Theatre kids rejoice! Turns out all those summers of theatre camp are proving to be extremely beneficial for major life skills.

Confidence, expression, and enunciation are just a few skills we all strive to master throughout our lives. However, it isn’t always easy. Award winning Canadian actor, screenwriter, and producer, Michael Coleman, has always preached the benefits of acting, whether it be in high school drama classes or on the big screen. However, there are a specific set of skills that come from live theatre productions. The following is a list of essential life skills that children and adults can learn from theatre.

Being on stage under the spotlight, looking out to a room packed full of friends, family, and strangers can be an extremely nerve-wracking experience. On top of that, adds Michael Coleman, you must act in a certain way to portray a character that you might not even like! Embarrassing yourself and confidently recovering is something you come to master with every theatre production. When you go on to present your work in an important meeting, give a speech at a weddings, or meet a new crowd of friends, you will be very happy for the comfortability you developed with public speaking through theatre. 

Commitment 

Being apart of a theatre production is no small feat! It requires dedication, with long hours to memorize lines, build sets, and design costumes. The commitment to creating a great show is expressed in various activities. Although it can be stressful and overwhelming at times, it all becomes worth it once opening night comes around. Commitment to your hobbies, interests, and goals, whether they exist in your personal or professional life, is key for success. Even when the going gets tough, you will remember that commitment always pays off. 

Creativity 

It’s important to let your imagination run wild every now and then, whether it leads you to pursue a new interest, inspires you to create something, or simply distracts you from a stressful day. The skill of honing in on your imagination and doing something productive with it is called creativity. In theatre, you develop this skill when your getting into character and designing a set. You learn how to transform your surroundings and yourself so that the audience feels immersed in a new environment. But creativity is not just for us theatre nerds! Creativity is what you need to express yourself in non-verbal ways, and what you need to take a project to the next level. It’s the unique solution to problems that cannot be solved by standard means. 

Quick-Thinking 

When Michael Coleman graduated from high school, he began working as a stand up comedian, traveling around Vancouver, BC. Part of what made him so successful in stand up was his ability to think quickly and bounce back with witty remarks to keep the audience entertained. Coleman attributes this ability to his time spent in theatre, where quick thinking and acting are necessary for success. Whether you forget a line or cannot find a prop, you must improvise! As they say: the show must go on. 

Teamwork 

For a show to be successful, there must be teamwork! Nothing can be done without it; from the writing of a script (and editing.. So many edits), to the design and construction of a set, to the actors exchanging lines on stage. You learn to respectfully voice concerns, work through differences, and collaborate. When everyone puts in the effort to work together, it puts all of your goals in reach. What’s even better than a successful show, says Michael Coleman, is the lifelong theatre family that comes out of it. Now imagine having the skill of working with others and creating close bonds in your place of employment. It’s a skill that requires constant nurturing and many fail to achieve. 

Confidence 

Getting nervous while performing on stage is extremely common. As you get used to performing and have a few shows under your belt, you realize that there is nothing to be nervous about. But even for those times that you are so nervous you feel sick, the show must go on, and you are forced to fake it until you make it. The confidence you exude in character starts to shine off on you. Additionally, theatre allows you to explore who you are and express yourself. After playing hundreds of characters on stage and the big screen, Michael Coleman has studied and embodied numerous personalities. You find what traits you like in a person, what you don’t like, and most importantly: what you are comfortable doing and what you are not. This character embodiment forces actors to find themselves among the crowd. If you’re interested in getting involved in theatre, no matter your age, you will not regret it! There is so much to learn from the arts, especially in this live, fast-paced setting. As Michael Coleman has personally experienced, the skills you acquire from theatre will help you find success in your personal and professional endeavours.