Connecting Engineering and Theater

At first, making a comparison between theater and engineering seemed ridiculous. After watching over 15 shows, I’ve started to make connections between some engineering concepts and producing a show. Directors must create an elaborate blueprint of the set and determine what dialogue they want to help drive the performance. All of these components add up into a purposeful final product.

The qualities of a fantastic show must start with an interesting set. It’s the first thing the audience sees, so it has to be eye-catching. I mostly liked the shows with abstract or moving sets. The turntable in “der die mann” made me want to go in the Schaubuhne basement to see how it was made (thank god we did because that was cool :)). The set of “Women in Trouble” had a similar turntable with multiple reoccurring rooms. But it took 10 minutes for one revolution which made it stressful for the audience to stay focused…or sane for that matter. We also saw the slanted set of “Streetcar”. Between the aggravated dialogue of the actors, they seemed to use the space very effectively. The inclined set where the actors entered from the top was very foreign to me, but I learned to love the alternative approach to the structure of the show. I loved the extravagant, but also minimalist sets we’ve seen so far.

Although most of our shows were completely in German, the dialogue can really capture the emotions of the character. The distressed yelling in “Streetcar” created a troubled vibe from all of the actors. It really described the limits that the actors can reach while performing. In engineering, we often have to ask “how is it made”. Dialogue tells a story which has built the character over time. We could see that every actress in “Women of Troy” told their own personal story. These stories, when put together, built a prominent, captivating atmosphere. This allowed the audience to stay naturally focused. When the played the “game” of finding colors, I loved how they interacted with the audience. I fell as though that is a strong tool in keeping everyone focused and interested.

The most common connection I can find between engineering and theater is having a new idea and showcasing it to serve its intended purpose. For engineers, our ideas help solve problems or improve old ways of technology. Theater can release so many emotions. You could think of them as theater’s “power source”. Theater intends to “touch” the audience. I believe directors will always ask the question “will people want to see it?”. Engineers ask a similar question of “will people want to use it?”. In our college careers, we’re all trying to find ourselves and create beautiful, powerful things with our ideas. I’m glad I found my place in Berlin and specifically in the theatres. All of you have so much talent, so keep on creating.