Understanding performance

–          Understanding performance. A brief introduction at the recent history of theatre and the evolution of performing arts (from mid-XX Century to now). Key moments in theatre and theatre photography evolution. Referents.

Constantin Stanislavski (1863-1938) and his system: a “naturalistic” method of drawing on the actor’s own emotional memories to convey a character’s thoughts and emotions’

Antonin Artaud (1896-1948) and the Theatre of Cruelty: a plan to force the audience to shed their illusions.

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) and Epic theatre: a reaction against Stanislavski’s naturalistic method, Epic theatre makes clear that the audience is watching a play and an artifice.

Lee Strasberg (1901-1982) and Method acting: which trains actors to draw upon their own emotions and memories, to convincingly portray a part.

Jerzy Grotowski (1933–1999), who introduced the concept of “poor theatre”

Eugenio Barba, Grotowski’s disciple and founder of the Odin Theatret, introducing the concepts of theatrical anthropology.

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) and Theatre of the Absurd: in a modern world without meaning or purpose, a play’s dialogue, plot and characters give up the threads of “logic” or “message”. (related to Existentialism)

Augusto Boal (16 March 1931 – 2 May 2009) was a Brazilian theatre practitioner, drama theorist, and political activist. He was the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed, a theatrical form originally used in radical left popular education movements.

Peter Brook (21 March 1925) One of the greatest theatre directors alive, a follower of Artaud. Mahabharata 1985 changed theatre.

Robert Lepage

Robert Wilson

Pina Baush

Patrice Chereau

Sarah Kane

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