ARTAUD The Move Away from the Text

They always want to hear about … I want to give them the experience itself Religious Ritual Change in attitude to life Transformation of society

“The director becomes author … that is to say creator” Director’s theatre Destroy dualism between play and production Drama as process

A performance should only seem to be improvised and merely “give us the impression of not only being unexpected but also unrepeatable”

Method The playwright would disappear A variety of sounds and vocalisations would be used Meaning would be communicated instantly through : Gesture Colour Sound Light Physicality Costume

The Actor Ensemble theatre – no stars The actor would be part of the spectacle He would need to be accomplished in order to use the signs, gestures, expressions and physicality required Breathing – speak on a breath in, or out, or held, placing voice in head, chest or diaphragm Create colour and texture, not naturalism

In Practice – Les Cenci 1935 Used text based on Shelley’s script Aimed to reduce significance of words

Set Partly realistic, partly abstract version of a castle Lofty ladders, columns, nets and scaffolding behind it Indoor/outdoor suggested by stairways, arches, balustrades – but half height

Costume Symbolic colours: green for envy, yellow for evil/death. Internal body features stitched onto outside of men’s costumes Faintly Elizabethan style

Direction/Acting Formalised like a dance Precise blocking – floor space mapped out with crayon on paper Showed paths crossing, circling, still points In banquet scene imitated animals Actors struck poses – each pose to suggest a state of feeling Moved artificially

Direction/Acting continued Cast actors willing to be directed Used silent film acting as model Silence speaks! Assassins to behave like robots His own movements – jerky Extreme physical manifestation of emotion Dummies on stage among live actors

Sound Included sound effects and speech Text intoned, sung, groaned, shouted, whispered, wheezed, howled Method often in opposition to meaning Variety of sound effects (see chart)

Follow up Work Read the two final essays in your green text Look particularly at the photos of Les Cenci – look at the set, light, costume and stances