Villains & Performer Wellness

Coleman, Troy

Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation

Villains & Performer Wellness Public Deposited

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Citeable URL: https://scholar.colorado.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/2514nn008

Abstract

Villains are some of the most compelling characters in a show. They create tension, fear, heartbreak, and, inevitably, a hero. These roles are defined by their infliction of unjust harm, be it physical, emotional, sexual, or psychological. Culturally, the support for mental health has vastly increased, especially when at-risk demographics are identified. Within the theatrical world, villainous roles should be considered high-risk. Actors playing villains leave the theatre with the muscle memory of their assaults and the terrified expressions of their staged victims, rarely with consideration of the long-term effects. The combined physical and mental toll required to portray a character may significantly reduce an actor’s health and well-being and increase the risks of hazardous behaviors. Performing artists have an above-average risk of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicide. As instigators of conflict, villain actors must be as supported and protected as we routinely provide their on-stage victims. The theatre's culture of mental health self-sufficiency starkly contrasts the societal shifts toward high-risk psychological assistance. Reviewing three critical areas to improve the wellness of villainous performers – stage combat, intimacy work, and de-roling – I will explore where additional wellness support reduces the potential for trauma. Examining the pedagogy of playing villains to discover the impact of roles that inflict physical or emotional harm on others will better address prioritizing mental health and wellness while engaging with these characters to create safer performance environments. By prioritizing mental health and safe practices, actors may create villains safely without suffering residual trauma from their treacherous stage behavior.

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