For those who have never acted at a Renaissance Faire, we realize it can be rather intimidating. If you've been to a Faire, you've undoubtedly seen some talented actors and actresses. But, never fear. It's far easier than you would think to be a wonderful actor at a Renaissance Faire. It's all dependent on what kind of person you are.

You don't have to be an over-the-top ham to be an effective street actor. Even those who are of a more shy and retiring personality can enjoy themselves as actors. The key is to have improvisational ideas already in your head, as well as a few appropriate sayings and retorts. This way, you'll never be caught unawares. Below, we will go through a few ideas and customs of Faire acting.

Greeting people at the front gates in the morning is a great way to get the paying customers involved. Sometimes known as "Danes" or "Turkeys", the paying customers usually love to interact with us. However, if you get the distinct feeling they don't want to interact, then leave them alone, smile brightly, and move on to someone else. And also? Don't refer to them as turkeys. It really just doesn't sound nice, does it? It's a tradition around Faires that just seemed to stick. We'll call them "civilians", for our intents and purposes here. When you speak with civilians, refer to them as good sir, good lady, m'lord, milady...anything that is both period, and respectful. Ask them what they plan to do this fine day! Will they watch the joust? Shop the wares of the goodly merchants? Sample a turkey leg under a nice shade tree? Have their fortune read, visit the courts of the Queens? It's a great way to advertise what's going on at Faire during the day, assist civilians with a plan for their day, and sound authentic, all in one. Make sure you are well informed about what's going to be going on during the day. Learn about what performers are doing. Talk about that with the civilians. "I did hear, good sir, that there is a goodly juggler coming to our Faire this day! Imagine such talent, my lord! I do believe he will be at the main stage at near about twelve of the clock, I do believe I shall bring my bread and cheese down there and sit beneath a tree and enjoy his show!" Take a walk around and look at the merchants' booths. Talk about those. "Yea, milady, there is a merchant selling necklaces most lovely indeed. My heart truly does beat faster at the thought of seeing a lady of your beauty bedecked in such finery! I do believe his shop was down near the glade, next to a sword merchant." Flattering the ladies is always nice. But be respectful and do not ever say anything obscene or overly suggestive to women, or men, for that matter. If people ask you to show them where something is, feel free to walk them there, chatting away in period speech about the Faire. Civilians will appreciate your help, and feel like they are part of the Faire.

Indulge in what is known as "street gigs". Street gigs are basically improvisational performances between you and other actors, for the amusement of civilians. If it's going to be heavily physical, don't involve civilians. They like to watch us interact with each other, it's part of what's known as "suspension of disbelief". While no one is crazy enough to truly believe they've gone back in time, they like to be as immersed as possible. Think of it as being like a living storybook. When you read a book that is particularly good, you feel lost in it, like you're there. It's the same premise at Faire. Civilians want to be a part of it, but also to watch it. The best way to work street gigs, is to talk to other actors, and decide on an idea. Here are some ideas I have found to be very effective, and quite fun.

- Girls. Hook up with an actor, and make arrangements to "run into each other" at a specific place and time. The actor is your husband, who is supposed to be away at sea. However, he's not. He's drunk, wandering around in front of the alehouse. This leads to all manner of opportunity for you to yell at him. Call him a cupshot, a besotted fool, ridiculous drunken oaf. Tell him that by the time he manages to crawl home, you'll have tossed all his belongings out the window, and run off with that charming farmer down the road. If you and the actor have experience with stage fighting, you can push him down, kick him in the rump, or knock him over the head with a tankard. Please don't really hurt each other. That's just a really bad idea. Make sure it's all mock fighting, and if you're not good at that, keep it to insults and threats. Again, don't be obscene.

- Another variation on this theme, is to hook up with an actor, and actress. Again, your husband is supposed to be at sea, at work, visiting his sick sister in Stirling, anything. But instead, you come upon him romancing another woman. This leads to all kinds of fun, especially if you use the following formula. You yell at the man, insult him. Insult the woman. Insulting her honour is always nice. Refer to her as a pox-riddled tart, a vile harlot, a silly doxy. She'll insult you, as well. She'll comment on how, were you a nicer wife, he'd not be out romancing other women, and besides, he told her you can't cook, and your house is always filthy. After some high spirited shouting, you can really get mad, clutch your tankard/basket/anything you happen to have in your possession, and tell her you're going to teach her a lesson, and do it like this: "I'll show you who you're dealing with, foul mouthed doxy, if my name isn't Colleen O'Hanrahan!". This statement will anger the other woman, who will then say, "How dare you! My long lost sister's name is exactly that, Colleen O'Hanrahan! She were lost to us nearly ten years ago, kidnapped by gypsies!". This, of course, will lead to you getting a look of absolute shock on your face right before you inform the actress that you, in fact, were kidnapped by gypsies, but rescued by a kind farmer, and raised in the nearby village. This then leads to the two of you joyously hugging and kissing, and an explosion of general mirth between the two of you, two long lost sisters finding one another again. The husband then becomes the focus of your ire, both you and the actress will turn your vexation upon him. Insult him, berate him, proclaim how neither of you really liked him anyway, and tell him you're both through with him. The husband can then get a look of utmost relief to be rid of the two hot-tempered women, as both of them had the humour of Lucifer himself, and he can announce that he's going to the alehouse, where there are people there worthy of his time. This one is hysterical, I've seen it played out a lot, and it's one of my personal favorites. Of course, if you see other people doing it, don't run right out and do it fifteen minutes later.

