HowlRound Theatre Commons: Imagine yourself in these situations: walking backwards through city streets following a white line; floating on your back just above forest ground, watching treetops pass overhead; establishing intimate relationships with walls and architectural landmarks; repetitively crossing paths with strangers while carrying loudspeakers; finding yourself caught in a public square among strangely walking figures as mysterious sounds move around you. These are simplified glimpses of spatially focused transdisciplinary performances that center audience experience.
I really enjoy the idea of spatially focused performance spaces. I used to work for a theater company that did most of their performances from a renovated old warehouse storage, it was a small performance space but we didn’t let that stop us from using every single spot of space in that theater, it was beautiful, we would surround the space using the loft above the audience, the walkway to the booth, the stairs of the theater, and even some times in the audience seats. This created an amazing chance for the audience and the art to really connect, when the audience gets the opportunity to connect and live in the world of the art, that is when the audience can really be affected and touched by the art and the artistic vision. I loved what the article said about letting the space have its say, and letting the art perform in the space instead of transforming the space and limiting the art.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that this style of choreography is on the rise in the theater, and it seems to be catching on positively, which is even better. The idea of human connection between the performers and the audience is on the rise, and I am totally here for it. There is a sense of immersion that comes from being on the same physical level and so close to the performers, that it makes the performance all the more impactful. While more traditional methods of both dance and performance are extremely popular and successful (such as a traditional ballet), and that is perfectly valid, we as a society need more than that. We are constantly striving for connection and seeing ourselves in the art that we consume, so that could of course point to the popularity of this immersive theater and all of the work that it is inspiring. In short, this is so exciting to see as I examine the current state of theater and where the interest is.
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