ABSTRACT
From the very start of rehearsals, the actors should be encouraged to work together. In my experience, there is nothing so divisive as the principal/ensemble mentality, and the actors should try to think of the show as a group effort which relies on the commitment and enthusiasm of every single member of the team. Of course, some performers will have much larger roles than others; they will consequently feel a greater sense of responsibility and this will often create a greater sense of pressure too. Nonetheless, every member of the company has a contribution to make, and should approach the work with the same level of professionalism and commitment (and this goes for any production, whether it be professional or amateur). Where possible I try to avoid using the terms ‘principals’ and ‘chorus’, since it seems to me that everyone is really part of an ensemble; some actors just happen to have larger roles than others. ‘Chorus’ is a word I try to avoid altogether, since it implies a group of people all doing the same thing. ‘Ensemble’, on the other hand, suggests a collection of individuals, each with different identities and ideas.
