The first and most important step in preparation is analysis. A play or scenario is like a game, and the text dialogue or stage direction is a description of the game. Text is the result of action. The director analyzes the underlying actions, discovering objectives and tactics, and derives concepts of environment, movement, and rhythm from that analysis. Text and character analysis both are an important part of the director s technique.
Analysis ought to free, never hinder, the imagination.
Inventive staging arises out of thorough research and careful analysis. Rules of staging are part of the game of theatre and must be understood and practiced by student directors. The rules must be obeyed, but the good players know how to bend those rules to their purposes. Like text, blocking is a result of action. Understanding the action will lead to effective staging.