What Are Some Common Theatrical Superstitions?
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00:00What are some common theatrical superstitions?
00:05Many theatre patrons would be surprised to learn how many theatrical superstitions and
00:10backstage rituals still exist in modern acting companies.
00:16When actor Patrick Stewart took on the title role in a Broadway production of Shakespeare's
00:20tragedy Macbeth, for example, he had to learn not to mention the name of the play while
00:25within the walls of a theatre.
00:28Using the euphemism, that Scottish play in place of the actual title is a long-standing
00:34tradition.
00:35There are several theories behind this particular superstition, many of which surround the use
00:40of incantations during the opening scene.
00:44According to legend, real witches were originally cast to play witches in early productions,
00:49and the spells they used were said to be authentic.
00:52It is said that a witch cursed the play as revenge for revealing these secret incantations.
00:58Several actors and others connected to subsequent productions died under mysterious circumstances,
01:04so cast members traditionally avoid announcing any upcoming productions of Macbeth, lest
01:09they attract the attention of the witch and her curse.
01:15Another type of theatrical superstition involves the use of fake props in place of real items
01:20of value, such as antiques, jewellery, or real flowers.
01:25This behaviour has some practical value, however, since those items may become lost, broken,
01:31or stolen during a production run.
01:33Real flowers must also be replaced regularly, and the potential for slips and falls on a
01:38wet stage is always present.
01:41Some theatre companies also believe that real antiques carry with them the spiritual energies
01:45of past owners, both positive and negative, and negative energy could affect performances.
01:51The use of a real Bible or other holy relic is also discouraged on stage.
01:57Prop masters often use a common book and a fake cover to simulate a Bible on stage, rather
02:02than show disrespect for a sacred text.
02:05The personal behaviour of actors and other theatrical workers is also a source of superstition
02:10in the theatre.
02:12Whistling is considered to be bad luck, primarily because it was the preferred communication
02:16method for stagehands, and an unplanned whistle could signal an unexpected and dangerous change
02:21of scenery.
02:24Since modern technical crews now use computerised cueing systems and mobile phones instead of
02:29sailors' whistles, whistling in the backstage area is no longer the dangerous practice it
02:34once was, but it is still avoided.
02:38Actors in musical productions are also not allowed to hum or sing songs from the actual
02:42show before a performance.
02:45During rehearsals, actors are also not supposed to deliver the final lines of a play, since
02:50no theatrical performance is considered complete without an audience.
02:55Actors who violate these unspoken rules and rituals may be asked to perform a penance
02:59before rejoining the cast.
03:02In the case of Macbeth, for example, any actor who mentions the real title within a theatre
03:07must immediately leave the building, turn around three times, utter a curse word, and
03:12then ask for permission to re-enter the building.
03:15Some theatrical superstitions concern the use of certain colours in a production.
03:20The colour yellow, for example, is considered unlucky in many older theatre companies because
03:25it originally represented Satan in early morality plays.
03:29Even the use of a yellow clarinet in the orchestra is considered an evil omen.
03:34Another unlucky colour, at least on stage, is green.
03:39While the luxurious backstage area known as the green room is universally seen as a good
03:44thing, the use of the colour green on stage could prove troublesome.
03:49Some suggest that actors who wore green during outdoor productions could become camouflaged
03:54by the natural greenery visible behind the stage.
03:58While most leading actors appreciate gifts, there are some superstitions associated with
04:02certain gifts as well.
04:05Flowers should never be presented to an actress before a performance, only afterward.
04:10In fact, one old belief required the presentation of flowers stolen from a graveyard, a tradition
04:16apparently started out of financial necessity by struggling acting troops.
04:22There are also superstitions surrounding the behaviour of actors both on stage and off.
04:28Tripping before making an entrance is considered to be good luck, as is having a bad dress
04:33rehearsal.
04:34In order to avoid cursing on stage, many casts meet backstage just before a performance and
04:40shout a chosen expletive several times to essentially get it out of their systems.
04:45Pinching an actor before he or she takes the stage is also considered good luck.
04:51The one thing a well-wisher must never do is wish an actor good luck.
04:56This is perhaps one of the best-known theatrical superstitions still in effect today.
05:01There is a belief among certain theatrical professionals that ghosts tend to haunt empty
05:06theatres and are keen to produce the opposite result of whatever requests they hear.
05:12In order to thwart these spirits, actors often say the opposite of what they actually mean.
05:18By telling someone to break a leg instead of good luck, the hope is that the spirit
05:23will be tricked into providing real good luck for the performer.
05:27Ghosts also play a role in another superstition known as the ghost light.
05:32Because ghosts can only inhabit dark spaces, a special ghost light is traditionally left
05:37burning on the centre of the stage at night.
05:40This light is intended to hold malevolent spirits at bay, but it also provides enough
05:44illumination for early crew members to find their way backstage without tripping over
05:49sets or other obstacles.
05:52Many theatres are also closed one night out of the week, commonly Mondays, in order to
05:57allow the theatre ghosts an opportunity to visit the darkened stage and perform their
06:01own plays.
06:03There are some theatrical superstitions that seem to defy logic, however.
06:08The use of peacock feathers in any form or fashion is said to be bad luck, primarily
06:13because the eyes of a peacock's plumage represent the evil eye.
06:18Knitting is also discouraged both on and off the stage, ostensibly because the needles
06:22could cause damage to costumes or be stepped on by actors.
06:27Even carrying a make-up box is considered a bad omen, since it represents an amateurish
06:31trait in a professional actor or actress.
06:35Boxes should also never be cleaned out to make room for new supplies of make-up, either.
06:40Some of these beliefs have fallen by the wayside in recent years, but many of them are still
06:44regularly practised by established theatre companies.
06:49These backstage rituals may seem odd or archaic to outsiders, but many actors observe them
06:55as both a tribute to the ancient theatrical traditions and as a means to produce a consistent
07:00level of incident-free performance for their audiences, much like professional sports teams
07:05observe their own pre-game rituals.
07:08For more clear, concise answers to common and not-so-common questions, visit the Conjecture
07:12Corporation website.