---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every now and then I have to teach…"
description: "\"Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing about the theatre is that the most important thing you can do as a director is to make sure tha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg"
---

#  Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing…

![“Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing about the theatre is that the most important thing you can do as a director is to make sure that everybody is in the same world - you have to create the world and make sure everyone buys into it.” quote by Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg)

> “Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing about the theatre is that the most important thing you can do as a director is to make sure that everybody is in the same world - you have to create the world and make sure everyone buys into it.”

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Directing hinges on building a shared reality; the director must construct a coherent world and align the entire cast and crew with that vision.

**In simple terms:** Creating a unified theatrical world.

Key Takeaway

Alignment of perception is key.

Themes

collaboration leadership vision storytelling team dynamics

Mood

inspired focused

Type

instructional philosophical

When to use this quote

- rehearsal planning
- production meetings
- casting sessions
- design workshops

Key Concepts

shared reality director's role audience immersion

Practical Applications

- theatre direction
- team building workshops

Questions to Reflect On

- How does a director ensure collective belief?
- What tools help maintain a shared vision?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Directors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directors/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/)

## Related quotes

> [Definitely directing is the thing I like the most because this is where everything you know can be used. It's the most personal process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-luna/definitely-directing-is-the-thing-i-like-the-most-because-this-is/)

[Diego Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-luna/)

> [While my megalomania knows no bounds, directing is one thing I have never really done. I directed a couple of plays. That was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-earl-brown/while-my-megalomania-knows-no-bounds-directing-is-one-thing-i-have/)

[W. Earl Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-earl-brown/)

> [Theatre has had a very important role in changing South Africa. There was a time when all other channels of expression were closed that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/theatre-has-had-a-very-important-role-in-changing-south-africa-there/)

[John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/)

> [Mum wasn't at all religious, but she thought that going to the theatre was as important a ceremonial, communal experience that a person could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-atwell/mum-wasn-t-at-all-religious-but-she-thought-that-going-to-the-theatre/)

[Hayley Atwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-atwell/)

> [A theatre is the most important sort of house in the world, because that's where people are shown what they could be if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tove-jansson/a-theatre-is-the-most-important-sort-of-house-in-the-world-because/)

[Tove Jansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tove-jansson/)

> [The directing thing, to do it well, I think you have to have a hell of a lot more discipline than I do, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/the-directing-thing-to-do-it-well-i-think-you-have-to-have-a-hell-of/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [I've done all the other kind of production work on films than directing really badly. That is the truth. It's made me a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azazel-jacobs/i-ve-done-all-the-other-kind-of-production-work-on-films-than/)

[Azazel Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azazel-jacobs/)

> [I'm always writing, but directing takes priority over everything, unless the acting is a job that lifts that whole brand. If I get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-clarke/i-m-always-writing-but-directing-takes-priority-over-everything/)

[Noel Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-clarke/)

> [Elia Kazan. He wrote my favorite book about filmmaking, 'Elia Kazan: On Directing.' There is a thing in the book that I do every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/elia-kazan-he-wrote-my-favorite-book-about-filmmaking-elia-kazan-on/)

[Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/)

> [Much more than wanting to be cast as the skinny Jew in something, I'd rather be the guy who is directing the thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/much-more-than-wanting-to-be-cast-as-the-skinny-jew-in-something-i-d/)

[Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/)

> [I've been interested in the writing/directing thing and really fell into acting by complete accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-ve-been-interested-in-the-writing-directing-thing-and-really-fell/)

[Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/)

> [I think the only directing I'd be any good at is theatre directing. It's the only thing I can see myself doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-think-the-only-directing-i-d-be-any-good-at-is-theatre-directing-it/)

[Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/)

> [This directing thing just sort of fell my way and landed in my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-s-dutton/this-directing-thing-just-sort-of-fell-my-way-and-landed-in-my-lap/)

[Charles S. Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-s-dutton/)

> [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/)

