My Top Ten Tips On Performing Well In A Play

1. Always go to the toilet BEFORE going on stage. This is important!
You cannot rush offstage and go right in the middle of the play. Nor can you piss yourself while you are onstage. That seriously dampens (HA! A PUN!) your chance of being taken seriously as an actor.
2. Never ever eat just before going up onstage, especially if you suffer from nerves like me. Chucking up in the middle of a line isn't the best way to impress the audience. But also, don't not eat all day either.We can't have you fainting onstage unless it is scripted! Just eat something about three hours before.
3. When talking to another character, have your body facing to the audience side of them but tilt your head to look at the audience.
4. When looking at the audience, always look just above their heads. This gives the audience the illusion you are making eye contact with them.
5. When at any time you must turn your back to the audience, crane your neck to the side where the majoroty of the audience is. But if you dont have to speak then look directly away from the audience.
6.To get a good reputation, tell your friends about the plays you are in and make them come along. If possible, get as many people you know to watch.
Always good for people to know how talented you are.
7. Remember to project when delivering a line. Say it loud and clear, breathing from your diaophrame. It helps to have a lot of breath in your lungs to do this. I practise deep breathing and speaking exercises before I go on, just as a precaution.
8. Memorise your lines! I cannot stress this enough! Go over them and over them and over them until you know them like the back of your hand. Yes, you will probably miss out a line or two due to nerves. No one is perfect. But missing out a whole chunk or stuttering over what you are saying is CATOSTROPHIC! If you do, however, have a complete blank, be quick to improvise and hope that your fellow actors have the sense to help you out. If someone else chokes, I suggest you help them out too.
After all, you are all a team in a play.
9. Take a moment before the play to meditate. Focus on your character, immerse yourself in it. You are who you play. Even if it is a bad guy.
I once had to play a very evil woman. I didn't like it, but I still took the time to find my character.
10. Try and go for roles that show your strengths. Like, if like me you are good at playing elaborate characters who have heaps of jokes in their lines, go there. If you are better at playing sarcastic people, stick to that. Sexy smooth people? Go for it!
Whatever you think you perform best as.

I hope these tips can help any other aspiring young actors out there.