This thesis explores how we understand and articulate the idea of ‘absorption’ as a necessary aspect of an ‘optimal’ ‘mode of being/doing’ for the performer. By drawing upon pertinent aspects of the fields of phenomenology, consciousness studies, cognitive neuroscience and play theory coupled with Csikszentmihalyi’s notion of ‘flow’, the study develops a lexicon of terminology with which to articulate and understand the nature of ‘absorption’ for the performer in the context of ‘dance theatre’. By developing a focused articulation of the actual nature of ‘absorption’ for the performer in performance, seen as necessary to an ‘optimal’ ‘mode of being/doing’, the study intends to contribute to the language of discourse in this area of performance studies, and, importantly become a useful resource for the enquiring performer and practitioner. Consequently, in developing an understanding of ‘absorption’ for the performer, in order to edge closer to articulating an ‘optimal’ ‘mode of being/doing’ for the performer, the work and actions of the performer remain the focus of the study. The study is anchored in practice through examination of the work of three companies working within the genealogy of ‘dance theatre’. This multi-company approach gives a chronological and genealogical overview of ‘dance theatre’ practices useful in understanding ‘absorption’ for the performer, whilst also facilitating examination of individual points of practice within that overview. The companies profiled are: Pina Bausch, DV8 and Vincent Dance Theatre (VDT). The examination of work by Bausch and DV8 draws upon and reframes extant documentation of performance currently in the public domain. Examination of VDT’s work draws on original footage and interviews undertaken by the researcher during fieldwork.

This original play, a full-length drama in two acts, is the story of the last 18 months in the life of Emilie du Châtelet. It explores the relationship between Emilie and Voltaire, who was her lover for 15 years. Theirs was a romance of not only the heart, but also of the mind, as they shared their passions for science, philosophy and intellectual discourse. Emilie was an extraordinary woman, writing what is still the definitive French translation and commentary on the work of Isaac Newton. This play introduces her to a modern audience; a woman who for centuries was relegated to a footnote in her more famous partner’s biography, she can now be discovered and celebrated for her own self. / February 2016

This project investigates the previously unrecognised significance of the ways in which the Embodied Theatre practices of Suzanne Bing (1885-1967) and Michael Chekhov (1891-1955) utilised forms of what I term Embodied Play as a constituent part of their actor training processes. A methodology is developed in the introduction which draws on Foucault's notion of genealogy and Feminist approaches to historiography in order to trace and review accounts of these often marginalised play practices in order to re-configure the contributions of Bing and Chekhov in historical terms. It also challenges notions of authenticity and singular 'ownership' of technique by considering the importance of collaborative cross-fertilisation with other practitioners. This research includes a broader exploration of the literature, histories and discourses about the variety of practices that are often problematically classified as Physical Theatre in relation to the identification of the key components of Bing and Chekhov's pedagogy. The first chapter presents this mapping in tandem with the argument that McDermott's term of Embodied Theatre is more appropriate for Bing and Chekhov's practice. The second chapter further refines the frame of analysis to Embodied Play. Chapters three and four consider how Chekhov and Bing respectively used forms of Embodied Play. Chapter five considers how Bing and Chekhov extended their methods of Embodied Play in training which led to radical approaches to working collaboratively with text and writers. It concludes that this movement from the use of play solely for the acquisition of discrete skill or character creation to extended forms of Embodied Play enabled them to train actors to work as empowered creators of small-scale performance in their Schools/Studios, and ultimately to engage in devising processes for professional productions. Consequently, this helps to fill the gap in scholarship on the early experiments in devised Embodied Theatre. In conclusion the focus on Bing addresses the either inadequate, or absent, analyses of her practice in many of the existing historical studies which are dominated by the patrilineal narratives of Jacques Copeau and Michel Saint-Denis. The consideration of Chekhov's practice also challenges the current discourse on play centring on Le Jeu and presents the argument for an expanded term able to consider different artists not just those from the French male lineage. Concurrently, this focus on Chekhov's use of Embodied Play has added to the scholarship on his pedagogic and theatre-making practices.