[William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

## More by Stephen Daldry

> [In issues of recent ethnic wars and genocides - particularly if you look at Darfur - one of the most remarkable things is our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/in-issues-of-recent-ethnic-wars-and-genocides-particularly-if-you/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [When I got married, my mother was very surprised. She said: 'What on earth is going on? I thought you were gay?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/when-i-got-married-my-mother-was-very-surprised-she-said-what-on/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [I've never been to Hollywood. I can count the number of times I've been to Los Angeles on my hands. I've never made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-ve-never-been-to-hollywood-i-can-count-the-number-of-times-i-ve/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [Well, there are three different processes of making a film, of course. They're sort of re-written three times. You write it to start with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/well-there-are-three-different-processes-of-making-a-film-of-course/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [Most theater methodology is predicated on the idea of repeated actions. That's what you work toward. Having the actor repeat the same moment eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/most-theater-methodology-is-predicated-on-the-idea-of-repeated/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [I never want to make a film. I don't wake up in the morning going, 'Ooh, I'd really love to be on set making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-never-want-to-make-a-film-i-don-t-wake-up-in-the-morning-going-ooh/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [I am, in fact, Superman. Every morning I wake up and go into a telephone booth and change my costume, and then go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-am-in-fact-superman-every-morning-i-wake-up-and-go-into-a-telephone/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [Is it appropriate still for a German to have a gun? I only use that as an example of a country that's still deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/is-it-appropriate-still-for-a-german-to-have-a-gun-i-only-use-that-as/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [As soon as I know how to do something, I usually get bored with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/as-soon-as-i-know-how-to-do-something-i-usually-get-bored-with-it/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [I'm not really a director for hire. You read these scripts and go, 'This is a really great script, but Paul Greengrass would make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-m-not-really-a-director-for-hire-you-read-these-scripts-and-go-this/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [I spent a little time in Germany as a schoolboy learning German, and it's a country I knew very well, spent a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/i-spent-a-little-time-in-germany-as-a-schoolboy-learning-german-and/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [There are a few writers that one has a relationship with that means, basically, you do whatever they say. One is Caryl Churchill, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/there-are-a-few-writers-that-one-has-a-relationship-with-that-means/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [Actually, to be honest, this is a useful time to not be knowing what I'll be doing in 2013 or 2014, because really, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/actually-to-be-honest-this-is-a-useful-time-to-not-be-knowing-what-i/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [With journalism, films always have to be to do with some personal statement of your own. As a general rule, I resist that. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/with-journalism-films-always-have-to-be-to-do-with-some-personal/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

> [You go through a process of refinement and getting rid of the excesses of your early youth in terms of your excitement about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/you-go-through-a-process-of-refinement-and-getting-rid-of-the/)

[Stephen Daldry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

[Explore all 38 Stephen Daldry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/)

## More Cinema quotes

> [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/)

[Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/)

[Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/)

> [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/)

[Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/)

> [There was a time in the 1980s when I worked in 22 films a year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radha-ravi/there-was-a-time-in-the-1980s-when-i-worked-in-22-films-a-year/)

[Radha Ravi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radha-ravi/)

> [To an ever greater extent out experience is governed by pictures, pictures in newspapers and magazines, on television and in the cinema. Next to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-crimp/to-an-ever-greater-extent-out-experience-is-governed-by-pictures/)

[Douglas Crimp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-crimp/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/)

[Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/)

> [I love film people and actors and I am in the right world because I am one of those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/i-love-film-people-and-actors-and-i-am-in-the-right-world-because-i/)

[Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [I'd love to work in the States; I'd love to work anywhere where you get a good script and a good part to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-d-love-to-work-in-the-states-i-d-love-to-work-anywhere-where-you/)

[Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/)

> [I even see the cinema itself as a woman, with its alternation of light and darkness, of appearing and disappearing images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/federico-fellini/i-even-see-the-cinema-itself-as-a-woman-with-its-alternation-of-light/)

[Federico Fellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/federico-fellini/)

> ['Rear Window' isn't really a horror film, but it is a psychological drama, which I love. It is very tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/rear-window-isn-t-really-a-horror-film-but-it-is-a-psychological/)

[Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/)

> [What a thrill. You know you've entered new territory when you realise that your outfit cost more than your film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-yu/what-a-thrill-you-know-you-ve-entered-new-territory-when-you-realise/)

Jessica Yu

> [I am not interested in churning out a certain number of films every year. For me, it's about the quality of work. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepika-padukone/i-am-not-interested-in-churning-out-a-certain-number-of-films-every/)

[Deepika Padukone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepika-padukone/)

[Browse all 23,940 Cinema quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing about the theatre is that the most important thing you can do as a director is to make sure that everybody is in the same world - you have to create the world and make sure everyone buys into it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Stephen Daldry"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-directing-the-thing-about-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cinema"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-directing-the-thing-about-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57e/stephen-daldry-16978_cinema_every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-direc_65022.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Every now and then I have to teach directing. The thing about the theatre is that the most important thing…” — Stephen Daldry",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Stephen Daldry",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-daldry/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Every now and then I have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-directing-the-thing-about-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-daldry/every-now-and-then-i-have-to-teach-directing-the-thing-about-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
