22nd October 2013
BRECHT (1898 - 1956): EPIC THEATRE
- Theatre of reform: Using drama to change the political and social structure of our world
- Epic theatre: a story, usually historical, told on a large scale, over a long period
- Theatrical propaganda... Brecht compared his plays to scientific experiments: human behaviours are studied to show why they happened and how that behaviour can be improved
- Brecht wanted to change people's minds - showing them the flaws in society and inspiring them to set out to make a difference
- Brechtian techniques remind the audience that they are observers in a play watching evens that are happening - the relationship of the actor and the audience is the polar opposite to the intent of Artaud.
- Plays move in a series of independent scenes, often skipping years or moving from place to place (episodic structure)
- "Alienation" of the audience - Brecht's intention was to take away from the character or an event anything that made them familiar and relatable. The aim of this was to constantly surprise and challenge the audience, while reminding them that they were watching a story with a strong political point.
- Narrator, song, signs with information/notices or comments about the action or character, large props (grotesque) - all techniques to emphasize the fact that the audience has come to watch a play - no illusions, backstage/lighting are partially visible, set changes happening without disguise
- Strong symbolic gestures, characters were strongly physicalised, stylised actions. Robotic, mechanical, dreamlike and other non-realistic movements and voice; using contrasting styles of acting to portray a message. Actors perform with the awareness of the audience and a mindset that they are being watched, breaking the fourth wall
- Voice - sing, chant, use mechanical and strange sounding voices, produce non-human sounds and speak in a range of dialects and class accents.
- This theatre form can be a mixture of naturalistic and unnatural style
DIALOGUE
Introduction to Cut Piece
Good evening ladies and gentlemen! My name is Samantha Ryu. I hope you are enjoying the Year 13 Devised Drama performances. As you can see, I have a pair of very sharp scissors in my hand. I invite you in the audience to make seven cuts in my dress, any size and anywhere you please. Please come up one at a time. Each person is only limited to one cut.
Yoko’s Interview
Joining us today in the studio is artist and musician Yoko Ono. Yoko, how do you feel in regards to all the negative comments about about you in the media?
Well, you think you know me but you don’t you know, every body just point their finger and claim they know people but they really don’t. Our brain tells the body what to do and how to be. So the brain is the one. Just like that you know. And you know what, we are all together, and we are ah a thing called life, together. It’s great, it’s really great.
What has it been like, aging as a widower?
When you start to go into later life, you don’t lose anything. You have your childhood, your um uh teenage period and uh your youth, and all that is still in me. And each day I’m feeling it. So there are many levels of age in me, I may not have many days left but every day is precious you know, and I’m enjoying every day.
If John Lennon was alive today, what do you think he would be like?
Yeah everybody always asks me about John. Well I think he would’ve been very strong going and very strong, and uh uh creative still, but I think he would be very, very interested in playing the computer because uh he always jumped onto some uh the new media and that’s a very interesting media. We were saying global village, it’s gona be a global village in the sixties and he would be saying “I told you so” or “Let’s go, you know, do it” And communicating with the whole world with the computer I think. I feel like we are still partners, we are together still.
If you could get one message across to the whole world, what would it be?
It’s time for action. The action is peace.
That’s all we have time for – thank you so much Yoko for joining us today, we wish you the best of luck for your next project…
(Fade to black)
Good evening ladies and gentlemen! My name is Samantha Ryu. I hope you are enjoying the Year 13 Devised Drama performances. As you can see, I have a pair of very sharp scissors in my hand. I invite you in the audience to make seven cuts in my dress, any size and anywhere you please. Please come up one at a time. Each person is only limited to one cut.
Yoko’s Interview
Joining us today in the studio is artist and musician Yoko Ono. Yoko, how do you feel in regards to all the negative comments about about you in the media?
Well, you think you know me but you don’t you know, every body just point their finger and claim they know people but they really don’t. Our brain tells the body what to do and how to be. So the brain is the one. Just like that you know. And you know what, we are all together, and we are ah a thing called life, together. It’s great, it’s really great.
