Riding the Elephant
Host of Montreal's top-rated English radio talk show, Neil McKenty appeared rational, balanced and a calming influence in any crisis. Would anyone have believed that this sparkling public figure was very different behind closed doors?They met on the dance floor: he, a former Jesuit priest, she, grand-daughter of a two-time mayor of Toronto. Raised by her single mother, Catharine left the staid life of tea-parties for reconciliation work in post-war Europe. As a journalist for Pace, a magazine for adventurous youth of the 1960s, she conquered Los Angeles from the wheel of a pink Jaguar, unearthing a scoop that resulted in a best-selling book and Hollywood movie.Friends applauded that Catharine had found her intellectual equal. When her new husband's outbursts began, she attributed it to the stresses of married life. People knew little about mental illness in those days. It was far too uncomfortable to talk about. The word bipolar was virtually unknown.Together the McKentys wrote two best-selling books, rubbed shoulders with prime ministers, and worked closely with spiritual elites. Sandwiched between the couple's many accomplishments were Neil's suicidal depression and Catharine's desperate attempts to cope.Catharine examines the influences that helped her to maintain her sanity and the sanctity of marriage with a talented and troubled husband. She aims to empower others who care deeply about someone affected with bipolar disorder.
Using Open Scenes to Act Successfully on Stage and Screen
Using Open Scenes as a "way in" to scripted material, this book establishes a foundational actor training methodology that can be applied to the performance of film or television acting, commercials, and theatrical realism. This book will appeal to undergraduate students, acting teachers, and the contemporary actor.
New Dramaturgies of Contemporary Opera
This book is the first and only book that approaches the dramaturgy of contemporary opera from the unique perspectives of living practitioners who provide valuable first-hand insight into the coming into being of an opera today.
The Routledge Companion to Theatre and Performance
The Companion provides an accessible, informative and engaging introduction to important people and companies, events, concepts and practices that have defined the complementary fields of theatre and performance studies. This third edition has been updated to now include over 160 entries, with all entries updated and new topics added.
The Routledge Companion to Musical Theatre
Global in scope and featuring thirty-five chapters from more than fifty dance, music, and theatre scholars and practitioners, The Routledge Companion to Musical Theatre introduces the fundamentals of musical theatre studies and highlights developing global trends in practice and scholarship.
Sacred Rites
Sacred Rites documents the author's personal experiences with the transformative ritual medium of Paratheatre that he has developed since 1977. Through his private ritual journals written over eleven years (2000-2011), Alli bypasses historical definitions of ritual beyond the costumed spectacles of the robes and wands of Western occult ceremonial magick, the archaic history of pagan nature rites, and the somber pomp of the Catholic High Mass with its wafers, cheap wine, and sermons chanted in the dead language of Latin. His Production Notes explain how his ritual labs transformed into public performances, and inspired the creation of his underground films. Also featured are Ritual Journal Entries of a dozen individuals who trained with Antero, plus an outline for the facilitating Introductory Workshops.
Sweet Smell Of Sockcess - Putting A Show On At The Edinburgh Fringe
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre took their first comedy show to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2007. And they never stopped. This exhaustive, and exhausting, diary by their creator and performer Kev F Sutherland takes you behind the scenes of writing, staging, promoting, performing, and recovering from the rigmarole of putting on an Edinburgh show. Read all the reviews, rub shoulders with the celebrities, and read all the rather boring sales figures and the self-obsessed over-analysis of a lot of silly gagsfrom the Socks' shows from 2009to 2014. This is a vital book for anyone thinking of taking a show to Edinburgh, and for historians of comedy in the UK over the last two decades. And if you are Socks fans, god help you, you'll learn a little bit about what makes the boys tick.
