by Saoirse Anton

Recently I’ve been having the joy of introducing my partner to Irish theatre, sharing plays and playwrights I love that they haven’t had the opportunity to see before moving to Ireland.

Getting to share theatre I love with people has always been one of my favourite things, whether it is bringing a pal along to a play from a writer I enjoy but they haven’t come across before, excitedly making plans to see a show with a mate who loves the play or writer as much as I do, or bringing friends’ children or young siblings along to some brilliant children’s theatre.

We are a social species and theatre is a social artform, so it makes sense to share our theatre experiences with others. The act of gathering together is one of the key benefits of theatre.

In hard times

A recent study drawing findings from the HEartS Study, a newly designed survey tool to capture arts engagement in the UK, found that “Engagement in arts and cultural activities supported feelings of social connection among adults in the United Kingdom over two phases in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of access to the arts and culture to support social connectedness.”

I remember how important it felt to arrange to watch a live-stream of a particular play or show with friends during the Covid-19 pandemic. We may have been in different houses, and in some cases even different countries, but in that moment of sharing a theatre experience, we were connected and felt the distance of lockdown close a little.

The Covid-19 pandemic is an extreme example, but sharing the joy of theatre with someone can help in more mundane hard times too. Last week I was stressed to the gills with a broken down car and probably would have skipped the theatre trip I had planned for Tuesday, had it not been for the fact that part of me reason for booking the tickets had been to introduce my partner to one of my favourite playwrights, with a play I was quite sure they would enjoy (they did!). The impulse to share brought me in the door of the theatre, and the evening out improved my mood and stress levels considerably. Even though I would probably have given it a miss and spent the evening fretfully looking up second-hand cars had I been going alone, that theatre trip was exactly what I needed.

For future generations

Another context in which sharing a love for the theatre is hugely positive is in introducing future generations to the artform. On World Day of Theatre for Young People in March ASSITEJ, the International Association of Theatre and Performing Arts for Children and Young People, promotes their “Take a Child to the Theatre” campaign. Research carried out by ASSITEJ points to the huge benefits of theatre in fostering friendship and togetherness, which in turn can be valuable in helping in cases of social anxiety, giving children perspective on other people’s experiences, and bridging generational gaps. As the researchers note,

“Participants highlighted the inclusive nature of theatre and performing arts, especially for adolescents, allows individuals from diverse backgrounds to share experiences and build a sense of belonging, consistent with research in the area (Nelson, 2009). They describe specifically that parents and children can share common experiences through collaborative devising or performances, learning valuable social skills and the art of being together while respecting individual differences. This notion of shared experiences and togetherness in theatre and performing arts aligns with studies that emphasize the importance of social cohesion and community engagement for young people’s development (Dixon et al., 2018).” - Collating Evidence on the Impact of Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), Prof. Kelly Freebody Prof. Michael Anderson and Eliza Oliver

For fun!

Is there anything better than sharing the excitement of a show you love coming to town with a friend? From dressing up to go see the Rocky Horror Picture Show, to eagerly dissecting the dramaturgy of a play with a fellow theatregoing friend over a post-show pint, sharing theatrical experiences is fun!

I have so many fond theatre memories, but the shows that stick in my mind most are the ones I enjoyed with other people. Driving back from Dublin with my Dad discussing productions of The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagony and the Threepenny Opera, shows he was already very familiar with that later became firm favourites of mine thanks to his introducing me to them. A long walk up and down the quays with a friend, deep in discussion about a production of Anna Karenina at the Abbey, a production we still occasionally fall into discussion about years later. A last-minute fleeting 24hr visit to London to see a Beckett production that a dear friend bought us both tickets to. A sunny outdoor student production of Godspell in the grounds of Cardiff Castle with a friend just as lockdown lifted. The list goes on.

A joy shared is a joy doubled, so this month, make a point of reaching out to someone and inviting them to share a trip to the theatre with you.