<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">Hi all,</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> I wrote this before i knew about open space. </FONT>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..</P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px">www.improbable.co.uk</P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 5.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><B>"Improbable Principles"</B></FONT></P><P style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Arial; min-height: 15px; "><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" face="Helvetica" size="3"><SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><BR></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">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!<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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! <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> These beliefs may not be true but they are useful!<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> “It’s far too important to take it seriously”<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Every rule we create will always be incorrect at some point. “The opposite is also true!”<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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.. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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”. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. “SYNERGY”<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> An audience can tell whether actors are working well together, they smell it even if it’s subliminal.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We would sooner have a great ensemble than a bunch of great actors who are separate. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Our job as directors is to make ourselves redundant. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We believe the co dependence between actors and directors which often exists does not create a show which the actors truly own. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We get scared too. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> 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.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We value all people’s voices and contributions.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We respect people and treat them well. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> The stage management and technical staff are part of the ensemble and should be treated as such.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We believe in Alchemy.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We welcome mistakes, interruptions, gossip and trouble as potential gold. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> If there is a sickness in the show we will use homeopathy before we perform surgery. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We know that a problem in a show is often not where it reveals itself but somewhere else.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> When things start to get difficult we will sit in the trouble and wait before we try to FIX THINGS.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> At the point in the creative process where most directors want to pin things down.. we will hold off. It pays off.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> “Wait… Give up hope… Keep the faith.”<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> When we work we really work.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will not follow rigid time structures in order to LOOK LIKE we are working.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We know that creative ideas come from moments of relaxation as well as intense concentration. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Our best ideas often happen in tea breaks. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will not overwork people.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> The audience are in the rehearsal room from day one. Watching other performers and contributing as an audience is as important as rehearsing. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><B><BR></B></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><B>An Improbable Prayer.</B><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will say we don’t know when we don’t know. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will say we are scared when we are scared.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will not pretend everything is ok when it isn’t. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will never ask a performer to do something we wouldn’t be prepared to do ourselves. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We love performers.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We believe they often know more than the director.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We love the audience.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We believe they often know more than either the performers or the director.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> Anyone is free to leave at anytime. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> It is better to leave than to be there and not really be present.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> If someone leaves we will do it. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> A comedy store joke in serious theatre is just as valuable as serious theatre at the comedy store. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will never do something just to be different. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will be prepared to be obvious. <BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> When things get scary we will stay awake.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> When things get scary we will look after each other not ourselves.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> We will have a good time.<BR></FONT><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"> The audience see everything.</FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></FONT></P><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 13.0px 0.0px"><FONT class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000">www.improbable.co.uk</FONT></P></BODY></HTML>*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist@listserv.boisestate.edu:
http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs:
http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist