--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real writing of a piece comes only…" description: "\"The real writing of a piece comes only when you are performing it. It is why I like theatre. In film and TV, the image is locked forever, but in theatr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/robert-lepage-5205_change_the-real-writing-of-a-piece-comes-only-w_1873339.jpg" --- # The real writing of a piece comes only when you are… ![“The real writing of a piece comes only when you are performing it. It is why I like theatre. In film and TV, the image is locked forever, but in theatre, there is constant change; each performance is part of the writing process.” quote by Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/robert-lepage-5205_change_the-real-writing-of-a-piece-comes-only-w_1873339.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/robert-lepage-5205_change_the-real-writing-of-a-piece-comes-only-w_1873339.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7c/robert-lepage-5205_change_the-real-writing-of-a-piece-comes-only-w_1873339.jpg) > “The real writing of a piece comes only when you are performing it. It is why I like theatre. In film and TV, the image is locked forever, but in theatre, there is constant change; each performance is part of the writing process.” [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Theatre’s live, evolving nature makes each performance a collaborative writing act, unlike static film. **In simple terms:** Theatre writes itself live. Key Takeaway Embrace improvisation in performance. Themes theatre creativity collaboration Mood energetic creative Type artistic theatrical When to use this quote - live concerts - improvisational comedy - interactive installations Key Concepts performance studies dramatic theory Questions to Reflect On - How does change affect audience perception? - What benefits arise from a fluid creative process? A Different Perspective Live performance can be unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performance Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-writing-2599357/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Real Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-writing-365682/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Piece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-piece-513672/) [Writing process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-process/) ## Related quotes > [The first and perhaps the most important requirement for a successful writing performance - and writing is a performance, like singing an aria or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/the-first-and-perhaps-the-most-important-requirement-for-a-successful/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [If you're writing a piece for the Boston Pops, the balance is towards one end. 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Editing is a slab of liver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evels/writing-is-a-piece-of-cake-editing-is-a-slab-of-liver/) [Evels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evels/) > [All I can guess is that when I write, I forget that it's not real. I'm living the story, and I think people can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/all-i-can-guess-is-that-when-i-write-i-forget-that-it-s-not-real-i-m/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) > [I've often said, not totally jokingly, that screenwriting doesn't really qualify as real writing at all. You don't string sentences into paragraphs. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-raymond/i-ve-often-said-not-totally-jokingly-that-screenwriting-doesn-t/) [Jonathan Raymond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-raymond/) > [“The genesis of my interest in being a writer can be traced to fourth grade when we listened to a radio production of Shakespeare's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-abbot/the-genesis-of-my-interest-in-being-a-writer-can-be-traced-to-fourth/) [Laura Abbot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-abbot/) > [Writing, real writing, should leave a small sweet bruise somewhere on the writer . . . and on the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/writing-real-writing-should-leave-a-small-sweet-bruise-somewhere-on/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [There are millions of people who think that romance isn't real writing. But the only person who can make you real, make your books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-are-millions-of-people-who-think-that-romance-isn-t-real/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [I don't think that writing, real writing, has much to do with affirming belief--if anything it causes rifts and gaps in belief which make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-evenson/i-don-t-think-that-writing-real-writing-has-much-to-do-with-affirming/) [Brian Evenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-evenson/) ## More by Robert Lepage > [Without meaning to sound crass, I've never had any psychological... help. It's because I feel my work is so revealing about who I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/without-meaning-to-sound-crass-i-ve-never-had-any-psychological-help/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [We tend to forget that in those days before the Internet and HBO and Imax and 3-D cinema, opera was the thing. Opera and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/we-tend-to-forget-that-in-those-days-before-the-internet-and-hbo-and/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [The first 'Ring' in Bayreuth was about the poetical world, the mythological world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/the-first-ring-in-bayreuth-was-about-the-poetical-world-the/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [For me, theater will always be very, very much alive, but not necessarily in the theatrical tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/for-me-theater-will-always-be-very-very-much-alive-but-not/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [I can't really define myself as a dramatist or as an actor or as someone who is interested in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/i-can-t-really-define-myself-as-a-dramatist-or-as-an-actor-or-as/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [When we work on a new theatre piece, we improvise a lot. But it's the opposite in opera, where everything is fixed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/when-we-work-on-a-new-theatre-piece-we-improvise-a-lot-but-it-s-the/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [Everybody loves Vegas, and everybody puts it down, especially intellectuals and artists. We have to rub our feet on it, but we're all secretly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/everybody-loves-vegas-and-everybody-puts-it-down-especially/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [I've always had a passion for geography. Even at a very young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/i-ve-always-had-a-passion-for-geography-even-at-a-very-young-age/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [I want to be surprised by life... I think that's more interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/i-want-to-be-surprised-by-life-i-think-that-s-more-interesting/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [Reading fairytales to children expands their imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/reading-fairytales-to-children-expands-their-imaginations/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [My naivety is to assume people will think there's compassion and solidarity in wanting to play someone even though we are not them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/my-naivety-is-to-assume-people-will-think-there-s-compassion-and/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [A puppet, for example, is just a piece of wood, a couple of rivets, but put them together, and if you know how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/a-puppet-for-example-is-just-a-piece-of-wood-a-couple-of-rivets-but/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [In everything I've done, I've always tried to make room for indigenous people, to include them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/in-everything-i-ve-done-i-ve-always-tried-to-make-room-for-indigenous/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [When I went into the conservatory at 17, then I was able to open up and accept everything about myself and show my feminine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/when-i-went-into-the-conservatory-at-17-then-i-was-able-to-open-up/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) > [During the tour of 'Circulations,' we spent a lot of time in Canadian Chinatowns. I was fascinated by the idea that you can cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lepage/during-the-tour-of-circulations-we-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-canadian/) [Robert Lepage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) [Explore all 100 Robert Lepage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lepage/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [“…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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. 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