Reflections on Contemporary Performance Process – serie

Grotowski's Process is a passionate dialogue between progressive Polish scholarship, represented by Dariusz Kosinski, and an investigative scholarship in the American Milieu, represented by Kris Salata.These two scholarly perspectives seek reconciliation in their interrogation and analysis of the performance-making and performer-training of one of the world’s foremost formative figures in twentieth-century theatre, Jerzy Grotowski, who shattered the traditional understanding of theatrical legacy.Grotowski’s cutting-edge theatrical and post-theatrical laboratory work continues to challenge the approaches to performance-making. This book reintroduces Grotowski’s main ideas in ways that are directly meaningful to contemporary theatre makers as practical investigations of the nature of performance.The authors consult and quote from Grotowski’s texts and unpublished archival documents, to explore how the actor’s process was re-examined as an interdisciplinary and intercultural endeavour.

A case-study of the devised intercultural and interdisciplinary performance piece playing 'the maids' in which the nine artists involved each offer their cultural and artistic perspective on the processes and practices.Playing 'the maids' was a newly co-created performance, using, as creative inspiration, Jean Genet's modernist drama Les Bonnes (The Maids, 1947). Playing 'the maids' was a montage of text in multiple languages, psychophysical scores, choreography and sound compositions.This focused case-study demonstrates an example of contemporary intercultural performance practice in the current globalized environment with each artist commenting from his/her distinctive and specific socio-cultural/artistic/disciplinary perspective. It is made up of critical analyses, personal reflections and creative responses to the piece. Issues considered include the directorial overview; dramaturgical perspective; analysis from a musical perspective; how to manage translation/adaptation in devised performance; adapting and devising in a collaborative context; description and analysis of the microscopic moments of acting and actor-training; and ways of documenting performance scores.Playing 'the maids' was nominated for a Best Ensemble award in Wales Theatre Awards 2016 and enthusiastically received by the critics. The artists included award-winning playwright and dramaturge Katie O’Reilly and internationally renowned director, intercultural performer trainer and scholar Phillip Zarrilli, together with seven performers, comprising artists and practice-based researchers working in an international context. By capturing the multiple voices of these international and multi-faceted artists, this book offers an alternative approach to some of the seminal discourses from the '80s and '90s around intercultural performance.

Combining theory and historiography, this book presents a new means for considering rhythm in postdramatic performance by examining the creative processes of three major international companies: Mime Omnibus (Montreal, Canada), Dairakudakan (Tokyo, Japan), and SITI Company (New York, US).While rhythm is unanimously acknowledged as fundamental to performance, critical in every role from performing and directing to design and dramaturgy, studies on the subject are limited and the phenomenon remains obscure. This book remedies that, offering a unique focus on ‘rhythmanalysis’, bringing distinctive and insightful attention to rhythm as permeating key areas of performance process.By focusing on recent work from these three major companies, the book provides a glimpse into each company's latest devising processes, enriched by scholarly and archival research, while personal interviews give voice to performers often absent in performance analysis and criticism. Through its theoretical and practical offerings, this book brings greater understanding by putting forth a simplified model that can be applied to both interdisciplinary practices and theoretical analysis. The reader gains not only a greater understanding of rhythm in contemporary performance, but also significant insights into the working methods of each company.

Combining theory and historiography, this book presents a new means for considering rhythm in postdramatic performance by examining the creative processes of three major international companies: Mime Omnibus (Montreal, Canada), Dairakudakan (Tokyo, Japan), and SITI Company (New York, US).While rhythm is unanimously acknowledged as fundamental to performance, critical in every role from performing and directing to design and dramaturgy, studies on the subject are limited and the phenomenon remains obscure. This book remedies that, offering a unique focus on ''rhythmanalysis'', bringing distinctive and insightful attention to rhythm as permeating key areas of performance process.By focusing on recent work from these three major companies, the book provides a glimpse into each company''s latest devising processes, enriched by scholarly and archival research, while personal interviews give voice to performers often absent in performance analysis and criticism. Through its theoretical and practical offerings, this book brings greater understanding by putting forth a simplified model that can be applied to both interdisciplinary practices and theoretical analysis. The reader gains not only a greater understanding of rhythm in contemporary performance, but also significant insights into the working methods of each company.

Combining theory and historiography, this book presents a new means for considering rhythm in postdramatic performance by examining the creative processes of three major international companies: Mime Omnibus (Montreal, Canada), Dairakudakan (Tokyo, Japan), and SITI Company (New York, US).While rhythm is unanimously acknowledged as fundamental to performance, critical in every role from performing and directing to design and dramaturgy, studies on the subject are limited and the phenomenon remains obscure. This book remedies that, offering a unique focus on ''rhythmanalysis'', bringing distinctive and insightful attention to rhythm as permeating key areas of performance process.By focusing on recent work from these three major companies, the book provides a glimpse into each company''s latest devising processes, enriched by scholarly and archival research, while personal interviews give voice to performers often absent in performance analysis and criticism. Through its theoretical and practical offerings, this book brings greater understanding by putting forth a simplified model that can be applied to both interdisciplinary practices and theoretical analysis. The reader gains not only a greater understanding of rhythm in contemporary performance, but also significant insights into the working methods of each company.