Huma Sarwat.
With in the module content of Process and Performance the genre of ‘Physical Theatre’ has been explored. ‘Physical Theatre’ is represented in a performance by using the body as a medium. Movement is much choreographed and character driven. Physical theatre most likely portrays personal and political statements.
‘The term itself-‘physical theatre’-donates a hybrid character and is testimony to its double legacy in both avant-garde theatre and dance’. Sanchez- Colberg in Keefe & Murray; 2007, p 21.
As well as the words of Sanchez-Colberg, process and performance allows the individual to understand the concept that physical theatre is a hybrid of theatre and dance; it is not dance nor theatre but a concept which allows both these factors to meet. Lloyd Newson, the founder of the physical theatre company DV8, also states that; ‘for alot of people who go and see dance, dance is not about anything. DV8 is about something’. Newson explains that physical theatre is not dance but a collaboration of movements which tell a story or challenge a whole range of social and psychological situations.
The module as a whole explores physical theatre in depth enabling students to discover different features of physical theatre. Students learn how and understand that most work is choreographic and technique based.
The module content of ‘Process and Performance’ has allowed work to be created as a balance between pedestrian gestures and choreographed style technique which has proved that physical theatre is not just masses of complex lifts and throws attempted by performers. Overall the module has explored ‘Physical Theatre’ as an art form that includes elements of character, narrative, audience and performer relationships and also relationship between the performers.
Ana Sanchez-Colberg states that physical theatre donates a ‘hybrid character’. By saying this Sanchez could be implying many things, for instance, physical theatre is neither dance nor theatre but is a term which allows all these factors to come together.
She could also be implying that physical theatre is a whole new type/style of theatre which has been formed through the means of other different styles and concept. On the other hand Sanchez could be implying that although this type of theatre contains elements from other art forms it is a stand alone style.
‘At the same time the heterogeneous diversity of forms unhinges all thoseMethodological certainties that have previously made it possible to assert large-scaleCausal developments in the arts. It is essential to accept the co-existence of divergenttheatre forms and concepts in which no paradigm is dominant’. (Simon Murray, 2007, 13). Simon Murray also describes why physical theatre is a hybrid form of art, he explains that this hybrid form is needed in today’s theatre as it allows diversity and is a development in the arts.
In my opinion physical theatre could be seen as a hybrid performance genre as it uses elements of other theatre styles. It contains a mixture of naturalistic and stylised content; also it contains elements of drama, dance, music, narrative and physical form. Although seen as a hybrid form of theatre it is still an individual genre which allows many other genres to collaborate.
There are many contemporary British performance companies which fit into the remit of physical theatre. Companies well known for there physical theatre productions are ‘Pina Bausch’, ‘Void theatre company ’,‘ DV8 physical theatre ’and‘ Jasmin Vardimon Company’. All companies are very well known for their past and up coming productions however it was the ‘DV8 physical theatre company’ which was first to take the ‘Physical Theatre’ name. Founded by Lloyd Newson in 1986 this theatre company challenged the status quo and broke many boundaries as it explored taboo subjects through physical gestures/movement and contact improvisation. Newson, who trained in ballet and studied psychology for his degree, combined both his interests to form a theatre company which explore the human mind and behaviour through using the body as a means of communication.
Newson wanted to make ‘Dance about something’ by exploring subjects such as; sexual politics, gender stereotypes, social and political issues. Newson was strongly influenced by the theatricality of Pina Bausch making his choreographic process include devising pieces with the collaboration of dancers and designers.
Physical theatre is neither dance nor drama but a form which allows different genres to come together; DV8 are a theatre company which highlight this. Newson states what he thinks dance is like compared to physical theatre, he tries to express what the aim and style of physical theatre actually is; ‘It's a bit like a beauty contest; in fact we have a beauty contest [in the show] or a physical contest. Underneath all the smiles and attractive bodies on front covers of magazines we want to know what else is going on; who has had the tucks, who is hiding their faults’.
It can be argued that DV8 deserves the title of physical theatre as all its concepts fit in with the requirements of the physical theatre genre.
Bibliography;
Sanchez- Colberg in Keefe & Murray; 2007, p 21.
http://www.dv8.co.uk/about_dv8/interview_article_19_lloyd_newson_and_dv8.
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