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Improvisation and playmaking : a look at some improvisation techniques and their applications during the directing process

Thesis (MDram)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis the author investigates aspects of the use of improvisation and
improvisational methods, techniques and exercises by modem practitioners.
The study commences with a look at the beginnings of modem improvisation in the
nineteenth century, when improvisation was used only tentatively by performers as a preproduction
aid to the exploration of character and personal response. In more recent
times the process has become one of collaboration and research; as a means of selfdiscovery,
as a means of text creation and as a vehicle for finding a 'voice' for the silent
majority within a particular community or society.
This study also traces the use of improvisation in South Africa where the improvisational
process has been incorporated into democratic and collaborative forms like workshop
theatre and workers' theatre, and serves as a useful method of political investigation and
conscientisation. The study will also briefly touch what on is now termed 'theatre-fordevelopment',
since its practitioners make extensive use of improvisational techniques,
and its techniques are allied to those of workers' and workshop theatre.
The final chapter provides an application of the theories discussed in the bulk of the study
in a brief discussion of the author's own attempts at utilising improvisation as a directing
and scriptwriting tool in a student production. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis ondersoek die outeur die gebruik van improvisasie en die verskillende
metodes, tegnieke en praktiese toepassings daarvan deur moderne praktisyns.
Die tesis begin deur te kyk na die oorsprong van moderne improvisasie in die 1ge eeu toe
imporvisasie slegs tentatief deur akteurs gebruik is om vóór die produksiefase as 'n
hulpmiddel te dien om 'n karakter en persoonlike reaksies te ondersoek. Die proses het
onlangs tot een van samewerking en navorsing verander; as 'n methode tot selfontdekking,
'n hulpmiddel by teks-skepping en as 'n medium om 'n "stem te vind" vir
die 'stille meerderheid' binne 'n gegewe gemeenskap of samelewing.
Hierdie studie ondersoek ook die gebruik van improvisasie in Suid Afrika waar die
improvisasieproses in demokratiese en spanwerk vorme soos bv. werkswinkelteater en
werkersteater geïnkorporeer is, waar hulle as uiters nuttige vorme van politieke
ondersoek en -bewusmaking dien. Die studie raak ook vlugtig aan 'teater-virontwikkeling',
aangesien die praktisyns daarvan grootliks gebruik maak van
improvisasie-tegnieke en die tegnieke wat hulle gebruik redelike ooreenstem met dié van
werkswinkelteater en werkersteater.
Die finale hoofstuk verskaf 'n toepassing van die verskeie teorieë wat in die hoofgedeelte
van die tesis bespreek word, in 'n kort bespreking van die outeur se eie pogings om
improvisasie as 'n regie- en teksskeppingsinstrument in 'n studenteproduksie, te gebruik.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53461
Date12 1900
CreatorsSkordis, Ranza (Ranza Nora-J)
ContributorsHauptfleisch, T., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Drama.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format150 p.
RightsStellenbosch University

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