Communication in Theatre Directing and Performance: From Rehears ...

Firstly, the professionals who were interviewed, in order to talk openly and honestly about their experiences, also had to talk about fellow artistes and directors. The collaborative nature of their work meant that comparisons and examples almost inevitably included the names of associates, either worked with or known in the artistic community. It was, therefore, imperative that data was treated anonymously. Participants were also assured that any explanations, descriptions, and examples would be carefully written so as not to include clues or inferences that might lead back to the interviewee.

Secondly, there was the matter of the researcher’s presence within the normally private arena of rehearsals. Each cast member was told about the research and how it would be conducted (i.e., a discreet presence at rehearsals, noting interactions on a sheet). It was also necessary to overcome the difficulty of how best to behave during the numerous intervals, for coffee or tea breaks, lunch recessions, waiting around for the character’s entrance, and so on. I remained quietly positive, smiling a greeting, responding to enquiries about my general well-being, and showing my work, with explanations, whenever asked. Even so, there were awkward times, such as being included or excluded from social interaction seemingly on a whim. One cast member was particularly welcoming, another remained frosty throughout the rehearsal period, and a third showed smatterings of niceness whilst generally sending out signals of being apart. However, this was understandable. Some confided later that they thought they were being secretly tested in some way. All through, they were assured that this was research personal to me and confidential and definitely nothing to do with each of them, neither as artistes nor in any way with any funding grants that they may have received. Additionally, after our original meeting during which Director 1 agreed to participate in the research study, I sent to his company office a synopsis of the area of research together with an overview of the work to be undertaken with that company. This was also done for Director 2. Emergent data findings were provided whenever questions were asked about the research, and final data were disseminated to the company (via the director and company office) on completion of the first and third studies. Director 2, once the materials for recording the interactions