The Rivals A Comedy
"The Rivals" is a five-act comedy play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It premiered on January 17, 1775, at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. Known for its witty dialogue, humorous characters, and satirical take on romantic relationships and societal norms, "The Rivals" remains a staple of English comedic theatre. The play is set in Bath, England, a popular social and leisure destination during the 18th century. The play revolves around the romantic entanglements and misunderstandings among the characters. Jack Absolute must navigate his dual identity to win Lydia's affection while dealing with his father's arranged marriage plans. Lydia's romantic fantasies lead her to reject Jack when she discovers his true identity, as she believes it lacks the drama and defiance she desires. Mrs. Malaprop's comedic misuse of language provides humor and insight into the character's pretensions and aspirations. The subplot involving Faulkland and Julia explores themes of trust and jealousy in relationships. The play concludes with the resolution of misunderstandings, the reconciliation of couples, and the exposure of true intentions, leading to a series of humorous and satisfying outcomes. The Rivals" is celebrated for its lively characters, clever dialogue, and comedic situations. It remains a popular play in theatre repertoires world. The character of Mrs. Malaprop has become iconic, with her name giving rise to the term "malapropism" to describe the misuse of words.
Fanny's First Play
Fanny's First Play is a comedy that ingeniously incorporates a play within a play to offer a sharp social critique of Edwardian society. Written by the master satirist George Bernard Shaw, the play explores themes of family dynamics, youth rebellion, censorship, gender roles, and generational conflict, all while, maintaining a humorous tone. The central narrative of Fanny's First Play revolves around the young and spirited Fanny, who writes her first play and arranges for it to be performed anonymously. The action unfolds with a group of theatre critics invited to watch this play, unaware of its author's identity, which sets the stage for a satirical examination of the critical establishment and societal norms. The play addresses the theme of censorship through its depiction of the anonymous presentation of Fanny's work. Shaw critiques the societal and institutional forces that suppress creative expression and limit artistic freedom. Fanny's First Play is a clever and entertaining work that combines humor with sharp social commentary. Through its satire and engaging narrative, the play invites audiences to reflect on the societal norms and values of the time, making it a timeless piece that continues to resonate with contemporary viewers.
Getting Married
"Getting Married" by Bernard Shaw is a satirical play that delves into the institution of marriage, examining its impact on individuals and society. Through sharp and witty dialogue, Shaw critiques the social norms and gender roles associated with marriage, exploring how these roles shape romantic and marital relationships. The play serves as a social critique, reflecting Shaw's views on the need for reform in societal attitudes towards marriage. It humorously addresses contemporary issues, highlighting the conflict between traditional expectations and modern sensibilities. The characters are developed with a focus on their personal growth and the dynamics within their relationships, showcasing Shaw's exploration of marriage as both a personal and societal institution. Shaw uses satire to challenge conventional beliefs and provoke thought about the nature of marriage, social expectations, and individual desires. The play blends comedy with drama, offering a reflection on modern attitudes and the philosophical questions surrounding marriage and social reform. Through its critical examination of marriage, "Getting Married" remains a relevant and insightful commentary on societal norms and personal relationships.
The School For Scandal
"The School for Scandal" is a comedy of manners play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It premiered at Drury Lane Theatre in London on May 8, 1777. The play is a quintessential example of Sheridan's wit and his keen observation of social behavior, satirizing the gossip and hypocrisy prevalent in high society. The play is set in 18th-century London, primarily in the fashionable drawing rooms of its characters The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements and deceptions among the characters, particularly focusing on the Surface brothers and Lady Teazle. Sir Oliver Surface disguises himself to test the true natures of his nephews, Charles and Joseph. He finds Charles to be generous and kind-hearted despite his financial recklessness, while Joseph is exposed as a hypocrite and a villain. Lady Teazle, initially drawn to the allure of high society and flirtation with Joseph Surface, eventually realizes the value of her husband, Sir Peter. The play concludes with the exposure of the various schemes and the reconciliation of the main characters, particularly the Teazles and the Surface brothers.
Space, the Feminist Frontier
For nearly 60 years, Star Trek has imagined humanity's future while reflecting its present. Star Trek: The Original Series debuted with three male leads, but in the wake of a Trek renaissance that began with Star Trek: Discovery in 2017, additional series have explored the frontiers of representation, making the present moment ripe for new critical engagement and thoughtful reflection on the narratives that have shaped the journey thus far. Using the lens of feminist criticism and theory, this collection of essays presents a diverse array of academic and fan scholars engaging with the past, present, and future of Star Trek. Contributors consider issues like Klingon marriage, Majel Barrett's legacy, the Bechdel-Wallace test, LGBTQ+ representation, and more. They offer updated readings on legacy characters while also addressing wholly new characters like Michael Burnham, Beckett Mariner, and Adira Tal. Their essays provide some of the first critical examinations of the newest additions to the Trek franchise, including Picard, Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks.
