The Encyclopedia of Interactive Performance

One of the joys of being an actor is the process of creating a character. Here are some common elements that help to define who a character is.

• Name – the way a character is addressed.
• Position – a character’s standing in society, including profession, occupation, and relationships.
• Physical status – the physical behaviors and vocal characteristics that reflect a characters personal power.
• Traits – the positive and negative ways that a character tends to behave.
• Point of view – how a character feels or thinks about people, situations, and life.
• Priorities – the things that a character values most.
• Goals – the wants and needs that drive a character’s behavior.
• Hooks – things that make a character distinctive and memorable.

With so many elements, where do you begin? It depends on how much time you have. If you’re creating characters on the fly, they need to be created instantly. If you’re working with a script, you’ve got more time. Let’s consider both situations.

Instant characters

Sometimes there’s no time to prepare a character. You need to do it on the fly. There are three essential elements you can use to give the impression of a fully developed character—physical status, point of view, and relationship. Embody a physical status, express a point of view, and know your relationship to the spect’s character. As you continue to play, you can flesh out other aspects of your character without spects being any the wiser.

Scripted characters

When you’re working with a script, you have the luxury of time to develop your character. This process begins with script analysis. You see what’s said about your character. You note what your character does and how other characters respond. These are seeds from which your character grows.

Thinking and writing about the character is important. It’s equally important to practice thinking (and behaving) as the character. Experiential character development gives you practice living in character so you’re better equipped to handle whatever happens in performance. Experiences include writing letters, dining out, and going to therapy. You can find a collection of experiential exercises in the Interactive Performance Encyclopedia entry, Living in character.

Here are some tips when you’re doing experiential character development.

Wear the right clothes – Wear a piece of clothing that makes you move and feel like your character. Shoes have a big impact. So do hats and accessories.

Don’t “act” – Let your character show up naturally. Behave as a real person, not an actor playing a role. If you're in public, no one should even realize that you're playing a character.

Engage the senses – Experience things that your character sees, hears, feels, smells, and tastes. Things like hobbies, music, clothing, toiletries, and food can give you a deeper connection with your character.

Explore new worlds – Go experience places that are familiar to your character, but new to you. Always stay safe. Don’t put yourself at risk for the sake of developing a character.

Fly under the radar – When people don’t know that you’re playing a character, keep your behavior socially appropriate. Don’t let onlookers get caught up in your character’s drama. If things get too dramatic, people start to have real concerns, and that’s messing with them. Be your character, but don’t make a scene.

Experience the ordinary – Exploration doesn’t always have to be big and exciting. Engage in everyday routines as your character. Brush your teeth. Take a bath. Make a meal. Go for a walk.

Let it go – When you’re done with an experience, drop the character. Getting “stuck” in character isn’t real, it’s indulgent.

Reflect afterwards – After engaging in an experience, take time to consider what you discovered. Think about what you learned that could be useful when it’s time to play your character in a performance.

The point of this process is to prepare you to spontaneously live and respond as your character. Even with a script, spects will take you places that you can’t anticipate. Experiential character development makes it easier to handle whatever might happen.

The development process doesn’t end when rehearsals are over. Your character continues to evolve in every performance because it’s reshaped by each spect with whom you play. If you’re the antagonist and the spect is a thinker, your character may become a feeler. If you’re the love interest and the spect is the outdoorsy type, your character might discover a sudden passion for nature. The shape of your character adapts to the needs of the spect. Know who your character is, but also let it be shaped by the spect.

At the heart of any good story are interesting characters. Develop yours and see where the rascal takes you.