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  • 1.  Devised Theatre

    Posted 11-26-2014 09:37
    Hello all! Anyone done devised theatre before? We are embarking on the Devised Theatre journey this spring for our mainstage. I've done mini-devised theatre projects with my classes to create 15 minute shows related tot he content we're studying but I've never done anything much longer than that. I'm aiming to create something that features all of my student's unique talents but that is also interesting/ entertaining enough to keep an audience engaged for 60 - 90 minutes. I'm trying to go with something without an intermission. Anyone done anything like this before and have any feedback? Any books for this you like to use as resources? I currently have: 

    Your Handy Companion to Devising and Physical Theatre. 2nd Edition. 



    Thank-you!

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    Victoria Kesling Councill
    Theatre Teacher
    New Kent County Public Schools
    New Kent VA
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  • 2.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 11-26-2014 10:25
    The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre
    by Scott Graham and Steven Hoggett 
    printed by Rutledge

    Devised and Collaborate Theatre: A Practical Guide
    Edited by Tina Bicat and Chris Baldwin
    The Crosswood Press


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    John Perry
    Drama Instructor
    Atherton High School
    Louisville KY
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 11-27-2014 09:52
    I have directed several "built pieces" with high school casts.  We start with the question: "What do we want to say?"  Once that is decided (after considerable discussion) I assign each actor to write a monologue around the theme.  We discuss the stories that are told by the monologues and start to think "what would a conversation between these two characters be like? (based on the characters they started to develop in the monologues)  We improvise these encounters and the story starts to flesh itself out.  Often the message that we started with takes a back seat to something that evolved out of the rehearsal/ creation process.  It is a very organic process.  If you want to know more, you can email me at imbobbd@aol.com.  

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    Robert DiMartino
    Theatre Teacher
    Cumberland High School
    West Warwick RI
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 11-27-2014 12:42
    I've done lots, one each year for the past 10 years, albeit with middle school students.  In fact I am ensconced this weekend writing a script based on students material.  All our shows are 65-75 minutes with no intermission.  Here's a list of books that have inspired our work.  I have done it lots of different ways, sometimes totally using student written material, sometimes my writing a script inspired by student work, sometimes working with a theme, sometimes working off of an already existing book,(we even did a devised piece based on the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul) and sometimes starting with a blank slate, like this year.  There is no one way to devise, although I always begin with ensemble building and physical training mostly based on viewpoints and the image work from Augosto Boal via Michael Rohd's excellent book.

    The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition, Anne        Bogart and Tina Landau

    Young at Art: Classroom playbuilding in practice:  Christine Hatton and Sarah             Lovesy

    Games for Actors and Non-Actors-Augosto Boal

    Devising Theatre: A Practical and Theoretical Handbook-Alison Oddey

    The Frantic Assembly Book of Devising Theatre-Scott Graham

    Playmaking-Daniel Judah Sklar

    Strategies for Playbuilding: Helping Groups Translate Issues into Theatre --

                Will Weigler

    Theatre for Community, Conflict and Dialogue:  Michael Rohd

    House of Games-Chris Johnston

    Acting, Learning & Change:  Creating original plays with adolescents-Jan      Mandell and Jennifer Lynn Wolf

    At Play: Teaching teenagers theater-Elizabeth Swados

    I just got this one in via amazon, but haven't cracked it yet, but the title said it all.
     The Frazzled Drama Teacher's Guide to Devising

    Hope this helps

     



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    Richard Silberg
    Drama and ESL specialist
    Berkeley CA
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 11-27-2014 18:04
    Such a great way for students to explore drama and its myriad components! I look forward to following this thread and building my own library. I am away from school this weekend but will get the name of a GREAT dvd I use in my teaching that was created at the IDEA conference in (I believe) 2006--follows the students from go to whoa.

    Lori

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    Lori Constable
    Teacher; director of Drama
    Independent District 112
    Chanhassen MN
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 12-02-2014 15:54
    Being a sophomore in college, I don't have many resources to direct you toward or tricks of the trade, but I would like to offer a bit of encouragement from my experience with devised work as a student and as a director.

    In my limited experience, devised theatre is a wonderful way to educate students on the many facets of theatre arts and allow them to truly take ownership of their process and work. Devised work tends to be even more collaborative and interdependent than "traditional" work, which can often serve as a great learning experience for students. 

    I recently had the opportunity to create a summer theatre arts program at a small, local arts center in Ohio. I had a $50 budget for a three week camp with 8-12 year olds. My goal was for these students with very little prior theatrical experience to have a hand in all parts of the production process. They learned to try new things and to value all aspects of the production process, not to mention innovation, collaboration, and creativity. While it certainly may have been easier to purchase the rights to a script or to sell tickets for the community to view a classic musical, in some in instances the process is far more valuable than the product. 

    Challenge your students by allowing them to take ownership of this process. I guarantee you they will meet your expectations and surely surpass them! 

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    Jackie Kranenburg
    BFA Theatre Management
    The Theatre School at DePaul
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 12-03-2014 08:31
    When creating the idea for the devised pieces, I used exercises from Michael Rohd "Theatre for Community, Conflict and Dialogue," Augusto Boal's work in theatre of the oppressed and "Making a Leap," Theatre of Empowerment" Clifford and Herrmann in the process.

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    Charles Miller
    West Creek NJ
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Devised Theatre

    Posted 12-09-2014 11:10

    Wow, some excellent suggestions and some new reading material for me to look into!

    Recently published and so far from what I've read, has much potential is Pilar Orti's 'Your Handy Companion to Devising and Physical Theatre'.

    Last year I tried using Will Weigler's book, previously mentioned. That's an awesome resource. Unfortunately for me, I bottled because of negativity flowing from my students, and made the mistake of trying to please everybody (and invariably ended up pleasing none). Point being, devised theatre will make some of your students uncomfortable, but the greatest disservice we can do to them is to make a start on something as ground-breaking and world-changing (for them) as this, and then abandon it halfway through. In the list of greatest regrets, that will probably rank as my all time high. Gonna do better this year! Thank you for the suggestions, folks! 
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    Phillip Goodchild
    Valrico FL
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