Hvar City Theatre Days, Vol. 51 No. 1, 2025.
Original scientific paper
The Trauma of not Acting
Ana Lederer
Abstract
Actresses have often spoken in the first person, either in dialogue or in autobiographical writing, about their position in the theatre industry. They frequently discuss the ‘trauma of resting’ - those involuntary pauses in their careers that largely result from the disproportionately fewer roles written for women than for men, as well as from the given circumstances obtaining in the theatre system. This paper examines the various causes of career interruptions that can sometimes last for years. These periods are typically described not as the ‘trauma of not acting,’ but rather as career pauses resulting from repertoire mismatches during specific periods or conflicts with directors and producers. Despite the progress actresses have made in contemporary theatrical, social, and media environments, such professional challenges continue to be dismissed, and actresses remain persistently undervalued compared to their male counterparts.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
330823
URI
Publication date:
14.5.2025.
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