I believe in a matriarchal rehearsal room. The role of the director is frequently viewed and practiced as a patriarchal position. It is commanding and definite. He holds the vision and must elicit his vision from the actors. I have seen many plays and been in many rehearsal rooms that are successfully and unsuccessfully run this way. It is likely that when this approach is unsuccessful it is because the leader doesn’t know the alternative is available to him– he hasn’t been given an example of a space that is led in a way that results in mutual creative trust from everyone involved.

I feel lucky that I have been exposed to people, not just women, who lead in a non-patriarchal way; who believe in the superior effect of combined efforts, over the frequently harmful effect of a solitary vision and ultimate power.

I have watched my incredible parents, two teachers of language, run their classrooms with confidence in their own abilities, and an understanding that they are in charge, but with minimal hierarchy and zero sense of superiority over their students. These inherently creative, collaborative, and educational spaces we find ourselves in, whether that be a classroom, a rehearsal room, or any random room that happens to be occupied by creatives, are sensitive spaces and should be treated as such.

I find the most interesting and subversive work is made when we share this power among those in our room, and the way this is done will be different with every new concoction of people. In fact, it will be different every day - every hour - after each meal break.

This is the first step of a rehearsal process: how will we hold power together and find confidence in each other so we may be able to inspire ourselves and those around us with the lucrative work we do?