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I have just finished reading Boal, Bausch, Lecoq and Meyerhold editions in the Routledge Performance Practitioners series. Four different books. I think they are brilliant resources for the teacher and also any IBDP theatre student looking to be introduced to their ideas as well as simple exercises. They give a good overview to the context of for each practitioner and simple exercises that you could apply to your classroom. FIVE star from me.
I have heard a lot about the Laramie Project. It did live up to what has been said about it. As a play it was a very easy read. It was my first introduction into Verbatim theatre. I like the power of the style and the way that you could put across so many different perspectives. It was also interesting to talk to a friend who is from that region and was at the University at the same time as Matthew Shepard. She had a different perspective to the storytellers. Powerful piece of Theatre which could be used dynamically with an IB Theatre class.
Just finished reading Barry Grantham's Commedia Plays. It was well written and it is good for students to have a format they can refer to in the beginning to help their devising process. There was a list of lazzi - I felt this was already covered by reading through the scripts. I did enjoy the link to the great physical comedies of the silent film era. Good book - must read his other one - Playing Commedia.
Well .. yes it has been a long time since I posted and I will try to be back on a little more. Just read a great book: The Physical Actor by Annie Loui. It spoke to me through the physical theatre aspect and she introduced me to the concept of Contact Improvisation. It is an areas I am going to investigate a little more. At moment I am teaching 5-8 Drama and 7/8 Dance. I used some of the ideas with some warm ups with my 7/8 Drama class in terms of stretching and using language and movement to vamp up the rehearsals a little more. I did more extensive work with my Dance class - only because I have the flexibility of not running a traditional style dance class. The main chapters are: Warm Up and Alignment; Space; Mime; Partnering; contact Improvisation and Active Imagination- Performance Composition. The Theatre I create is:
A human experience. An act. A collaborative experience. A visual language that transcends time, space and culture and relies not just on words but the visual, movement and symbols, to create meaning. An exploration of what makes us who we are. The power to hold the audience in the palm of our hands and make them feel, think and question. An energy - a power, a force, an action of doing. A transformation – of time, space, concepts, objects and people A process. An education – of a craft, interpersonal skills, word theatre, ideas, cultures and so much more. A celebration of life in a visual form. It uses the most powerful word in the English language “ what If’ and the most important muscle in your body – the brain. It creates Moments that take you breath away. Individual and communal understanding A conception of what theatre is Images that leave acid imprints Connections between all those involved in the production. It allows me to change the world, one person at a time. So I have started my dissertation. This is my dissertation proposal.
The area of scholarly interest for this dissertation is Kafka on Stage, with a particular focus on the creation of a Kafkaesque world through Kafka’s short story The Trial. The literary review of Kafka indicates the academic focus has been primarily the creation of a Kafkaesque world through literature not theatrical performance. There has been limited academic research in regards to Kafka and how his work can be transformed onto the stage. The scarce writing that has been undertaken examines how Kafka’s Metamorphorsis has been portrayed. This writing has not been from an academic standpoint, merely as post performance reflection. The Trial provides a strong platform to explore how can Kafka’s concepts and themes can be translated by a director on to the stage. The word Kafkaesque encapsulates an unsettled and disorientating world which is also menacing and This study would provide a valuable insight into the techniques utlised by directors to produce this effect. The research question is: What techniques can directors use to create a Kafkaesque world on stage. The research and data for this study will occur through a variety of sources. Analysis of productions The Trial by Steven Berkoff, Malthouse Theatre and the Young Vic coupled with director’s notes and director’s commentaries will assist in the compilation of research. Academic writing on Steven Berkoff will also assist the assemblage of data. My project which focuses on how to explore the creation of a Kafkaesque world on stage with young adults, will provide substantial data collection. Through an analysis of the research the dissertation will provide a significant insight to how directors explore Kafka on Stage. Having a husband that teaches Design there were lots of important aspects. However i truely understood the impact of Theatre in design. Of course students design in drama/theatre. They create and use their skills to develop something "new" - their own version of something. It is not only people skills and communication that the arts facilitates but also the whole design process. Students can be involved in all aspects - costume, stage, make up, set design. My sister is the classic example of this. She completed a Theatre degree and is now in New York working as a Event designer. She can see the overall picture and see how it all comes together - much like a theatre production.
Some interesting points about Design - P69- John Heskett – “{D}esign, stripped to its essence, can be defined as the human nature to shape and make our environment in ways without precedent in nature, to serve our needs and give meaning to our lives” John Heskett, Toothpicks and Logos – design in Everyday life, Oxford university Press, 2002 Design has consequences – health care; learning; environmental benefits; Al Gore/GW Bush election; Design – the differences of selling an item. |
Catherine Rankin
Drama/Theatre/Dance teacher for 30 years; Currently teaching at International School Manila. Archives
November 2021
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