Biomechanics

(of theatre!)

Kelly Nienaltowski

Born in Penza, Russia 1874

Family of a Russian-German wine manufacturer

"Vsevelod" an Orthodox Christian name, not birth name

Studied law at Moscow University (never got degree)

Under Vladimir Nemirovich Danchencko, joined Moscow Art Theatre

Performed 18 roles at MAT (Treplev in The Seagull by Chekov)

Left MAT, began experimenting

Russian Revolution 1917 – joined the Commies

Had a falling out with Stanislavski

Late 1939 – arrested/tortured/forced to confess involvement with enemies

Sentenced to death by firing squad in early February, 1940

Vera Kommissarzhevskaia founded theatre in St. Petersburg and invited him to direct

Once a Commie, appointed head of the theater division of the People's Commissariat for Education

1923, Meyerhold had his own troupe in Moscow, and staged innovative productions of both classics and new works

Mid-1930s, Meyerhold's relentless experimentation was no longer in favor. His theater was harshly criticized and then closed in 1938

Stanislavski died – Meyerhold directed his opera for nearly a year until his arrest

Provocative experiments dealing with physical being and symbolism in an unconventional theatre setting

One of the seminal forces in modern theatre

Searched for theatrical innovations

Stanislavski Meyerhold

Actor's own personal memories create character’s internal motivation

Perfect and defend ‘realist’ method

Psychological truth on stage

Connected psychological and physiological processes

Learning gestures and movements as a way of expressing emotion outwardly

Symbolist/Experimental theatre

One could call up emotions in performance by practicing and assuming poses, gestures, and movements.

Developed a number of body expressions that his actors would use to portray specific emotions and characters.

Tried to return acting to the traditions of Commedia dell’arte

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUgaQqgBS0

Meyerhold inspired revolutionary artists and filmmakers such as Sergei Eisenstein, who studied with Meyerhold and whose films employed actors who worked in Meyerhold’s tradition. Eisenstein cast actors based on what they looked like and their expression, and followed Meyerhold’s stylized acting methods.

Ian Way’s E.T. is good example of experimental theatre that centered around symbolism

Although it was more geared towards Quantum Mechanics, the cast touched on biomechanics

Jef’s classes are also very closely related to Meyerhold’s techniques.

Is there a brave soul that would like to

demonstrate any of the 12

movements?