Theatrical Intelligence

When I speak to groups about the way Theatrical Intelligence can make a difference in their lives, I talk about collaboration and connecting to their creative selves. The responses range from “Of course! It’ll help when I have to give a presentation” to “Not my kind of thing – don’t like being in the spotlight.” What strikes me is the assumption that the Actor is only one I’m talking about.

In the theatrical production model, the Actor is what we see, but only 1/8 of what is actually there. He or she wouldn’t even be up on the stage if it weren’t for the Writer, Producer, Director, Designer, Manager, Technician and Critic. The specific talent and skill contained in each of these roles is every bit as important as the Actor. Without these roles the Actor wouldn’t exist!

What’s Really There

Creative collaboration requires that the 8 roles are cast with people using their maximum creative potential. It is built on the premise that all collaborators’ talents and skills complement one another. In other words if I don’t have a particular strength, one of my cohorts will.

Recently I worked with a young woman who told me “I don’t have one creative bone in my body, it’s just the way I’ve always been and I’m fine with it.” She was politely annoyed that I didn’t accept her as a “non-creative”. What became clear to the group during an improvised story and a quick writing exercise, is that she was a born technician: the only one who could get the electronic hook-up to work; and a gifted manager: organizing a group photo while keeping large egos in the room not only satisfied but grateful. When I pointed out her strengths in those roles, she explained “That’s what I always do – it’s the easy stuff!” That gave us our biggest laugh of the evening, followed by nearly everyone admitting their techno-ignorance, impatience with managing differing personalities, and that the combination of her geeky-gift and people-management-savvy was something they longed for in their employees.

The talented young Technician/Manager took all this in, and with just the hint of a grin, said: “Well, maybe there are a couple of creative bones…” My response? Damn right. And defining your own Theatrical Intelligence is the fun part of being smart.