In a demanding musical theatre industry, where talent abounds, the X factor is vital for performers seeking employment through performances that captivate audiences and creative directors alike. 

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Have you ever sat in a darkened theatre and couldn’t take your eyes off one particularly radiant performer as they acted and sang and drew you into their imaginary yet real world? You were experiencing Musical Theatre Performance Synergy, colloquially known as the X factor or “It”!

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Synergy is defined as “the interaction of two or more elements, which, when combined, creates something greater than the sum of its parts”. For today’s actor seeking employment in a demanding musical theatre industry, the presence of the X factor is vital. So I went looking for it, and for 4  years I researched it and tried to understand its essence.

 

During my PhD, I undertook in-depth, multifaceted research exploring the complex elements and constructs of performance synergy, and whether they can be engendered and commanded at will. This journey was driven by my desire to uncover valuable, new knowledge, which can be shared with actors to empower them in their craft and maximise their success. 

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To gain a comprehensive understanding of the X factor, I devised 3 studies: 

 

Firstly, I interviewed 42 of Australia’s leading musical theatre actors and the creative directors who cast them, and I gained their considered perspectives. In gaining their considerable and diverse perspectives, I derived fascinating results. The descriptors these professionals used to capture this energy were many and varied. The actors described synergy as: “radiance, truthful immersive storytelling, spontaneous imaginative play, generous, joyful giving, and holistic, embodied connection”.

 

I realised they were accessing seven performative processes that helped them to unlock synergy. These actors combined their senses with their cognitive and intuitive minds, emotions, persona, physicality and technical skills to form their unique brand of Performance Quotient or PQ. The Creative Directors described their impressions of synergy using words such as "engagement, excitement and empathy".

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Drawing upon the valuable insights uncovered in the interviews and the knowledge derived from an extensive literature review, I then designed a toolkit of singing, acting, movement, and psychological tools to facilitate the unlocking of synergy in a performer. Then, I situated these tools in a metaphorical space I call the Sandpit of Imaginative Play. This space creates a mental and physical environment in which to let go, have fun, explore, experiment, and imagine.  Participants find greater courage to play in this space.

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Thirdly, I facilitated an interactive workshop to test the outcomes of my toolkit with 5 musical theatre graduates, each aspiring to attain their first professional role. The results were beyond exciting. The masterclass confirmed the success of my toolkit as participants found greater fun and freedom in the sandpit’s encouraging space. The audience felt welcomed and palpably connected. The X factor was in play!

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What also became apparent is that my toolkit has the potential for real-world applications wherever genuine human connectivity is key. Further trials of my toolkit with professional actors, teachers, students, and corporate professionals confirmed the broader applications possible with my toolkit.  For when we honestly and open-heartedly give of ourselves, and others choose to receive and connect with that – the result is something “greater than the sum of its parts”. And that's synergy for you!

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