How To Choose Your Solo Show Story

Solo Theatre has changed enormously over the last few decades. Before, it was primarily a character-driven medium focused on big names such as Lincoln, Van Gogh, Martin Luther King, etc. Now it’s personal stories and personal journeys. Very similar to the transformation of stand-up comedy as well. So when trying to figure out how to choose a story that you want to tell, it’s important to understand that it’s got to be universal… that everybody has to be able to relate to it. Otherwise, it’s just a self indulgent story that’s not very theatrical or interesting. 

Back when the medium was character driven it was focused on difficult situations like having cancer or AIDS or another disease of some kind. But now, while those subject matters are still unfortunately a part of our journey, it’s how you got through those difficulties that is the art form. The story the audience wants to hear is about your survival. So when choosing a subject matter, it’s important to know that and to choose what you think would be interesting to watch. 

The way you tell your story is also part of the art form. Like beginning with the climax and then going back and telling how you got to that point. I’ve always thought that comedy was a sharp scalpel to cut into dark issues and examine them without turning away. And that has become even more so in recent years. Comedy makes it a lot easier to experience and to look at. So those are the important things to think about when you’re choosing a subject matter to do your solo show. A lot of times it’s fairly obvious because of the journey that you’ve had in your life but not always is that the case.

It doesn’t mean that you can’t do a character driven solo show. It’s just not the norm these days. If there’s a particular new character that is relevant and theatrical, etc. then it’s possible to do that. The great thing about personal stories is that you don’t have to get the rights to that. You own the story -- it’s your story and that just makes everything a whole lot easier when thinking about videotaping it or performing it and of course, getting reviews and write ups.

A lot of times actors don’t think their life has been interesting enough to write a whole solo show about. But the truth is lots and lots of people are sharing the same journey as you and would benefit from a particular insight to that story.

Then of course, picking a story or a subject matter that will sell tickets because that’s ultimately what the goal is to put butts in seats and that is the most challenging aspect, besides the show itself, that actors have doing solo work. Because it is all self produced usually, and the more you know that and the better you’re prepared for that the less likely it’ll be to overwhelm you.

Solo shows are, in my opinion, the most difficult to do of all Theatre. Because even Hamlet doesn’t have a 75 minute monologue. So once you’re able to do this, you can do anything and that kind of confidence is invaluable!

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