🗣️Theater for Social Change Unit 7 – Devising Theatre: Collaborative Creation

What's Devising Theatre?

• Devising theatre involves creating original performances through collaborative, improvisational processes rather than starting with a pre-written script
• Ensemble-based approach where the entire creative team contributes to the development of the piece, including actors, directors, writers, and designers
• Often incorporates multiple art forms such as dance, music, visual arts, and multimedia elements to create a multi-disciplinary performance
• Emphasizes experimentation, risk-taking, and exploration of new forms and styles of theatre
• Allows for greater artistic freedom and flexibility compared to traditional script-based theatre
• Frequently addresses contemporary social, political, and cultural issues, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change
• Encourages active participation and input from all members of the creative team throughout the development process

Key Players and Pioneers

• Jerzy Grotowski, Polish theatre director who developed the concept of "poor theatre" emphasizing the actor's body and voice over elaborate sets and costumes
• Augusto Boal, Brazilian theatre practitioner who created Theatre of the Oppressed, using theatre as a tool for social and political activism
  • Developed techniques such as Forum Theatre and Image Theatre to engage audiences in exploring and challenging oppressive systems
• The Performance Group, an experimental theatre company founded by Richard Schechner in New York City during the 1960s
  • Known for their groundbreaking productions that blurred the lines between performers and audience, such as "Dionysus in 69"
• Joint Stock Theatre Company, a British devising company founded in 1974 that collaborated with playwrights to create new works through improvisation and workshops
• Frantic Assembly, a contemporary British physical theatre company known for their dynamic, high-energy performances created through devising processes
• Tectonic Theater Project, an American company founded by Moisés Kaufman that creates new works using extensive interviews and research, such as "The Laramie Project"
• Complicite, a British theatre company founded by Simon McBurney, known for their visually striking and physically inventive devised productions

Collaborative Creation Process

• Typically begins with a shared theme, idea, or question that the ensemble wishes to explore through the devising process
• Involves a series of improvisations, workshops, and exercises to generate material and ideas for the piece
• Ensemble members contribute their unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to shape the direction and content of the work
• Requires open communication, trust, and a willingness to take risks and embrace uncertainty throughout the creative process
• Often includes periods of research, brainstorming, and experimentation with different theatrical forms and techniques
• Collaborative decision-making is essential, with the ensemble working together to refine and structure the material into a cohesive performance
• The process is iterative and non-linear, with ideas being continuously developed, revised, and reshaped until the final performance takes shape
• May involve the creation of a script or score, but this is typically developed organically through the devising process rather than serving as a starting point

Tools and Techniques

• Improvisation exercises to generate new material, explore characters, and develop scenes
  • Examples include free association, status games, and physical improv
• Viewpoints, a technique developed by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau that explores the elements of time and space in movement and performance
• Suzuki method, a rigorous physical training approach that emphasizes breath, energy, and presence
• Composition exercises to create visual and spatial arrangements, such as tableaux vivants and movement scores
• Verbatim theatre techniques, using interviews, documents, and real-life testimonies as the basis for the performance
• Incorporation of multimedia elements, such as video projections, sound design, and digital technologies
• Use of found objects, props, and costumes to inspire new ideas and create visual metaphors
• Exploration of non-traditional performance spaces and audience configurations to challenge conventional theatrical forms

Themes and Social Issues

• Devised theatre often addresses contemporary social, political, and cultural issues, aiming to provoke thought and inspire change
• Explores themes of identity, power, oppression, and social justice, giving voice to marginalized communities and perspectives
• Examines the complexities and contradictions of human experience, delving into personal stories and collective histories
• Challenges dominant narratives and stereotypes, offering alternative viewpoints and encouraging critical thinking
• Addresses issues such as racism, gender inequality, LGBTQ+ rights, economic disparities, and environmental concerns
• Investigates the impact of globalization, technology, and media on society and individuals
• Explores the relationship between the personal and the political, connecting individual experiences to broader social structures and systems
• Aims to foster empathy, understanding, and dialogue among diverse audiences, promoting social awareness and activism

Performance and Staging

• Devised performances often incorporate multiple art forms, such as dance, music, visual arts, and multimedia elements, creating a multi-disciplinary experience
• Emphasizes physicality, movement, and visual storytelling, using the body as a primary tool of expression
• Challenges traditional staging conventions, experimenting with non-linear narratives, fragmented structures, and unconventional performance spaces
• Blurs the boundaries between performers and audience, often incorporating interactive and immersive elements to engage spectators directly
• Utilizes minimalistic and adaptable set designs, allowing for flexibility and transformation throughout the performance
• Employs creative lighting, sound, and projection designs to create atmospheric and symbolic environments
• Explores the relationship between performers and objects, using props and costumes as extensions of the body and tools for storytelling
• Embraces a sense of risk, spontaneity, and immediacy in performance, responding to the energy and feedback of the audience in real-time

Impact and Audience Engagement

• Devised theatre aims to create a transformative experience for both performers and audiences, provoking emotional, intellectual, and visceral responses
• Encourages active spectatorship, inviting audiences to participate, reflect, and engage with the themes and ideas presented in the performance
• Fosters a sense of community and shared experience among audience members, creating a space for collective reflection and dialogue
• Challenges audiences to confront their own biases, assumptions, and beliefs, promoting self-awareness and personal growth
• Inspires social and political activism, empowering audiences to take action and advocate for change in their communities
• Provides a platform for underrepresented voices and stories, amplifying diverse perspectives and experiences
• Creates lasting impact through post-show discussions, workshops, and community engagement initiatives, extending the conversation beyond the performance itself
• Contributes to the development of new theatrical forms and practices, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the art form

Challenges and Considerations

• Devising processes can be time-consuming and unpredictable, requiring patience, flexibility, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty
• Collaborative decision-making can be challenging, requiring effective communication, compromise, and conflict resolution skills among ensemble members
• Balancing individual artistic visions with the collective goals of the ensemble can be difficult, requiring a strong sense of trust and shared ownership
• Ensuring that all voices and perspectives are heard and valued throughout the creative process, particularly those from marginalized communities
• Navigating the ethical considerations of representing real-life stories and experiences, particularly when working with sensitive or traumatic material
• Securing funding and resources for devised projects can be challenging, as they often require longer development periods and may not fit traditional funding models
• Finding appropriate venues and performance spaces that can accommodate the unique staging and technical requirements of devised work
• Developing effective marketing and audience engagement strategies to reach diverse communities and build support for the work