Devised Theater's Collaborative Performance: Making Masterpieces from Collective Concepts

This book provides a comprehensive history of devised theatre practice, exploring its impact on social practice and analyzing various techniques and approaches used by different theatre companies. It includes interviews with founding members of Pig Iron Theater Company and Theatre of Witness, as well as three devised plays by these companies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 303 pages
Publication date: 19 October 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating and succinct volume delves into the rich tapestry of devised theatre practice, offering a comprehensive historical narrative. As a pioneering member of both the Philadelphia Pig Iron Theater Company and academia, Telory Arendell embarks on this exploration, commencing with a brief retrospective of Joan Littlewoods Theatre Workshop and Living Newspapers, traversing through Brechts Berliner Ensemble and Joe Chaikins Open Theatre, culminating in the racially charged commentary of Luis Valdezs Teatro Campesino and Ariane Mnouchkines collaboration with Théâtre de Soleil. This book delves into the profound influence of devised theatre on societal practices, undertaking an insightful analysis of Goat Islands utilization of Pina Bauschs gestural movement, Augusto Boals Theatre of the Oppressed in Giving Voice, Anna Deavere Smiths devised envelope for Verbatim Theatre, The Tectonic Theatre Projects moment work, Teya Sepinucks Theatre of Witness, Pig Irons innovative use of Lecoq mime to craft intricate physical theatre scripts, and The Riot Groups musical arrangement of collaborative devised text. Additionally, this comprehensive work includes a foreword penned by Allen J. Kuharski, accompanied by three devised plays crafted by Theatre of Witness, Pig Iron, and The Riot Group. Furthermore, the book boasts extensive interviews with the original Pig Iron collaborators, shedding light on various aspects of writing, directing, choreography, teaching, and establishing a pedagogical framework that nurtures devised theatre.

Weight: 810g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367644376