In Case There is a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes 1972-1982
- Submitting institution
-
Brunel University London
- Unit of assessment
- 33 - Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
- Output identifier
- 054-204599-5968
- Type
- I - Performance
- Venue(s)
- Raven Row, london
- Open access status
- -
- Month of first performance
- June
- Year of first performance
- 2017
- URL
-
https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.13365365
- Supplementary information
-
-
- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
-
4
- Research group(s)
-
4 - Theatre
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- In producing this historical research, the work offers a new interpretation and documentation of the Theatre of Mistakes’ work (1972-1982). The Theatre of Mistakes was revolutionary, because they pioneered a structure for performance art which encapsulated architecture, choreography, poetry and visual art. The research aim was an examination of the contemporary validity of the work, using a new form of direction and staging with a cast of five who played each other, as opposed to a single character, which meant that every performer had to learn all the parts and choreographies.
The research process included making use of archival material (drawings, photographs, videos, planning notes, publicity) which later become part of the exhibition to document extensively the group’s work at that time. I directed a new version of the group’s performance piece Going, with a new young cast, every weekend for the duration of the exhibition, each time with a different performer configuration.
The research findings showed that due to cast members playing each other, instead of an individual character, each performer ended up creating a role identical to that of the other performers. By adhering to this distinct structure, Going was able to adapt to a modern audience and evade any concerns regarding authenticity that sometimes emerge in other recreations of historical performance arts.
Performances and exhibitions took place at Raven Row Gallery, London from 30 June to 6 August 2017. The live elements of the exhibition revived two key stages of The Theatre of Mistakes: each afternoon, exercises from the original workshops were revisited in the galleries with open participation, and in the evening Going was performed. This enabled an exploration of the legacy of The Theatre of Mistake and its unique practice in the form of architecture, choreography and photography.
Output: Exhibition and performance
- Author contribution statement
- -
- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -
