Eric Todd
Subject:
Ibsen Studies
Degree:
Master's
Graduated:
2020
Position:
Teacher /Actor
Employer:
Children's International School / American College of Norway, Oslo, Norway
– What are the most important aspects of your job?
– As an educator, the normal answer to this question is “student learning” but I have found that, often, the learning is a byproduct of a healthy and stable relationship with the learning environment they are in. This environment is made up, in large part, by their relationships and connections to both peers and teachers. Personally, as an educator in both lower and higher education, I believe that the most important aspect of teaching is the foundation of a healthy, constructive, trust-based relationship with each of the students. When this is in place, all other aspects of education tend to fall into place and follow suit.
As an actor, the most important aspect is being truthful and honest. I have to honor my character and their story. There is no “end goal” or “ideal” which is difficult to remember. This personal and honest connection parallels that same relationship that I spoke about regarding education. Without this honest connection and understanding of the character (their needs, wants, fears, etc.) there is no authenticity and the performance falls flat as I become objective minded rather than existing and being present.
– What do you like most about your job?
– Within education, I love working with kids. While I am definitely a middle aged man by this point in my life, in my heart and head I am still twenty. Working with students allows me to embrace this side of myself while also doing work that I find meaningful and personally fulfilling.
With acting, I have come to realize I love the escapism that it offers and the freedom that it brings. It is an outlet for me to continue to explore my own self (within a character) in a safe space. There is no better feeling than disappearing into a character and a world where, for just a brief moment, you get to honor someone else's story while simultaneously exploring your own
– In what ways are the studies that you have undertaken at the Centre for Ibsen Studies/Faculty of Humanities relevant to your job?
– My education at the Ibsen Center has opened a whole array of pathways for me in my personal and professional life, both teaching and acting. I have had the pleasure of playing Ulfheim in The Norwegian Ibsen Company’s production of When We Dead Awaken which we toured around Norway. Additionally, I currently teach a college course on Ibsen and adaptation. And, of course, I have formed many fantastic relationships and connections from my time there, from faculty to actors within the National Theater. While it is quite a specific field of study, I have found that, with a bit of malleability, I have been able to apply the knowledge from it to many different aspects throughout my life. I do not know what lies ahead but I look forward to the next project where I can continue to utilize this knowledge.
– What is the best advice you can give new students who are thinking about job opportunities after graduation?
– Do not be afraid to be annoying. As a graduate from a very specific field of study, do not shy away from trying to seize opportunities and the possibility of rejection. Think outside the box, push boundaries and be flexible. Find the areas where your skills can be used but have not yet been fully realized.
– What is your favorite Ibsen work and why?
– I have always had a soft spot for Little Eyolf. It is quiet, beautiful, and stunning, but at the same time it is so very delicate. The way that Ibsen explores the idea of guilt, grief, and relationships are heart wrenching and painfully relevant to all of us on one level or another. That being said, it is a dangerous play as the pitfalls as an actor and director are scattered everywhere like a minefield. It is, in part, that danger and fragility that excites me. I can only hope to one day be a part of a production where I can do it justice and tell the characters’ stories as they should be told.