Before arriving in the
There are some parallels between how TEART was developed and how 15 years later we are developing Dream Tale Puppets. In both cases a group of artists develops and creates unique theatrical projects, working at the same time on carving out its own place in society, gaining community support and recognition of the value of its work.
Of course, there are a lot of differences, but many creative
approaches and methods that I developed with my actors and partners in Poland Alice
TEART
ASSOCIATION - THE PROGRAMME OF THEATRICAL ACTIONS
The Association was
created in Wrocław
After five years, we have
noticed that three fields of activity of the artists associated with TEART have
developed:
- youth-addressed theatrical workshop projects;
- international projects;
- neglected court yards programmes combining workshops, visual actions and presentations addressed to children living in socially/ economically disadvantaged environments.
There are also projects that
combine all of the fields of activity mentioned above
THEATRICAL WORKSHOPS
Theatrical workshops are
addressed to people interested in getting to know and develop their creative
potential, to those who are curious about the mysteries of the actor's work,
and to those who through theatrical experience want to familiarise themselves
with the methods of developing their own personality, both its deeply hidden
nature and its outlet for self-expression. They can be valuable for everybody
to whom working with people and being creative within the group are important.
The training in
elementary acting skills constitutes the foundation. It consists of exercises
on expression and co-ordination of movement, rhythm and music-based exercises,
as well as those aimed at getting to know the elements of acrobatics and
pantomime. Some parts of the classes concentrate on voice exercises and the
clarity of enunciation, on work with a text and a song; others teach attention,
introduce the principles of work with a partner and the means of working within
a group. They allow for exercising concentration skills, shape sensitivity and
imagination, teach how to awake the creative processes of internal life, how to
handle the form of action and how to trust one's own nature.
Subsequent
meetings combine training exercises with creative tasks. As the training
progresses, work transforms into rehearsals that are completed by sessions
shaping the skills needed for the realisation of projects, and is aimed at
maintaining the correct dynamics of the group and creative processes.
We deal with
the forms of theatre of physical expression built on excerpts from literature
montaged into a collage. We work with poetry and prose, with forms based on the
elements of song and music, with the convention of visual theatre, the use of
masks and puppets as well as with the forms based on drama. We combine literary
forms with music and fine art, narration with dialogue. We use both the methods
of training the actors know from traditional education as well as those used by
alternative theatres. We also benefit from our own techniques that we have
worked out over the years. The workshops are carried out on a regular on-going
basis or in projects of several days' or weeks' duration during which the
participants and the workshop's leaders prepare theatrical realisations usually
presented to the public at the finale of the project.
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
With the cooperation of The
International Youths Meeting Centre in Wrocław Oświecim
Young actors, teachers, students
from Belarus Lithuania Germany Poland United States Ukraine
The principle of dialogue and
experience is the key for this methodology. The outcome does not consist in
performing the dramatic text; it consists in the result of the creative processes.
Usually the work is conducted in a few international groups. Each of the
leaders within these groups employs a method of training and creation that is
typical of his approach.
The actions prepared within the
groups constitute the material for common creation. The spectacles are created
from etudes, actors' actions, improvisation, songs, dances, visual objects and
puppet animations that were prepared within groups. Sometimes the workshop
groups are supported by invited professional artists.
Tasks and exercises are carried
out by the participants individually, in smaller or bigger teams and
altogether, allowing everybody to find many ways of perceiving and experiencing
oneself and others, promoting communication and creation through theatrical
action.
Theatrical methods of work
developing sensitivity, the ways of expressing oneself through word, sound,
music, and movement as well as the subjects referring to essential spheres of
values make this collective, deep experience possible. Training in acting as well as the theatrical
creative process provides many opportunities for developing self-knowledge and
self-awareness as well as getting to know partners, and the breaks between the
classes allow for spending time together more informally as well as developing
new friendships.
Difficult tasks are carried out
together, requiring accepting acceptance of mutual differences. Showing the
effects of the work to the public demonstrates the ability to communicate
through various theatre techniques despite cultural differences and barriers of
spoken language.
NEGLECTED COURTYARDS
Since November 1996, TEART
carries out the programme SPELLS at the Wroclaw
Basically, this programme consists of cycles of actions of several days'
duration, each of which aims at getting to know a given environment through
creative workshops with children, small visual arts activities and
presentations that lead to the final outdoor spectacle combining prepared
actions. Each cycle begins with meeting the children at the courtyards, schools
or day-care centres and playing with them. During these meetings, the animators
talk to children about theatre and invite them to participate in workshops.
Workshops are conducted by
actors, sculptors, painters, musicians. Children learn to design and build
puppets; they make sets, prepare etudes, improvise, rehearse scenes and songs
for the upcoming performance.
Work is conducted within two or
three days in two or three groups of ten to fifteen children. On the day
preceding the presentation of outdoor actions on a given courtyard or in its
vicinity, there is a parade in which children participate offering handouts and
invitations.
This work aims
at creating courtyard celebrations animated by theatrical actions. The tale brought to life and its language of
metaphors meet with concrete reality, its dark and light aspects. Presentation
of the spectacle constitutes the central event, in which the children take part
along with the TEART's actors and invited artists. Visual elements of the show
are also prepared by the children.
Methodology
principle in "Spells" consists in treating children as partners. The
meeting of a group of grownups with children and their work on a common task
together is essential.
In the year
2000, we started "Our Make-Believe Lands Programme". It comprises
four courtyards, takes place over a period of several weeks and includes the
work of a team of actors-animators with children from courtyards.
The presupposed
goal of this work will consist of the “Our Make-Believe Lands Festival,” which
will be prepared by the children.