What has it been like, aging as a widower?
When you start to go into later life, you don’t lose anything. You have your childhood, your um uh teenage period and uh your youth, and all that is still in me. And each day I’m feeling it. So there are many levels of age in me, I may not have many days left but every day is precious you know, and I’m enjoying every day.
If John Lennon was alive today, what do you think he would be like?
Yeah everybody always asks me about John. Well I think he would’ve been very strong going and very strong, and uh uh creative still, but I think he would be very, very interested in playing the computer because uh he always jumped onto some uh the new media and that’s a very interesting media. We were saying global village, it’s gona be a global village in the sixties and he would be saying “I told you so” or “Let’s go, you know, do it” And communicating with the whole world with the computer I think. I feel like we are still partners, we are together still.
If you could get one message across to the whole world, what would it be?
It’s time for action. The action is peace.
That’s all we have time for – thank you so much Yoko for joining us today, we wish you the best of luck for your next project…
(Fade to black)
8th October 2013
I want to construct my devised piece in to three parts -
Incorporating ideas and features specific to theatre practitioner Artaud:
Starting the drama through the perception of Ono through the world's eyes, I want to begin with her artwork "Cut Piece". I will directly involve the audience by inviting them to come and cut a fraction of my clothing one by one, challenging their motives and instilling power onto the audience by giving them permission to directly "abuse" me. This will confront the audience as they will undergo a mental conflict whether to take part in the activity or remain a bystander, no one will speak up and question the performance. This reveals a universal truth about human beings, that we are consumed by the fear of denying the norm and straying from the masses.
Amalgamation of voice overs and music to establish the atmosphere - brooding. Wandering through the audience, evoking a sense of rejection and disdain. Using "show-me boards" to write derogatory and offensive messages parallel to the voiceover, I will wander angrily and manically in the space to reflect the world's hatred towards Ono. Then I will move into a repetitive movement on the floor, swinging my arms and whacking the floor to represent the cyclic nature of Ono's world.
Moving into the second part of the piece, I will conduct an interview (verbatim/monologue) between Ono and an imaginary interviewer. Studying Ono's exact movements and tone of voice, I will expose Ono's personal thoughts and feelings, letting her guard/wall down to show the world who she views herself to be. I will quote directly from her interviews, pausing to listen to the interviewer and using silence.
Lastly, I want to reveal Ono in an objective light, as an artist, a wife and woman. This being said, Ono's life has been consumed by her love for John Lennon. I want to clearly state the words, ""I DEDICATE THIS LIGHT TOWER TO JOHN LENNON. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS FOREVER. Yoko Ono October 9th 2007" to address her love, supported by lighting to represent the light tower.
Ending: Coming back to the artwork "Cut Piece", I will make my own cuts out of my clothing and hold the scissors out to the audience to challenge them. Coming full circle to the beginning, this will be a confrontational way of ending my devised drama.
- Perception of Ono through the world's eyes
- Perception of Ono through her own eyes
- Perception of Ono through my eyes
Incorporating ideas and features specific to theatre practitioner Artaud:
- Artaud wanted to change the world by a direct assault on human emotions
- "Theatre of Cruelty" does not mean "physical" cruelty but rather a confrontation/attack on our emotions. My intention is to shock the audience and involve them in the drama.
- Magic, beauty and power
- Existentialism; no belief in a deity or fate and instead we are what we make of ourselves. Artaud had a negative and pessimistic (or in his opinion, pragmatic) view of the world, the world world is full of lies, aimlessness and hypocrisy.
- Life = Theatre ... Artaud believed the world could be changed through his theatre.
- Stylised movement, gesture, dance, music and costume inspired by Balinese dancers - they communicated feelings about human mysteries of creation, growth and death in ways words could not express.
- Heavy physical theatre to echo the way a "hypnotist hypnotises the audience as a shake-charmer hypnotises a snake". Forcing a trance like state on the audience to shock them into confronting themselves and their way of life.
