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The Theatre is the One Place They Told Me to be Bigger . . .

by Holly Gallagher (Australia)

February 2023

Write the World Review

Audio: "The Theatre is the One Place They Told Me to be Bigger . . ." read by Holly Gallagher

It was side of stage I stood, counting breaths, readying for the lights to fade and come up again, as surely as the sun would rise and set,
readying for my entrance
when a tall, shadowy figure leaned down to me and whispered,
“I want you to take up as much space as possible”
Lights down.
I quivered as I walked on stage,
suddenly conscious of all the eager eyes before me,
hungering for the next act
Lights up.
I felt a sudden edge—lump in my throat
I swallowed. Hard.
And I spoke
The dialogue falling out of me like music,
like freedom

The play is called a play because it is the player, while actors are the instruments
through which these emotionally penetrative tunes are plucked, strummed, and reverberated
The edge I had felt was not anxiety but the sharp realisation that I had stepped into an orchestra beyond myself or much my understanding,
where I acted as a vessel for beauty to pass through,
delicately, or sometimes harshly, weaving itself into the hearts of others who let it;
not an object of beauty itself.
And through this I found to love myself
To love this moment of true connection;
symbiosis,
actor to audience,

human to human

Where we are not falsely trying to prove ourselves by starving,
withering away in acts of deception,
emotional withdrawal
Refusing to let ourselves grow, feel, blossom
for fear of infringing on someone else

for fear of imposing our bigness.




Holly Gallagher, age 16, is an aspiring writer, actor, and musician from Sydney, Australia. This piece was written about her love of theatre and performing, but hopefully will resonate with anyone who has a strong passion for something they do.

#Identity          #Joy

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Vee

3/9/24, 12:43 AM

This was absolutely a good read! 😃

Ushing Mya

11/24/23, 4:42 PM

I'm amazed by your deep perception towards little things of life! Keep glowing dear Taieba.

Fatima Ismail

10/4/23, 10:28 AM

I'll like to see more of your writing

Fatima Ismail

10/4/23, 10:26 AM

Gsk I love it!

dont care

10/3/23, 7:58 PM

womp womp

Andrea

9/29/23, 2:03 AM

Andrea

9/29/23, 2:03 AM

Wow..just wow. Ridiculous words I know. I just stumbled across your poem as this is my first time on the website and I landed this masterpiece. As an immigrant myself, I could relate to several aspects of this. Your use of imagery, symbolism, and allusion is outstanding

Lola

9/17/23, 8:43 AM

Powerful. Spreading the truth some don't think about, some don't have to worry about. A great and strong piece.

9/16/23, 2:41 AM

9/16/23, 2:41 AM

9/16/23, 2:41 AM

Aisha Yaakub

8/25/23, 10:35 PM

Excellent and amazing

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