Transcultural Theater
Transcultural Theater outlines the idea of a transcultural theater as enabling an approximation to and an interaction with the foreign and the alien. This book is for scholars and students as well as for all those working in the cultural field, especially in the field of cultural transfer.
Applied Theatre and the Sustainable Development Goals
This book is the first definitive publication to consider the intersections of applied theatre and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a series of goals which have shaped development and social justice initiatives from 2015-2030.
Revolutionary Messages
Published here in its entirety in English, Artaud's Revolutionary Messages collects Antonin Artaud's political, aesthetic and philosophical writings during his travels to Mexico in 1936. Written around the same time as his seminal work The Theatre and its Double, it captures a crucial point in Artaud's life shortly before he was admitted to a mental asylum in which he was to spend a significant part of his later life. Revolutionary Messages contains conferences that Artaud gave at the University of Mexico, articles from the daily Mexican newspaper El Nacional Revolucionario and a study of three seminal artists of the time influenced by or from Mexico: Franz Hals, Ortiz Monasterio and Maria Izquierdo. Not only will you gain crucial insight into Artaud's time in Mexico and his vision of a "total revolution," which he places in distinction to Marxist and Surrealist conceptions of revolution, but you will deepen your understanding of the philosophical roots of his theatrical project, which ultimately shaped modern theatre and dance. The publication includes an introduction by the translator, Joel White, and a preface by Professor of European Philosophy, Howard Caygill.
Feminism, Dramaturgy, and the Contemporary British History Play
When we think of the contemporary British history play, why might we automatically think of playwrights such as David Hare, Howard Brenton, Peter Gill and Edward Bond? Because for decades the writing of the history play has been the preserve of the white male. This book provides a vital feminist intervention into the dramaturgy of history plays, investigating work produced at major British theatres from 2000 to the present, written by a generation of innovative women playwrights. This much-needed study explores the use of history - specifically Elizabethan, Restoration, Victorian and early 20th century - in contemporary playwriting in order to interrogate the gender politics of this work. Within the framework of contemporary feminism - including the pivotal #MeToo movement - the book looks at post-2000s feminist drama that somehow represents the past. Through delving into the recurring tropes and their politics in the light of current feminist debate, the author helps us grasp how these plays essentially re-imagine gender politics. Plays that are considered include Emilia (Morgan Lloyd Malcolm), Swive [Elizabeth] (Ella Hickson), An August Bank Holiday Lark (Deborah McAndrew), The Empress (Tanika Gupta), Red Velvet (Lolita Chakrabarti), Scuttlers (Rona Munro), I, Joan (Charlie Josephine), Blue Stockings and Nell Gwynn (Jessica Swale), and the musical Six (Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss).
The Pilgrim's Progress
Step into an unforgettable journey with this epic adaptation of John Bunyan's timeless allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress. Originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, this dramatization brings to the stage the tale of Christian, who flees the City of Destruction on a perilous quest to reach the Celestial City. Guided by Evangelist, Christian encounters a host of vivid characters-both friends and foes-including the treacherous Mr Worldly Wiseman, the loquacious Talkative, and the fearsome Apollyon. We follow Christian's trials as he battles through the murky Slough of Despond, faces persecution at the chaotic Vanity Fair, and confronts the enormous Giant Despair in the menacing Doubting Castle. Meanwhile, his family endures their own hardships in his absence, adding a poignant counterpoint to his epic journey. This dynamic adaptation offers a wealth of roles for a large ensemble, bringing to life a diverse cast of infamous and fantastical characters. Directors and designers will revel in the chance to create striking scenes that capture the drama and spectacle of Christian's odyssey. From the dark depths of despair to the dazzling heights of hope, The Pilgrim's Progress promises an enthralling theatrical experience for both theatre makers and audiences alike. A monumental version which brings the full scope of Bunyan's visionary masterpiece to the stage.
