Improvisation Technique

I’ve been improvising in various different forms for many years but I learnt my favourite improvisational technique with a playwright called Iain Heggie. The initial purpose of Heggie’s improvisations was to teach basic acting techniques, but in my opinion they taught me as much about the nature of improvisation itself. The way one of his improvisations worked was as follows.

1) Each character in the scene (usually just two initially) would have an objective. This was something they really wanted and needed.

2) Each character was then given an obstacle to make it harder for them to achieve their objective.

3) A time pressure was added to raise the stakes and create a sense of urgency.

Heggie decided on the character’s objectives, obstacles and situations which he wrote on sheets of paper which the improvisers memorised briefly and secretly before the scene started. Because Iain Heggie is a playwright the scenes are well structured and (if you follow the impro rules) they play out very successfully. Also a lot of comedy usually comes from the conflict between characters even without the performers having to try at all. By following the objectives and genuinely trying to get what you want out of the other character you remain in the moment and the scene is fresh, funny and enjoyable. It also stops you from playing emotional states which personally I can’t stand and I think is incredibly self indulgent. Also the improvisations are not about gags or stealing the limelight as each performer’s attention is focussed on each other in an attempt to achieve their objectives.

This style of improvisation is really exhilarating, not least because the information is kept secret from each other so genuine surprise and shock often occurs. The time pressure keeps the pace and the energy up and I fully recommend it as a technique.

Get ready for the Fringes!

The harsh winter is finally fading away, Spring is blooming all around us and my mind is turning to all things ‘Fringe’. As a theatre lover, and sometime performer myself, I love theatre and there is nothing that appeals to me than the experimental, often part improvised, work that abounds at Fringes. That’s not to say that I have anything against big theatres and epic productions of the classics from Shakespeare, Chekhov, Brecht and the like but in my opinion seeing something that is completely new is an exhilarating experience.

We have now crashed into the Fringe season itself which kicked off this year at Brighton, from 1^st to 23^rd May, and will be followed by the fringe festival of Buxton from 7^th to 25^th July and finally the king of all fringes worldwide at Edinburgh from 6^th to 30^th August. Alongside these well established fringes will be local fringes covering the length and breadth of the United Kingdom with notable events due to be held in Oxford and London.

As a performer at the Buxton Fringe myself this summer, I will be performing my soon-to-be-award-winning poetry show, I am especially looking forward to the huge variety of theatrical performances that are on show in this beautiful Derbyshire town this summer. And that, in a word, is the key to the appeal of a fringe: variety! Whilst the larger regional theatres stick rigidly to the classics and a regular smattering of Alan Ayckbourn farces, anything goes at the fringes, some shows are even performed in storage units! Shows that I am particularly looking forward to seeing at Buxton this year include:

Shakespeare’s Guide To Women (Whose Shoes Theatre) - a drama about Sheakespeare encountering problems with the women in his plays, like Shakespeare in love with a wicked twist.

The Ring Of Stones (T-Chi Productions) - a musical centred around the terror that fell over the infamous ’plague village'of Eyam, near to Buxton itself.

The Inconsistent Whisper Of Insanity (Black Box Theatre) - a startling new play by the upcoming Manchester playwright Ian Moore examines how a man pieces together fragments of a life that he’s lost, performed by Fringe specialists Black Box.

For the traditionalist there will be modern, fun interpretations of Shakespeare as well as revivals of past Broadway hits, but to me the shows above are the essence of what makes a fringe great! There are no excuses this summer, head to Edinburgh or head to Buxton, hit the fringe and broaden your theatrical horizons!

Fringe Review: Accidental Death of an Anarchist

The Theater production “Accidental Death of An Anarchist’ written by Dario Fo, an Italian Nobel prize winner and directed by Ben Landler has the right combination of wit, politics and self conscience. The script is filled with never-ending fun and opting for this play is an entertaining and enjoyable pastime that will keep a person engaged for a few hours, which is a nice change because normally when I watch a theatre show with a name as pretentious as this I find myself thinking about all the things I have to do the next day and which Kilburn flats and houses for rent I like.

The storyline deals with an anarchist who suddenly dies by plunging out from a police tower. The outcome is tantamount to accidental suicide that turns out to be an ambiguous term. After a short while a manic enters the scene for questioning. She is known for her successful and elaborate disguises and her mind blowing intelligent schemes. The main story focuses on the decision of this woman who decides to emulate the high court judge to resolve the mystery of that fateful night and to find out the reason that led to the mysterious death of the anarchist. She takes this to be her biggest challenge and whatever follows in the commotion is a drama that slowly exposes deceit, truth and ultimately the downfalls of the political system.

