but also Cabaret, Jersey Boys, Hamilton, Oliver!, Blood Brothers and The Book of Mormon (to name quite a few, but my list goes on!). MT is obviously my favourite and first love of any theatre- it’s so moving, interesting and exciting aswell as showing talent like you’ve never seen it. If I couldn’t watch musicals for the rest of my life; I don’t know how I’d cope lol. They are everything to me and watching one is what brings me the most joy. Hence why I always have a theatre trip booked and coming up, it’s my form of self-care.

But it’s not just MT I love; I also love some plays (granted not many) but especially Shakespeare. I love Shakespearean plays and would love to go to the Globe to watch one, even better if it’s my favourite- Twelfth Night or Romeo and Juliet (a soft spot as I once played Lady Capulet back in year 6!). I’ve watched Twelfth Night live, not at the Globe though but on an A-level trip, aswell as The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and seen a new play on the westend called Clarkston last year. Honourable mention to the Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time (a greatly written play!) and I also love A Streetcar Named Desire (which I studied at A-level). Plays, for me, are there to show something in detail and are more impactful in some ways; they have to be greatly written for a play to follow and be interesting. Whereas musicals can “just” include a song and suddenly the audience in captivated again.

I also love acting and singing myself. I’ve been in amateur dramatics and shows since I was around nine. I have done pantomimes mainly, but also directed, written and stage managed (all amazing parts of theatre).

In all honesty, theatre gives me somewhere to escape to. As cringey as that sounds- it’s the truth. Whether that be writing shitty scripts (Mounthatten Lovers mention!) or maybe some actual decent scripts, directing, acting or watching and being an audience member; they all give me something to focus on and escape daily life.

I am so grateful I was exposed to this when I was little, because this passion wouldn’t have been so pronounced if it wasn’t because of that, and would probably have taken me way longer to find it. And then that would have meant I would have been missing out for all those years lol.

If you would like to discuss with me why you love theatre, or need any tips to get into it email me at gabsbitesizeblogs@gmail.com

What professional musicals/plays I have seen (most I’ve seen more than once!):

• ALW’s Cinderella

• Annie

• Beauty and the Beast

• Blood Brothers

• Book of Mormon

• Cabaret

• Chicago

• Clarkston

• Grease

• Hamilton

• Hercules

• Jersey Boys

• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

• Les Misérables

• Little Shop of Horrors

• MJ Musical

• Oliver!

• Phantom of the Opera

• Rocky Horror Picture Show

• The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe

• The Sound of Music

• Twelfth Night

• Wicked

What I’m seeing new in the near future:

• Waitress

• Mamma Mia!

• Jesus Christ Superstar