- Minimal use of words, only when absolutely necessary
- Assaulting the senses to break through the insensitivity of people using light, music and sound, as well as using acting techniques to directly involve the audience in the action and emotion
- Use of masks, ritual objects, traditional and striking costumes to remove the audience from their tedious routine of daily life. No scenery, just symbolic props/objects (sometimes distorted to be things they are not).
- Deliberate cruelty: terrifying, violent and shocking actions and images to pulverise the audience's feelings. Changing the way people perceive themselves and the world around them
Starting the drama through the perception of Ono through the world's eyes, I want to begin with her artwork "Cut Piece". I will directly involve the audience by inviting them to come and cut a fraction of my clothing one by one, challenging their motives and instilling power onto the audience by giving them permission to directly "abuse" me. This will confront the audience as they will undergo a mental conflict whether to take part in the activity or remain a bystander, no one will speak up and question the performance. This reveals a universal truth about human beings, that we are consumed by the fear of denying the norm and straying from the masses.
Amalgamation of voice overs and music to establish the atmosphere - brooding. Wandering through the audience, evoking a sense of rejection and disdain. Using "show-me boards" to write derogatory and offensive messages parallel to the voiceover, I will wander angrily and manically in the space to reflect the world's hatred towards Ono. Then I will move into a repetitive movement on the floor, swinging my arms and whacking the floor to represent the cyclic nature of Ono's world.
Moving into the second part of the piece, I will conduct an interview (verbatim/monologue) between Ono and an imaginary interviewer. Studying Ono's exact movements and tone of voice, I will expose Ono's personal thoughts and feelings, letting her guard/wall down to show the world who she views herself to be. I will quote directly from her interviews, pausing to listen to the interviewer and using silence.
Lastly, I want to reveal Ono in an objective light, as an artist, a wife and woman. This being said, Ono's life has been consumed by her love for John Lennon. I want to clearly state the words, ""I DEDICATE THIS LIGHT TOWER TO JOHN LENNON. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS FOREVER. Yoko Ono October 9th 2007" to address her love, supported by lighting to represent the light tower.
Ending: Coming back to the artwork "Cut Piece", I will make my own cuts out of my clothing and hold the scissors out to the audience to challenge them. Coming full circle to the beginning, this will be a confrontational way of ending my devised drama.
19th August 2013
Yoko Ono in 3 parts:
1) How she views herself
2) How the world views her
3) How I view her
1) How she views herself
2) How the world views her
3) How I view her
15th August 2013
BRAINSTORM
- Possible theme to explore, "The Power of love in bringing out the best of human nature"; "Perception and its alignment with reality"
- The love between Yoko and John - John was "the only man Yoko ever loved."
- "Bed Peace", "Hair Piece" Grow your hair for peace!
- PEACE - "Let us come together to realize a peaceful world. Love is our energy, wisdom is our power. It's time to shed light to all corners of the world. Enjoy the trip we make together."
- IMAGINE PEACE TOWER: memorial to John Lennon located in Iceland. This piece of sculpture has "Imagine Peace" carved in 24 different languages, which is a reference to John's song Imagine. "I DEDICATE THIS LIGHT TOWER TO JOHN LENNON. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS FOREVER. Yoko Ono October 9th 2007"
- Art: "Cut Piece" [Inviting the audience to snip her clothes piece by piece]
"Voice Piece for the Soprano and Wish Tree" At Museum of Modern Art, Summer 2010 [SCREAM 1)against the wind 2)against the wall 3)against the sky]
- "I thought art was a verb, rather than a noun"
- Suffering: falling from class to poverty, "great wealth to begging for food". Unsuccessful marriage and losing custody of her daughter, Kyoko. Hated by the whole world - blamed for breaking up the Beatles. Her art was rejected and frowned upon by the masses. John's affair with May Ping (his PA - although Yoko had arranged this to test John's faith). JOHN'S DEATH - Saw the glass shatter by the bullet, created a corresponding artwork of fracture glass in memory of his death. Is currently working on various Peace projects and art inspired by John, yet friends note that Yoko is not fully happy.