The role of the maniac has been well essayed by Ronni Thomas Osbourne. She has a very demanding role and successfully does justice to it with a great physical spot on and applaudable comic timing. She stands out from the rest of the cast who though act well do not have the same potential as her.

The play has one interval that starts at the right time and the direction has a pretty strong appeal. The script has been well written and it also works very well for the audience. The production is a very enjoyable piece that will keep the audience fully engaged and also entertained for long hours at a stretch.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Those involved in the fringe society of the performing and visual art world know all about the Edinburgh Festival Fringe . Hosted annually in August in Edinburgh, Scotland, Edinburgh Festival is the largest of it’s kind in the entire world. Those that attend can enjoy strolling through the arts and crafts market or take in the different performances throughout the day. There is no other place to see musicals, dance, opera, theatre, children’s shows, comedy shows, exhibitions and amazing musicians.

In 2009, the Edinburgh Festival boasted the largest turn-out ever. If you are a street performer interested in becoming a part of this entertaining festival there are currently spaces available for 2010. Clear your calendar for 6-30 August which is the current time period for the 2010 festival. There are multiple types of performers that are accepted at the festival. There are those that are members of the Fringe, street performer positions, Buskers, Living Statues, Balloon artists as well as other spaces for those that specialize hair braiding, face-painting or the like.

Not a performer but want to work the festival anyway? There are numerous ways to help out and get paid. Currently there are five different types of positions open with a number of the positions requiring up to four people. There are openings for Street Event Stewards, Fringe Central and Events Deputies, Fringe Central Supervisors, Arts Assistants and Fringe Central Stewards. These jobs involve a variety of responsibilities from creating a safe environment for festival goers and performers to coordinating the events and acts so that things run smoothly and on time. Those interested must be prepared to work in a fast-paced and high-stress environment.

Whether a member of the arts community or simply someone fascinated by a variety of arts and artists, this is festival worth attending. Mark your calendars for the 6-30 August of this year for a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland for this one-of-a-kind festival. There is little chance that you will be disappointed as this festival has taken place since 1947. It has grown in professionalism and size over the last sixty-three years, that’s almost enough to make anyone reconsider their ski hotels trip in favour of the fringe this year!

What about the witches of Oz?

Everyone has seen the Wizard of Oz but did you ever wonder where the wicked witch and the good witch came from? If you have not read the book wicked chances are you are missing out on the best back-story ever. When I read that they had turned the book into a theatre production I had to go see it. Knowing the back-story behind the witches of oz made me feel even more attached to the original story. Seeing the story brought to life in theatre was a fantastic experience.

The theatre version does not let you down even after reading the book. The run time was two and a half hours with a 15-minute intermission. Although that may seem like a long time to be sitting there you will hardly notice the time as it flies by. The musical was very fluid and did not make me feel like I was just waiting for any part of it to be over. They managed to change the normal storage unit of the theatre stage into a wonderful, magical environment. When it was finished I was sad to see it end.

I really think I could have sat and watched it again. If you have children that loved the wizard of oz you may want to consider taking them as well. You should just make sure they are over the age of eight. Younger kids do not seem to have the patience to sit through something that is this long. I also know that in the theatre I watched the performance in there was a minimum age for entry.

You should check with your local theatre that you are attending before purchasing tickets to be sure they are available. There were quite a few children at the show I attended and they seemed awestruck staring at the stage. Watching wicked can definitely be an event that the whole family will never forget.

Chicago is a musical worth seeing

Chicago is one of the greatest musicals ever released. It keeps you on the tip of your toes with the suspense of never knowing what is coming next. It is the story of some women who are for the most part murderers. It focuses on a specific women to begin with. It tells her story about how she killed her husband and shows her trip from her home to jail. She hires a lawyer who gives her all of his attention while she is in the limelight. As soon as the light shines on someone else he turns his back on her, and she is left trying to put the perfect c fold into her own laundry again.

While in jail the lady meets some other amazing women. When you first meet them you are entranced with their beauty. These women are stunning and captivating. Their voices are amazing and their dancing is beautiful. They sing and dance their stories across the stage with elegance. The women are featured in jail and tell how and why they killed the people they killed. The sing and dance while they explain. There is one woman that clings to her innocence saying that she did not kill anyone. The rest of the women admit to killing and do not apologize or regret their actions.

There is a lot of drama in this musical. There is a famous woman who is locked up with the star. She offers to match up with the main character to be a duo so they can both be famous. She helps her to get the light back on her so that the lawyer will help her. In the end the musical is very good. You will feel for these murderers and in some ways may even side with them. You get to see it from another light and get some laughs, cries, and understanding from this musical.