WHAT THEATRE IS ALL ABOUT

Theo Ioannou, SBC’s newest Creative Associate and Assistant Director on Can You Hear Me, Now? chats all about what and who theatre is really for…

Theo Ioannou in rehearsals for Can You Hear Me, Now? - Photo by David Wilson Clarke

I have always been of the opinion that theatre is for everyone. Or rather, that theatre should be for everyone but unfortunately, it isn’t. As mundane or commonplace as this opinion sounds, very few people share it. To act on it is to elicit a whole array of negative responses.

Offense! Shock! Irritation!

is directed at those who enter the theatre when they are not ‘supposed to.’ And so, most have given up on the idea of an inclusive theatre or were not ever encouraged to become interested in it to begin with. It can often feel like most people already ‘on the inside’ prefer to maintain theatre as it is, rather than work to change and reinvent what theatre could be.

These were the wonderings of a thoughtful realist no doubt (or, perhaps the thoughts of an ignorant pessimist).

“I will continue to struggle onwards!”, I thought.

“Maybe someone, somewhere, someday will share my vision about the theatre of the future.”

Thankfully, my courageous but solitary pursuits were over before long.

The SBC team did not only share my vision of what the theatre of the future should be but they also acted on that vision. With SBC, every day is like a big party. The first day of rehearsals was brimming with dancing, singing and celebration. This was a very special gathering as we had only ever met online before due to the national lockdown. An ecstatic experience to say the least that lasted for about four hours. It was a loud celebration of creativity, individuality, imagination, of life, and joy. A tribute to having fun (a much more transgressive act than we are comfortable admitting). That day was so overwhelming that I can only recall a vague haze sprinkled with intense enthusiasm and wonder.

SBC undid my pessimism or even (dare I say) restored my faith in the impact that theatre can have on local communities and society at large.

Being an assistant director with SBC, feels like having the freedom to be myself, to create, to explore, experiment and learn. A full experience.

L-R clockwise: Payam, Ella, Joel, Majid, Abed, Hussein, Theo, Beth and Sonani in rehearsals for Can You Hear Me, Now? - photo credit: Aya Wanli

Throughout this process, I have crossed paths with some of the most talented and creative minds and I have met people with important ideas and urgent messages to share. I opened up, I allowed myself to be vulnerable and allowed others to be vulnerable around me, I listened, I helped, I was inspired and finally, I had the contentment of a job well done. This is what theatre should be all about.

When I went back home after that first day of rehearsals, I laid in bed and I was definitely tired. But the endorphins from all the running around and the dancing started to hit me. The overwhelming excitement of the day was settling in, the haze was dissolving and I could feel clearly.

I felt happy.

And it would only get better from that day onwards…