- "I am never afraid. A lot of things have been thrown at me in life and I've got through it all without a rule book, taking it one day at a time. You can't plan in life, you just have to try to do the best with what life gives you. John taught me to laugh a lot at life, and I do."
- Possible theme to explore, "The Power of love in bringing out the best of human nature"; "Perception and its alignment with reality"
- The love between Yoko and John - John was "the only man Yoko ever loved."
- "Bed Peace", "Hair Piece" Grow your hair for peace!
- PEACE - "Let us come together to realize a peaceful world. Love is our energy, wisdom is our power. It's time to shed light to all corners of the world. Enjoy the trip we make together."
- IMAGINE PEACE TOWER: memorial to John Lennon located in Iceland. This piece of sculpture has "Imagine Peace" carved in 24 different languages, which is a reference to John's song Imagine. "I DEDICATE THIS LIGHT TOWER TO JOHN LENNON. MY LOVE FOR YOU IS FOREVER. Yoko Ono October 9th 2007"
- Art: "Cut Piece" [Inviting the audience to snip her clothes piece by piece]
"Voice Piece for the Soprano and Wish Tree" At Museum of Modern Art, Summer 2010 [SCREAM 1)against the wind 2)against the wall 3)against the sky]
- "I thought art was a verb, rather than a noun"
- Suffering: falling from class to poverty, "great wealth to begging for food". Unsuccessful marriage and losing custody of her daughter, Kyoko. Hated by the whole world - blamed for breaking up the Beatles. Her art was rejected and frowned upon by the masses. John's affair with May Ping (his PA - although Yoko had arranged this to test John's faith). JOHN'S DEATH - Saw the glass shatter by the bullet, created a corresponding artwork of fracture glass in memory of his death. Is currently working on various Peace projects and art inspired by John, yet friends note that Yoko is not fully happy.
- "I am never afraid. A lot of things have been thrown at me in life and I've got through it all without a rule book, taking it one day at a time. You can't plan in life, you just have to try to do the best with what life gives you. John taught me to laugh a lot at life, and I do."
12th August 2013
Today in class we were asked to think of a specific moment in our lives which had great impact - without any sound. We were asked to perform this moment to an audience of two others and comment on the emotions that were emanated from our portrayal of the scene. The first and obvious moment for me was when my dear John passed - it was a life changing moment and this was the memory that I portrayed. I could remember clearly the doctor informing me of my husband's death - I remember saying, "Oh no, no, no, no , no... Tell me this is not true!" I felt very faint and laid on the ground, repeatedly banging my head on the floor. I felt my body go into waves of shock and trauma as I processed the information. Soon after, the nurses gave me the wedding ring John was wearing, and I felt a wave of ease rush through me. Although inside I still felt very grieved and torn, the sight of the wedding ring made me feel in control of my body again and I managed to keep my composure as I was escorted out. I was brought up to be conservative and introverted by my parents.
The two people I showed this piece to were clearly able to understand the emotion I was trying to convey (trauma and despair) through my actions. They were able to comprehend the moment I portrayed. We were then asked to create a contrasting moment in our lives that also had impact, incorporating voice this time as well as movement. I chose a performance involving singing and dancing crazily. Performing makes me very happy and every single performance is an important event in my life.
I feel as though this was an eye-opening and helpful exercise as it made me question the necessity of words in conveying emotion. From the exercise I managed to come to a conclusion that movement is a powerful element in expressing emotion. I have also created two contrasting moments which I could develop for my devised piece.
The two people I showed this piece to were clearly able to understand the emotion I was trying to convey (trauma and despair) through my actions. They were able to comprehend the moment I portrayed. We were then asked to create a contrasting moment in our lives that also had impact, incorporating voice this time as well as movement. I chose a performance involving singing and dancing crazily. Performing makes me very happy and every single performance is an important event in my life.
I feel as though this was an eye-opening and helpful exercise as it made me question the necessity of words in conveying emotion. From the exercise I managed to come to a conclusion that movement is a powerful element in expressing emotion. I have also created two contrasting moments which I could develop for my devised piece.