136944781-physical-theatre-essay.pdf

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Shannon Mowat Performing Arts (Gina)

Physical Theatre

Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama

through primarily physical and secondarily mental means. It can be used to help the actors gain a

better understanding of the plays, but there has been some considerable confusion as to how

physical theatre should be defined.

Physical Theatre Origins

According to common belief this style of performance originates from ancient Greece. In the ancient

Greek theatre the actors performed as a chorus of about 12-15 actors. They would help the

audience understand the storyline better and they helped portray the relationship between the

main characters in a way that was easier for the audience to understand as they clarified emotions

and thought the characters were experiencing. They were seen as representing communication

through words, song and physical theatre. Chorus performers frequently wore masks and strapped

on body parts, such as extra arms or a tail, to make them seem larger than life. Theatre in ancientRome was developed from Greek forms and also employed a chorus to help tell the story. Roman

actors still more masks, but they used mime rather than speech.

Commedia Delle Arte

Commedia delle Artefeatured a series of key characters that played out specific roles and only did

specific things in the drama. Three examples of these characters are: Columbine, Harlequin and

Buffo.

One of the key features of this form of theatre was that it allowed female performersalmost

unheard on at that time. There are early records going back to the mid-1500s that talk about women

on stage in these comedies. These plays were improvised, but gradually became more formally

structured. They became known as theZanni comedies.Their subject matter was universal, such as

love, death and betrayal. Improvised comedy scenes were called burle.

The key characters mentioned all have particular ways of behaving. Because the work has improved,

it often took inspiration from the local realities where performance was taking place. For example

the actors would mock the towns mayor or other figures of authority.

The tradition of this theatre form still goes on in the work of some writers and directors.

Kathakali

Kathakali is an ancient Indian tradition of dance-drama from Kerlal dating back to the 16th

century. It

uses very distinct characters, who wore elaborate costumes, masks and make-up. Music based on

Indian melodies that usually associate with different seasons or time of the day and there are many

classic Kathakali stories that can be shown through physical theatre.

Masks

Masks are a very effective and popular way of performing physical theatre. Masks seemed to help

the actor develop the physicality of the character, to play a number of characters within a scene or


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play and also to bring to life very different ones from the classic of characters that they may be

expected to play.

The coaches/teachers believed that by wearing a mask the actor could be whoever he or she wanted

to be. The idea was that the audience would concentrate more on the body language of the actor in

the mask than the actor that isnt wearing one.

Jerzy Grotowski

Grotowski was born on 1933 and dedicated his life to developing a style of physical theatre that was

more about being truthful. He didnt want his performers to develop skills that masked their true

nature. His performances involved sitting the audience within the production, encouraging

interaction between them and the actors.

The influence of his work can be seen today in performances created and directed by many

contemporary practitioners. The company DV8 Physical Theatreoften produced work that places the

audience squarely in the centre of the action. Frantic Assembly performers often talk directly to their

audience and many more.

DV8 Physical Theatre

They are a dance-drama company set up in 1986. DV8s work is often very highly challenging and

sometimes dangerous for the performers. The companys director, Lloyd Newson, generally works

with trained dancers, rather than actors. Much of their work is highly dance-based, but actors have

had roles in some performances, for example in a show called Living Costs. Sometime their work is

specifically produced for a particular place or space.

DV8s 2003 production, which included some elements from Living Costs, was site-specific having

been designed for performance in the London gallery building of the Tate Modern.The Tate Modern

is a huge London art gallery which used to be a power station. This is a play about life today and how

we see each other. It involves a series of scenes that takes place in different parts of the building.

Performers begin their show in the massive Turbine Hall on the ground floor. As the show

progressed, the audience were directed to scenes take place in other gallery rooms. The show

involves actors, dancers, trapeze artists and a narrator, who wasnt always present in the building.

This companys work is uncompromising and can even be violent their main aim is to break down

what they perceive as barriers between more conventional forms or dance and drama.

Frantic Assembly

They are a much newer theatre company that has developed its own distinct way of working. The

company was set up on in the 1990s by Scott Graham and Steve Hoggett and has used text and

improvisation as their basis for drama. They approached ideas and texts in their own unique way, for

example they might cut up a play script and re-organise it.

Their directors want their performers to be bold, experimental and not bound by rules, which is why

their work is challenging, new and irreverent.


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Conclusion

Through learning all this I now believe that physical theatre is an art of the body. Physical theatre is

more than just dancing, it is how a dancers body portrays a story and influences different reactions

and thoughts from the audience, who can interpret the dancers vision in many different ways.

Although its not very commonly known with people that dont dance or act it is often used in

productions and shows throughout the world.

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