--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the theatre you can change things ever…" description: "\"In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly; it's an organic thing. Whereas in film you only have that chance on the day, and you have no con..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/judi-dench-8919_chance_in-the-theatre-you-can-change-things-eve_819291.png" --- # In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly… ![“In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly; it's an organic thing. Whereas in film you only have that chance on the day, and you have no control over it at all.” quote by Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/judi-dench-8919_chance_in-the-theatre-you-can-change-things-eve_819291.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/judi-dench-8919_chance_in-the-theatre-you-can-change-things-eve_819291.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e38/judi-dench-8919_chance_in-the-theatre-you-can-change-things-eve_819291.png) > “In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly; it's an organic thing. Whereas in film you only have that chance on the day, and you have no control over it at all.” [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theatre allows subtle, ongoing adjustments; film is a one‑time, fixed capture. **In simple terms:** Theatre is flexible, film is fixed. Key Takeaway Embrace the medium’s limits. Themes creativity control medium artistic process Mood reflective analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - stage performance - film shooting - live broadcast - rehearsal - post‑production Key Concepts improvisation production constraints artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How does medium shape artistic choices? - Can you adapt a film after release? A Different Perspective Film cannot be altered after shooting, limiting refinement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [The mission of the theatre, after all, is to change, to raise the consciousness of people to their human possibilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-mission-of-the-theatre-after-all-is-to-change-to-raise-the/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The nice thing about the theatre is you can always change it. With a movie, once it's there, you're stuck with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lapine/the-nice-thing-about-the-theatre-is-you-can-always-change-it-with-a/) [James Lapine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lapine/) > [You weren't going to the theatre to change the world, but you had a chance to affect the world, the thinking and the feelings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-earl-jones/you-weren-t-going-to-the-theatre-to-change-the-world-but-you-had-a/) [James Earl Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-earl-jones/) > [I love the art of acting, and I love film, because you always have another chance if you want it. You know, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-love-the-art-of-acting-and-i-love-film-because-you-always-have/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) > [I was overjoyed when I was offered the title role in 'Well Done Abba.' I was ready for the role even before I heard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boman-irani/i-was-overjoyed-when-i-was-offered-the-title-role-in-well-done-abba-i/) [Boman Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boman-irani/) > [I just won't sing and dance in a film. But when you have a chance to star in an Abbas-Mustan film, why will anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiara-advani/i-just-won-t-sing-and-dance-in-a-film-but-when-you-have-a-chance-to/) [Kiara Advani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiara-advani/) > [I can understand that an audience, buying a ticket to see a picture of mine, wants to see something funny because they feel confident…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/i-can-understand-that-an-audience-buying-a-ticket-to-see-a-picture-of/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [In every film, you get a chance to travel down a new path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rana-daggubati/in-every-film-you-get-a-chance-to-travel-down-a-new-path/) [Rana Daggubati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rana-daggubati/) > [The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/the-power-to-destroy-a-thing-is-the-absolute-control-over-it/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations ... is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/what-really-distinguishes-this-generation-in-all-countries-from/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [“I’m not saying Jesus won’t come back; I’ve just decided I can’t keep hoping to be rescued from my life. Maybe it’s up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-hartzler/i-m-not-saying-jesus-won-t-come-back-i-ve-just-decided-i-can-t-keep/) [Aaron Hartzler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-hartzler/) > [“Gandhi is best remembered for his adherence to the principle of nonviolence; but no less important was his adherence to non-demonization. Even when he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-truett-anderson/gandhi-is-best-remembered-for-his-adherence-to-the-principle-of/) [Walter Truett Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-truett-anderson/) > [“why would white dudes want to change things when they held all the cards?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/why-would-white-dudes-want-to-change-things-when-they-held-all-the/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) ## More by Judi Dench > [Everything, every part that you approach has to be somehow rooted in yourself. You have to somehow root everything so that it's not just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/everything-every-part-that-you-approach-has-to-be-somehow-rooted-in/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I played Iris Murdoch, who had not long died, and I felt the responsibility very heavy on my shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-played-iris-murdoch-who-had-not-long-died-and-i-felt-the/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I can't read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-can-t-read-scripts-any-more-because-of-the-trouble-with-my-eyes/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I am so thrilled to be nominated for something I loved working on every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-am-so-thrilled-to-be-nominated-for-something-i-loved-working-on/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Work certainly does help fill a void.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/work-certainly-does-help-fill-a-void/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [It is true that there are few plays of Shakespeare that I haven't done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/it-is-true-that-there-are-few-plays-of-shakespeare-that-i-haven-t-done/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Frankly, I never had any intense desire to go to India. I know that sounds a bit strange, but it just never was someplace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/frankly-i-never-had-any-intense-desire-to-go-to-india-i-know-that/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [There is no past that we can bring back by longing for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/there-is-no-past-that-we-can-bring-back-by-longing-for-it/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Most things don't work out as expected, but what happens instead often turns out to be the good stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/most-things-don-t-work-out-as-expected-but-what-happens-instead-often/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I would hate people to think bossy is all I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-would-hate-people-to-think-bossy-is-all-i-can-do/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Filming is completely - was totally new to me ... I had a movie career which wasn't supposed to be, so I couldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/filming-is-completely-was-totally-new-to-me-i-had-a-movie-career/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Never fall out of love with life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/never-fall-out-of-love-with-life/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Children have become disengaged from nature and we need to reintroduce them to the pleasure that it brings. If we do that they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/children-have-become-disengaged-from-nature-and-we-need-to/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I don't think that care homes are all rotten old places that ought to be shut down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-don-t-think-that-care-homes-are-all-rotten-old-places-that-ought-to/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [I have a completely new knee. It's brilliant. I am not feeling my age at all. I feel about 43, a willowy blonde 43…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-have-a-completely-new-knee-it-s-brilliant-i-am-not-feeling-my-age/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) [Explore all 77 Judi Dench quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) Alejandro Taubas > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. 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