Curtain up on director’s return

SYNCHRONICITY Performing Arts’ latest production is titled Shards. It’s a series of four short and sharp one-act plays on stage in November. Throughout this month the Bendigo Times will be spotlighting the directors behind the shows. This week it’s Scott Ramsey, the director of One Season’s King.

THE arts run in Scott Ramsey veins, and he was born into the theatre.

“I found my passion when my parents introduced me to the arts,” he said. “My father and grandfather both acted, my grandmother painted and wrote stories as well as poetry.

“It was kind of a part of my genes.”

The first time he saw theatre and knew he loved it was when he was 12 years old at a pantomime production of Alice in Wonderland.

The story, acting, costumes and lights all came together to instil a passion for the stage.

Now, years on directing has become an opportunity for Ramsey to break through his feelings of being reserved.

“What led me to directing was how uncomfortable I felt on stage and my like of the anonymity from being a director,” he said.

“To me directing is like painting art and images in front of an audience.”

Early one he worked with major state companies, commercial theatres, and lectured in performing arts at universities.

But Ramsey had a significant period away from the stage, with his participation in Synchronicity’s production of Shards marking the first time in 30 years he’s treaded the boards.

Ramsey said when he first left the theatre, he was told that he would return.

“When I left people said I would be back, but I went into education and have become a trauma psychologist,” he said.

“Under it all the theatre teaches you about leadership and understanding human emotions and phycology.”

For Ramsey, he appreciates the need for inquiry when crafting a production and the sense of accomplishment the end result provides.

“What I enjoy about theatre is the research you get to do for a historical play, the history of that point in time so you can get it right and understand what the play is really about,” he said.

“My most proud accomplishment is to put bums on seats, that’s what we are there for.

“Seeing an audience leave a show talking about it when they are going down the stairs or leaving the theatre after having a sumptuous night.

“I like to seduce an audience and have them have a good night. You must honour their commitment like the commitment you have made to them.”

Summing himself up in a short sentence, Ramsey said there was a dichotomy in his personality.

“I would describe myself as relatable on many different levels and a shy person, but directing made me become gregarious and has taken me out of any contemplative shyness I might have,” he said.

Synchronicity Performing Arts production of Shards goes from Thursday, 10 to Saturday 12 November at The Engine Room with two of the four shows each night. Themes include status, autism, solitude and society.

Ramsey’s production of One Season’s King is on stage on the Friday and Saturday. Visit synchronicity.org.au for more information.