This thesis, comprised of a stage play and exegesis, asks whether the Mike Leigh Method, commonly used by Auteur directors could be adapted to benefit a playwright during the redrafting and development process. I seek to answer this question by examining differing methodologies of drama creation and charting my process as I work to redraft my character driven stage play Deceased Estate through the adaptation and application of the Mike Leigh Method. I contend that Leigh’s method affords a set of honed and proven guidelines that can help the playwright get to the heart of the character driven drama and offer an adapted method template that can be used and furthered by other Playwrights wishing to develop their work in this manner.

Esta dissertação acompanha o movimento de Beatrix. Figura guia e atriz, eternamente grávida do porvir. Enuncia um processo de criação de uma atriz que pulsa sob a interferência da filosofia da diferença, da literatura e das aprendizagens da cena. Num teatro para deseducar, e num deseducar para teatrar. Um movimento contínuo de começar e não começar. A eterna espiral ganha a cena e apresenta a vida. Explora técnicas de corte, e improviso, em especial as que se referem ao pós-dramático e outras manifestações das artes cênicas contemporâneas, articulando conceitos e práxis teatral. Procurando pontuar, sem determinismos, elementos que facilitem tanto o improviso quanto o cut up envolvido no processo de criação, seja de personagens como em imagens e cenas. As considerações sobre o sentido trágico de Nietzsche, a concepção de plano de composição das artes de Deleuze e Guattari, junto com outros autores contemporâneos, são evocadas a fim de, ao se explorar pontos de vista, cortes e montagens, pensar os sentidos e os não sentidos dos textos, no palco e fora dele. / This paper follows the movement of Beatrix. Figure, guide and actress, eternally pregnant with the future. It outlines a process for creating a star that pulses under the influence of difference of philosophy, literature and learning. A theater for to educate, and to contradict the theater. A continuous movement to begin and shall not begin. The eternal spiral won the scene and presents the life.. Explore cutting techniques, and improvisation, in particular those relating to post-dramatic and other manifestations of contemporary performing arts, articulating concepts and practice of theater. Looking to score, without determinism, elements that facilitate both improvisation as the cutup involved in the creation process, either as characters in scenes and images. The findings of the tragic sense of Nietzsche, the concept plan of composition in the arts of Deleuze and Guattari, along with other contemporary authors, are evoked in order, to explore views, cuts and montages, the senses and think no sense of texts, onstage and off.

Esta dissertação acompanha o movimento de Beatrix. Figura guia e atriz, eternamente grávida do porvir. Enuncia um processo de criação de uma atriz que pulsa sob a interferência da filosofia da diferença, da literatura e das aprendizagens da cena. Num teatro para deseducar, e num deseducar para teatrar. Um movimento contínuo de começar e não começar. A eterna espiral ganha a cena e apresenta a vida. Explora técnicas de corte, e improviso, em especial as que se referem ao pós-dramático e outras manifestações das artes cênicas contemporâneas, articulando conceitos e práxis teatral. Procurando pontuar, sem determinismos, elementos que facilitem tanto o improviso quanto o cut up envolvido no processo de criação, seja de personagens como em imagens e cenas. As considerações sobre o sentido trágico de Nietzsche, a concepção de plano de composição das artes de Deleuze e Guattari, junto com outros autores contemporâneos, são evocadas a fim de, ao se explorar pontos de vista, cortes e montagens, pensar os sentidos e os não sentidos dos textos, no palco e fora dele. / This paper follows the movement of Beatrix. Figure, guide and actress, eternally pregnant with the future. It outlines a process for creating a star that pulses under the influence of difference of philosophy, literature and learning. A theater for to educate, and to contradict the theater. A continuous movement to begin and shall not begin. The eternal spiral won the scene and presents the life.. Explore cutting techniques, and improvisation, in particular those relating to post-dramatic and other manifestations of contemporary performing arts, articulating concepts and practice of theater. Looking to score, without determinism, elements that facilitate both improvisation as the cutup involved in the creation process, either as characters in scenes and images. The findings of the tragic sense of Nietzsche, the concept plan of composition in the arts of Deleuze and Guattari, along with other contemporary authors, are evoked in order, to explore views, cuts and montages, the senses and think no sense of texts, onstage and off.

