What Does Theatre Mean To You?

The Theatre means so much to me. The space is a refuge for me. Growing up in a turbulent space, not having a strong grasp on my own identity, I often found great solace in the theatre. I didn’t need to pretend or be something I wasn’t. Nor did anyone have to know unless I wanted them to, it was irrelevant to the space and I loved that. It was a facilitator. In that space, I learned how to be a better performer but more than that I learnt how to really engage with strangers and meet new people. The space gave me confidence, it reminded me time and time again that I was worthwhile and good at what I was doing there, something I often did not feel at school. Because of that empowerment, I was more confident with the other young people within the space and was able to make friends easily. I attribute my social growth entirely to the theatre. I learned not just how to socialize, but how to be a good person in general, how to care and be cared for.