THE THEATRE OF THE SPECTRE, THE MEDIUM AND HUMILIATION
DATES: Tuesday, 13 to Thursday, 15 April
Participants will work with the director and dramaturg of Das Beckwerk and four British media/former actors to develop material that shall form the scenes of a new theatre - The Theatre of the Spectre, the Medium and Humiliation. The impending theatre is not the stage of art, not of mastery and magnificent performance, but the stage of humiliation. Instead of the actor, the medium comes on stage and becomes imbued with History and humbled by History. In the impending theatre, History has re-started and walks the corridors again. But not as one story alone, as many stories. All times and all places cross the impending stage and wipe out this present, every place takes place here, in this place, which is no longer a place, but just a medium.
After the first day of laboratory with Das Beckwerk, I probably have more questions than answers. Half the group have been given texts where they operate as mediums that are inhabited and which overlap with themselves as performer-selves, whilst the other participants are mostly observers of the directorial process.
ReplyDeleteThe day has thrown up a lot of questions regarding what the work is and what it results in, especially the performer/medium/person overlaps and their effects, but to say more at this stage is impossible - the next two days will be needed to delve into and search for an understanding of the work we have seen this far.
Having just finished the second laboratory session, the tables are completely turned, and we have all engaged in long and serious discussions about the problems and possibilities that arise when using actors as mediums. Humiliation, the remainder of the person when the self is taken away, and the greater cause are all issues that will be explored in the last session, when the director will hand the reigns to the laboratory participants, to test their visions and working methods on this new approach to performance and dramaturgy.
ReplyDeleteHaving just completed the three day Laboratory with Das Beckwerk, I have lost all track of who I am, what I want, what I think!! Is this the ultimate HUMILIATION?
ReplyDeleteWhen/if I find myself, I will write a more coherent article for the Blog!