Hot Seating is a character development technique used to gain new incite into a characters background. Its useful because the actor is asked questions that they may not have considered. I may have already have many details and character details envisioned, but the other students will ask alternate questions. I find hot seating useful as I can often be indecisive. Being put on the spot provided an opportunity to make decisions on my character. It is still open to change, but once I have made the decision, I will use this is a rough guide to my character, but the details remain flexible. If I say I am 55, my age may change by a few years either side, but I would not then suddenly change the character to 25. The details will change to become more accurate in regards to the other information of the play. For example, if the other actor becomes a relative, e.g. father/son, we need to ensure that their ages are synchronised to remain accurate and realistic.
Hot seating is a communal process that may includes actors in the performance, director and script writer. Each has different ideas of the creative process, and by hot seating, each person is able to gain the actors perspective on the play and character. The director or script writer may change their mind. It also allows the actor to work out characters relationships and how they both connect to the world, if they are characters from the same scene. This is essential as their relationship will effect the chemistry. It also important that each person shares the same facts and details. Each idea, concept or idea needs to be inclusive so that is remain in context with the script and the other characters
As the process is communal, the actor will be asked diverse and various questions from each participant in the workshop. The questions may come from other actors, director or others involved in the creative process. Their questions may be specific to their role. Each question may offer new insight into the character. Although a detail may not seem important they can contribute to the story. Each detail may have meaning or history associated with it. An interest with an emotion or a purpose. Every detail helps paint a picture of the character and helps the actor develop a story a character based around that story. If the script is the script of the story, the characters back story is the script of the program of the character. Hence, every detail can be important Its also not to overwhelm and include every detail as it can be overwhelming and distract from the performance. Enough information such as general details associated with most people like favourite colour, and individual traits, illnesses and interests. Even if the details are not used by the actor, they do help create continuity in the story line which is why hot seating is important for every production with new and original characters.
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