Robert E. Gregg

1. Purpose
Why do I create theatre?

• I create theatre to move people, to provide emotional catharsis, to thrill and to inspire.

 

2. Core Values
What values are essential in my work?

• Humanity is essential to theatre. All aspects of the human experience add to theatre. Therefore, empathy is also essential to understand the experience of others and present experiences on stage truthfully. Furthermore, seeking out and understanding many different perspectives provides a more complete picture of human experience.

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3. Artistic Vision
What kind of theatre do I want to create?

• I want to create thought-provoking, emotionally moving theatre. In particular, I want to focus on stage combat and action, including stunt work in film. 

 

4. Audience Impact
What impact do I want my theatre to have on the audience?

• I want my theatre to make the audience leave the performance having gained something from the experience.

 

5. Theatre’s Role in Society
How does my theatre engage with the world around me?

• Theatre should inspire the audience to self-reflection and mindfulness of the world and where everyone stands in it. The goal is to make society more empathetic, even by the smallest margin.

 

6. Inspiration and Influences
Who or what inspires my work?

• My work is heavily inspired by my own personal experience and journey as a person, particularly my relationship with fencing, which has always been a metaphorical rock for me.

 

7. Challenging Boundaries
What boundaries or conventions in theatre do I want to challenge or redefine?

• Theatre is not an inaccessible, aloof art form. People from all walks of life should be able to experience the theatre as they choose.

 

8. Collaboration Philosophy
How do I approach collaboration with others?

• Collaboration is essential. Nobody is an island, and the expertise of many coming together creates theatre. 

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9. Cultural Relevance
How does my work reflect or respond to the current cultural moment?

• -We live in an uncertain time when the values of empathy and humanity are being downplayed in society, and vulnerability increasingly punished. Theatre should bring people together and encourage openness in society.

 

10. Personal Growth

How do I want to grow as an artist?

• I want to continue my growth as a person, become more familiar with the feelings of openness and vulnerability, and advance my training and knowledge  in all forms of theatre. I also want to improve myself as a martial artist, as these arts are core to myself as a person and my work as an artist.

 

11. Call to Action
What do I want others to take away from my manifesto?

• Listen to the world around you and the people in it. Find joy everywhere you can (it’s easier to find than you might think). Do not close your mind.