open space in theatre.
Phelim McDermott
phelim at mac.com
Thu Dec 22 03:45:56 PST 2005
sure! please share. Good if you put a company credit on so people can
check out the website. Thanks
phelimx
On 21 Dec 2005, at 22:01, miworld wrote:
> Love it Phelim, can I share it? There are so many messages about
> the wonders of life in here -
>
> Jane,
> UK
>
>
> Jane Quinn
>
> miworld consultancy limited
> miworld, miresponsibility
>
> ' 0131 669 8911
> Mob 0783 454 2686
> fax 0131 669 2943
> * jane at miworld.org.uk
> web www.miworld.org.uk
>
> Member of BNI Dunedin, Chapter of the Year for 2005 for BNI South
> & East Scotland
> -----Original Message-----
> From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
> Phelim McDermott
> Sent: 21 December 2005 18:24
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Subject: open space in theatre.
>
> Hi all,
> I wrote this before i knew about open space. It was a kind of
> manifesto I wrote to warn the Artistic Director of the National
> Theatre how we would be working in their building after working in
> theatre for twenty years.. You might recognise why i felt like i
> knew about open space before I knew about it. if you want to know
> more about the company.. our website is..
>
> www.improbable.co.uk
>
>
> "Improbable Principles"
>
>
> This is a description of some of the guiding principles and
> techniques that Improbable hold valuable for their work. In
> communication with our potential actors we have come to talk about
> this as our “health warning” so that actors are really clear what
> kind of a process they are getting involved in and so that they can
> really choose to commit to the creative journey they will embark
> upon. As we have discovered in the past when we have not taken the
> trouble to do this we have had difficulties. “You never told me it
> would be like this!” They have sometimes said. “Oh yes we did.” We
> reply. However maybe we just hadn’t said it LOUD ENOUGH!
>
> It is essential when creating a true ensemble that performers have
> genuinely chosen to be there so that they don’t check out of the
> process. If someone doesn’t believe in it and thinks it won’t work
> THEY WILL BE CORRECT!
>
> These beliefs may not be true but they are useful!
>
> “It’s far too important to take it seriously”
>
> Play is an essential part of our creative process although
> sometimes it looks like we don’t take things seriously this is
> because we are true artists who know that great ideas only come
> when you have persuaded the gods that you do not care.
>
> Creativity is like a cat you can’t MAKE IT come to you. In order to
> catch it you sometimes have to walk away from it.
>
> We will tend to make creative decisions later rather than sooner.
> This is to ensure we do not create premature closure. Often we
> believe decisions can be made too soon in order to feel more
> comfortable and reassure others that everything is going well. We
> will attempt to avoid this. Also these early decisions stem from
> the belief that we won’t be able to come up with a better idea.
>
> Every rule we create will always be incorrect at some point. “The
> opposite is also true!”
>
> Sometimes our shows are totally improvised, sometimes they are
> devised through improvisation, sometimes they are improvised and
> become fixed, sometimes they are a script which is improvised with.
> The common thread is the spirit with which they are performed. A
> scripted show should feel as alive and vital as a totally
> improvised show. We sometimes don’t know which of these the show
> will be at the start of a process.
>
> We will use the work of any of the great teachers to create a great
> theatre show. This includes, Michael Checkov, Viola Spolin, Keith
> Johnstone, Eric Morris, Wesley Balk, Mindell etc..
>
> Often our rehearsal process is more like training a sports team and
> teaching than a more traditional theatre process. It is a
> preparation for a LIVE event.
>
> We believe that a lot of people talk about wanting to create
> ensemble in theatre however this is often lip service. We believe
> we are good at creating a genuine sense of ensemble. We actually do
> what we say we do. We are proud of this. We believe this is
> important and we will often work on this so that problems solve
> themselves rather than work directly on a problem with the show.
>
> There are two stories in our shows: The story the performers are
> telling and the story of the performers putting on the show. This
> second story is the most important to us. If it is not present then
> the telling of the story will be pointless.
>
> We believe that what happens between the performers is more
> important than what the performers can do individually. The whole
> show and the synergy of the ensemble is more important than any one
> person’s intention to “shine”.
>
> The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “SYNERGY”
>
> An audience can tell whether actors are working well together, they
> smell it even if it’s subliminal.
>
> We would sooner have a great ensemble than a bunch of great actors
> who are separate.
>
> Our job as directors is to make ourselves redundant.
>
> We believe the co dependence between actors and directors which
> often exists does not create a show which the actors truly own.
>
> It’s not that we want performers in our show who don’t get scared.
> It’s that we don’t want performers who pretend they aren’t whilst
> secretly resenting us. It is good if they are excited by the idea
> of not knowing.
>
> We get scared too.
>
> We will often deliberately make sure our show is unfinished so that
> the audience have a strong input into the creation of a show.
> Shockheaded Peter is a very good example of this. Many parts of
> this show were created for the first time in front of the audience.
> We will work on creating a strong group of performers who are
> empowered to make decisions for themselves in order to create truly
> exciting spontaneous theatre from moments of the unknown. If
> everything has been decided before the audience turn up then the
> audience have nothing to do and the story is already over.
>
> We value all people’s voices and contributions.
>
> We respect people and treat them well.
> The stage management and technical staff are part of the ensemble
> and should be treated as such.
>
> We believe in Alchemy.
> We welcome mistakes, interruptions, gossip and trouble as potential
> gold.
> If there is a sickness in the show we will use homeopathy before we
> perform surgery.
> We know that a problem in a show is often not where it reveals
> itself but somewhere else.
>
> When things start to get difficult we will sit in the trouble and
> wait before we try to FIX THINGS.
>
> At the point in the creative process where most directors want to
> pin things down.. we will hold off. It pays off.
>
> “Wait… Give up hope… Keep the faith.”
>
> When we work we really work.
> We will not follow rigid time structures in order to LOOK LIKE we
> are working.
> We know that creative ideas come from moments of relaxation as well
> as intense concentration.
> Our best ideas often happen in tea breaks.
> We will not overwork people.
> The audience are in the rehearsal room from day one. Watching other
> performers and contributing as an audience is as important as
> rehearsing.
>
>
> An Improbable Prayer.
>
> We will say we don’t know when we don’t know.
> We will say we are scared when we are scared.
> We will not pretend everything is ok when it isn’t.
> We will never ask a performer to do something we wouldn’t be
> prepared to do ourselves.
> We love performers.
> We believe they often know more than the director.
> We love the audience.
> We believe they often know more than either the performers or the
> director.
> Anyone is free to leave at anytime.
> It is better to leave than to be there and not really be present.
> If someone leaves we will do it.
> A comedy store joke in serious theatre is just as valuable as
> serious theatre at the comedy store.
> We will never do something just to be different.
> We will be prepared to be obvious.
> When things get scary we will stay awake.
> When things get scary we will look after each other not ourselves.
> We will have a good time.
> The audience see everything.
>
>
>
>
>
> www.improbable.co.uk
>
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