14/05/2026
What Does Theatre Mean to Us? | Part 9 – Ben Pawley
Ben sees theatre as the place where creativity, storytelling, and human connection collide — where chaos and calm exist side by side, and where a group of individuals becomes something much bigger together.
“Theatre is a place where stories come alive.
I have always loved thinking and being creative, and theatre can bring every element of the creative arts together under one roof. Poetry, prose, spoken word, silence, song, music, chorus, monologue, stillness, movement, chaos, light, dark, colour, and shade... anything and everything can happen on a stage, it could be profound, emotional, magical, comedy, tragedy...
Every story leaves a different imprint on the viewer and player, and I love being a part of storytelling which has that effect!
There is a thrill of performing live theatre which you don't quite get anywhere else. The build-up normally involves a lot of meticulous planning, direction, preparation, and repetition, with everything coming together in the nick of time.
Through rehearsal, a group of misfits becomes a company; a team in which each person knows their own part and all work together to tell the tale.
During a performance, it can feel like all eyes are on you under the spotlight. That brings some nervous energy that can send things off kilter, and that is when you have to rely on spontaneous creativity and quick-thinking from your company to keep the storytelling alive.
Creativity like this is a curious combination of calm and chaos, which resonates with me on a bigger perspective too. We obviously want everything to go exactly as rehearsed and scripted, but that's just not real life.
I think that's what Shakespeare meant when he said that the whole world is a stage.
As players we have to depend on those around us to listen, notice when things have gone off course, and help steer everything back on track.
Stories are for telling. Life is for living. Theatre is the roof under which both happen at the same time.”
Follow along as we continue to share what theatre means to the people who make Green Room what it is — because here, stories change everything.
