AIBU to wonder how busy actors memorise so many lines?

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To think that actors and actresses have super-memories? The question is prompted by seeing an underground poster for a theatrical production of Shadowlands, starring Hugh Bonneville - how on earth does he (and his equally busy colleagues) memorise large chunks of text if they are busy all the time and appearing in theatre and filming?

What is consuming, please?

I was listening to a radio program yesterday, talking about the play The Madness of George III (I think that's the title). At one point George III (played by Nigel Hawthorne) was questioning an aide and asks if he was married yet. The aide was supposed to say "no", but after many performances the actor playing the aide was not paying attention and said "yes". Nigel Hawthorne was understandably surprised but carried on with it and seemlessly asked who the aide was married to, so the other poor actor suddenly had to invent a wife and a backstory on stage 🤭

Typo for costuming?

As a kid in plays I not only knew my lines, but everyone else's in the entire play. Have you never been in play and learned lines, or had to learn anything by rote? Did you not learn stuff for exams? It's just lots of repetition and practice then it goes deep into the memory banks. Plus it's their job, it's literally all they have to do. Being an inhouse lawyer and company secretary for a small organisation is much harder, writing my own lines and learning (ok not by rote, but to sound fluent/knowledgeable/confident) what I'm going to be saying for an hour's webinar of me talking to 80 people on my own, while I have to remember filing deadlines, advise clients and company on complex matters, organise travel, organise meetings, take minutes, practically change the lightbulbs.

The thing I'd find hard about acting is the very personal criticism they get sometimes and all the rejection you have to put up with, and the lack of work, and people bothering you if you were famous. Not learning lines and performing, that's the fun bit.

As actors I would have thought that the thing that they are busy doing is memorizing their lines. Some of them do wear ear pieces.

That said I find it harder to learn and retain things in my 50s. Because my brain is full. Of Betty Boo: Doin' the Do. Neneh Cherry: Buffalo Stance and Manchild. Rebel MC: Street Tuff. Every bloody word, from 36 years ago.

I could never do it. I remember being in absolute awe when I read that every episode of the programme Adolescence was shot in one take. The actor who played the boy was so young too.

Thanks for the Betty Boo earworm, @DeftGoldHedgehog