Stage Performance: Overcoming Nervousness and Embracing Courage

Yes, I have performed on stage in one-act plays and even in a professional Marathi drama. I have delivered several speeches on stage and conducted many training sessions. Even today, speeches and trainings are part of my work assignments, although I haven’t performed in theatre for quite some time. In my opinion, both genres—acting and training—are different and require different skill sets. But the common requirement in both is stage courage.

The initial few minutes of any performance are stressful and make you nervous. The butterflies in your stomach are very real! But a few techniques can help overcome this nervousness. I would like to share my experience of performing in one-act plays.

I have performed in three one-act plays and directed two Marathi dramas during the early years of my career. During our Engineering College days in Aurangabad, we used to perform a one-act play every year during the annual gathering. I was an integral part of the Marathi drama team. One play I still remember clearly was called “The Train.” It was presented in our final year of college and was a grand success.

In my second job in Aurangabad, the company I worked for celebrated its anniversary every year with a cultural program. I had played the role of an old man in one of the one-act plays. I can still recall the character—walking with a stick, speaking in a trembling voice to portray age. The role was highly appreciated, and I have fond memories of that performance. The following year, I also directed a play with our group of workmen. It was a fun and interesting activity. After that, I didn’t get another chance to act in any drama or one-act play.

My first one-act play was with a professional group when I was hardly 13 years old. The name of the drama was “Ha Ha Ani Ha Ha Ha,” directed by the famous director Prashant Dalvi. It was a wonderful learning experience—understanding how to act and express various emotions through facial expressions. It was tough at times, and the director would get upset if he didn’t get the expression he wanted, but it was an unforgettable journey.

You must be curious to know what character I perfromed in this drama. I was a peforming the character of a tree having no dialogue for complete period of the drama. I was fully ties us with the green leaves and looking like a real tree. It was a test of my patience to stand tall like a tree for more than an hour.

When I look back at those days, I realise that our entire group was driven purely by passion. There was no stress, no competition, no jealousy. The era of the 80s and 90s was filled with simple joys. With no social media or OTT platforms, people attended such cultural gatherings with genuine enthusiasm.

The moral of the story is: “Embrace life with open arms and enjoy it to the fullest, keeping all your worries and stress aside.”

Thank you, my dear readers, for stopping by.

Stay Happy & Keep Smiling! 😊