Influences from Visual theatre…

Visual theatre is a generic term that often gets thrown about along with physical theatre which it is widely argued is “virtually undefinable” (Chamberlain, 2007, p.117). However on the V & A museum web site they claim:  

 “In the 1980s companies began to experiment with a more physical type of theatre. They wanted to get away from the restraints of realistic and naturalistic drama and create an energetic visual theatre that combined strong design with choreography and physical imagery” (2013, online).

Although Alicia is choosing to use non naturalistic direction with the actors, it is the ‘strong design’ element of visual theatre that I want to apply to this production. I think it adds something special to a producation when it is visually stimulating. This also does not need to be big elaborate sets. Having seen Cambridge based company Gomito’s Before We Remember (2009) and A Merry Little Christmas (2010) it struck me how epic they made there set appear but in fact it was simply house hold rubbish and everyday items used in collaboration with an inventive lighting plan that created visually stunning pieces of theatre. Although this style is not completely appropriate with the direction of the play, I certainly want to take in to consideration aspects of it throughout the design process.     

Works Cited:

Chamberlain, Franc (2007) ‘Gesturing towards post-physical performance’, in Keefe, J and Murray, S (ed.) Physical Theatre: A Critical reader, Oxon, Routledge pp.117-122.

Gomito (2009) Before We Remember,  Junction, Cambridge.

Gomito (2010) A Merry Little Christmas, Junction, Cambridge.

V & A Museum (2013) Modern Theatre: Physical and Visual Theatre, Available at  http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/m/physical-and-visual-theatre/ (Accessed: 17/05/2013).