- Play drunk. This is always amusing. Notice that I said "play" drunk, and not be drunk. It's easier to play a drunk when you're sober. Trust me. Wander around absently, staring into your now empty tankard. Talk to it. Name it, if you'd like. You can end this by conveniently falling asleep under a tree.

- Play crazy. Talk to yourself. Talk to trees, horses and bits of string. Do a little dance.

- Try and sell your friends. This one is always fun. Take a lovely lady or gentleman, and offer to sell them to civilians. Mention how they have all their teeth, and can cook, sew, fix things, etc. Talk about what a deal it would be to get a servant such as this, mention all the things they can do, and how they are quiet and clean, and free of the pox. This can be very amusing, if you try and sell a wench to a man who's with his wife. If she looks annoyed, cut it out. But generally, women think it's really funny. Sell a male to a female, with or without a significant other. Make sure they realize it's all in fun, NEVER accept money from them, and don't let the person actually go anywhere with them. It's a joke. A good way to end the gig, is for the person being sold to play insane, or for the seller to decide the price just isn't good enough, or that the civilian is far too lordly to buy such flawed merchandise after all, then tell the civilian you'll find him later, after kidnapping a French princess for them.

- Go to Court. St. Wolfgang's Bavarian Court has their royalty holding open court from time to time. Learn their schedule, and show up. Loudly demand that the Queen do something about your neighbors ducks, which happen to be coming on to your property and eating your cabbages. Look very annoyed. You can also propose marriage to the Queen, ask for justice in the case of that stupid half-wit who married your precious daughter. You want him locked up in chains. You want the Queen to grant you money to go explore the New World, and bring her back precious gems. Tell the Queen your neighbor has been stealing your apples, and you want him locked up in the stocks. Accuse someone of witchcraft. Anything that will amuse the civilians.

- Ask civilians if they have seen your husband/wife. Describe them, and tell the civilian they've stolen all the money you'd hidden, and you think they've run off with someone else. And describe someone that you're actually working with. Chances are, if the civilian sees the person, they'll warn them that someone is looking for them. This one always amuses the civilian, who is then involved in the acting.

- If you see a single lady, gentlemen can fall down upon the ground and proclaim them to be the most lovely woman in the world. Tell them how you even own your own trained pigs, and a wooden bowl. How you'd make them the Queen of your world, and maybe take two baths a year, to prove how much you adore them. Be very silly. Stop, if it looks like the woman is annoyed. Chances are, she'll tell you she's already taken. Who wants a man whose claim to fame is owning trained pigs? After being rejected, get a look of stricken sadness on your face. Cry. Tell her you will never be happy again, for she was the only woman beautiful enough to capture your fancy. Immediately move on to another woman, making sure the first one sees how quickly you recover. This one is great.

- Sing. If you know songs of the period, go to the alehouse and sing. Please be respectful of paid performers, and don't interrupt their performances. Don't sing anything truly obscene. We have some songs here on the site for you to learn the words to, if you wish.

For you quiet ones, you can be just as useful. Take your lunch and sit under a tree. Look quaint. Eat. Sit somewhere and watch a show. Embroider, knit, sew, anything that looks charming. You don't have to directly interact with people to be part of Faire, and I know there are some people that are just too shy to do that. Look picturesque. Or play a mute. Don't speak, just gesture. You can shop, sing softly to yourself, nap under trees and just wander about. So long as you're doing something that looks period, you don't have to interact. Of course, it's far more fun if you do.

You don't have to know a million different phrases or gigs. Chances are, you will see lots of different people, many times a day. Having a few pithy little phrases is good, you can use them over and over again. Don't be intimidated. Civilians want to interact with you, and are going to think anything you do is funny.

If you mess up, do something ridiculous. I personally like to fall down. Right on my rump. Begin giggling hysterically. Blame it on the mead. If you're with someone who does this, quietly inform the civilians that your sister/husband/brother/mother is insane, and this is the one time a month you take them out for a walk.

If males are giving you attention you don't like? Do something gross. Spit. Pick your nose. Drool on yourself. Trust me, this makes men go away. Especially the drooling bit. Chances are, no one is going to do anything inappropriate. But if anyone does, and you are truly uncomfortable, break character. Tell them to stop it. Get security if it is necessary. While we should stay in character as much as possible, do not ever allow yourself to get truly harassed or hurt. We don't want that. And I have personally, in the sixteen years I have attended and worked at Faires, ever seen anyone in that position.

Always break character if a civilian is hurt or sick, or if a civilian child or parent is lost. Immediately get security, and let them handle it.

Have fun. This is the most important part. Interact with the nobles. Shop. Have a good time. There are two goals the Performing Arts Department has for their actors. One is to make the civilians' Faire experience the best it can be. The other is for our actors to have so much fun, that they look forward to doing Faire all year long. If you have any problems, questions or need special acting assistance, please get in touch with me, Amy Forsyth, your Performing Arts Director.