Esta dissertação acompanha o movimento de Beatrix. Figura guia e atriz, eternamente grávida do porvir. Enuncia um processo de criação de uma atriz que pulsa sob a interferência da filosofia da diferença, da literatura e das aprendizagens da cena. Num teatro para deseducar, e num deseducar para teatrar. Um movimento contínuo de começar e não começar. A eterna espiral ganha a cena e apresenta a vida. Explora técnicas de corte, e improviso, em especial as que se referem ao pós-dramático e outras manifestações das artes cênicas contemporâneas, articulando conceitos e práxis teatral. Procurando pontuar, sem determinismos, elementos que facilitem tanto o improviso quanto o cut up envolvido no processo de criação, seja de personagens como em imagens e cenas. As considerações sobre o sentido trágico de Nietzsche, a concepção de plano de composição das artes de Deleuze e Guattari, junto com outros autores contemporâneos, são evocadas a fim de, ao se explorar pontos de vista, cortes e montagens, pensar os sentidos e os não sentidos dos textos, no palco e fora dele. / This paper follows the movement of Beatrix. Figure, guide and actress, eternally pregnant with the future. It outlines a process for creating a star that pulses under the influence of difference of philosophy, literature and learning. A theater for to educate, and to contradict the theater. A continuous movement to begin and shall not begin. The eternal spiral won the scene and presents the life.. Explore cutting techniques, and improvisation, in particular those relating to post-dramatic and other manifestations of contemporary performing arts, articulating concepts and practice of theater. Looking to score, without determinism, elements that facilitate both improvisation as the cutup involved in the creation process, either as characters in scenes and images. The findings of the tragic sense of Nietzsche, the concept plan of composition in the arts of Deleuze and Guattari, along with other contemporary authors, are evoked in order, to explore views, cuts and montages, the senses and think no sense of texts, onstage and off.

No description available.

My first exposure to Brecht and his theories was as a high school drama student. One of our year twelve assessment tasks was to write and perform our own Brechtian drama using three or more alienation techniques. I wrote a piece about Religion and Fundamentalism, an issue that I felt strongly about at the time. By carefully following my teacher’s instructions and adhering to the assessment criteria I received a VHA. I concluded from this experience that political theatre could be made by following a simple recipe and combining key ingredients. As my knowledge of theatre and my own creative practice developed I came to understand the great complexity of Brechtian theory and the extreme difficulty of creating effective political theatre, that is, theatre that changes the world. Brecht’s theories have been so thoroughly absorbed into contemporary theatre practice that we no longer identify the techniques of Epic Theatre as necessarily political, nor do we acknowledge its radical origins. I have not yet seen a professional production of a Brechtian play but I’ve absorbed on countless occasions the brilliant reinterpretations of Brecht’s theories within the work of contemporary dramatists. My approach to creating political drama is eclectic and irreverent and I’m prepared to beg borrow and steal from the cannon of political theatre and popular media to create a drama that works, a drama that is both entertaining and provocative. Hoods is an adaptation for young audiences of my original play Kingswood Kids (2001). The process of re-purposing Kingwood Kids to Hoods has been a long and complex one. The process has triggered an analysis of my own creative practice and theory, and demanded an in-depth engagement with the theories and practice of key political theatre makers, most notably Brecht and Boal and more contemporary theatre makers such as Churchill, Kane, and Zeal Theatre. The focus of my exegesis is an inquiry into how the dramatist can create a theatre of currency that challenges the dominant culture and provokes critical thinking and political engagement in young audiences. It will particularly examine Brecht’s theory of alienation and argue its continued relevance, exploring how Brechtian techniques can be applied and re-interpreted through an in-depth analysis of my two works for young people, Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt. For the purposes of this short exegesis I have narrowed the inquiry by focusing on four key areas: Transformation, Structure, Pretext, Metatext.

El presente volumen de la "Pluralidad de Discursos" abarca una vasta gama temática entroncada en temas propiamente teatrales como la espectacularidad, la teatralidad, la escenificación, pero a la vez ubicada en parámetros de la teoría de la cultura, particularmente de la postmoderna y postcolonial. Dentro de este marco epistemológico resalta el trato de fenómenos como aquellos de la hibridez, alteridad, identidad y del género, de aspectos mediales, históricos, políticos, antropológicos y transculturales. Además, el término "teatralidad" se configura como punto central en todas las publicaciones.