Director

The director works with an existing piece of theatre, either a text (written or oral) or a piece of theatre created by a group or company. The director’s task is to prepare this piece for an audience. The director works very closely with the designer(s) to develop a vision for the setting, atmosphere and aesthetics of the piece of theatre. The director works in collaboration with the production team and the performers to bring the piece of theatre to life for an audience.

The role of the director

During your IB Theatre course you must develop an understanding of the skill set and key responsibilities associated with the role of the director, as outlined below.

Role	Key responsibilities	Skill set
Director	The director is responsible for the preparation of a piece of theatre for an audience.	An understanding of the art form of theatre (plot, tension, symbol, space, character and so on) and different styles of presentation The ability to interpret text and transform text/ideas/story into action The ability to imagine and envisage how ideas may be translated into stage action An understanding of how a piece is structured, paying attention to pace, sequence, transitions, dramatic tension and meaning The ability to develop clear intentions with an awareness of the impact these may have on an audience An understanding of how individual moments of theatre function within a whole piece The ability to focus the audience’s attention An understanding of how the human figure operates in space The ability to deal creatively with physical space An understanding of the relationship between production and performance The ability to create moments of tension, emotion, atmosphere and meaning The ability to collaborate, manage people and communicate effectively The ability to research