Gilmore Girls Life Lessons
Take a self-care trip to Stars Hollow with this collection of life lessons from the Gilmore Girls Relationship issues? Holding out for a parent's approval? Can't stop drinking coffee? All problems the Gilmore girls know a thing or two about. This handy guide to life includes wisdom from Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, the ultimate comfort-watching duo and the fastest-talking mother daughter team TV has ever seen. Blending the show's quirky humor with real-life lessons on how to accept yourself and improve the relationships with those you love, Gilmore Girls: Life Lessons will help you become the best version of you, with the help of lots of coffee (and a shot of cynicism). This title is the perfect gift purchase for fans of Gilmore Girls, and a helping hand for anyone trying to figure it all out. With Gilmore-guided lessons in work, love, and friendship, you'll learn how to fall down and pick yourself right back up again with advice from your favorite characters, including Luke, Babette, Paris, and Sookie - and especially Emily, who's never without an opinion. GILMORE GIRLS and all related characters and elements (c) & (TM) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s24)
Creating Space for Shakespeare
Applied Shakespeare is attracting growing interest from practitioners and academics alike, all keen to understand the ways in which performing his works can offer opportunities for reflection, transformation, dialogue regarding social justice, and challenging of perceived limitations. This book adds a new dimension to the field by taking an interdisciplinary approach to topics which have traditionally been studied individually, examining the communication opportunities Shakespeare's work can offer for a range of marginalized people. It draws on a diverse range of projects from across the globe, many of which the author has facilitated or been directly involved with, including those with incarcerated people, people with mental health issues, learning disabilities and who have experienced homelessness. As this book evidences, Shakespeare can be used to alter the spatial constraints of people who feel imprisoned, whether literally or metaphorically, enabling them to speak and to be heard in ways which may previously have been elusive or unattainable. The book examines the use of trauma-informed principles to explore the ways in which consistency, longevity, trust and collaboration enable the development of resilience, positive autonomy and communication skills. It explores this phenomenon of creating space for people to find their own way of expressing themselves in a way that mainstream society can understand, whilst also challenging society to 'see better' and to hear better. This is not a process of social homogenisation but of encouraging positive interactions and removing the stigma of marginalization.
These Fists Break Bricks (Revised and Expanded Edition)
From New York Times bestselling author Grady Hendrix and film historian Chris Poggiali comes the full story of how kung fu movies came to--and conquered--America in this revised and expanded edition. When a Hollywood studio released Five Fingers of Death to thrill-seeking Times Square moviegoers in 1973, only a handful of Black and Asian audience members knew the difference between an Iron Fist and an Eagle's Claw. That changed overnight as Five Fingers kicked off a kung fu craze that would earn millions at the box office, send TV ratings soaring, influence the birth of hip hop, reshape the style of action we see in movies today, and introduce America to some of the biggest Asian stars to ever hit motion picture screens. These Fists Break Bricks offers a lavishly illustrated exploration of how these high-kicking, brick-breaking movies came to America and raised hell until greed, infomercials, and racist fearmongering shut them down. For the first time, the full--and wild--story is told, including how CIA agents secretly funded karate movies and how The New York Times fabricated a fear campaign about Black "karate gangs," as well as the history of Black martial arts in America and the onslaught of Bruce Lee imitators after his death. With a foreword by RZA of the Wu Tang Clan and brand new material on superstars like Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Donnie Yen, plus spotlights on unsung performers, film poster artists, and money-laundering film distributors, this revised and expanded edition is a master class in kung fu cinema history.
In and Out of Place
What does it mean to be in a place and out of place at the same time? Gabrielle Civil explores this question by making black feminist performance art in Mexico. She asks unsuspecting Mexicans if they have good hair, visits legendary black expatriate artist Elizabeth Catlett, celebrates Obama's first election with mariachis, embarks on love affairs, dresses up as a Mexican doll, and christens herself with Negrita rum. Archiving her 2008-2009 Fulbright fellowship project, In and Out of Place combines diary entries, images, performance texts, critical commentary, and current reflections. Civil explores--and expands--the parameters of her own body, artistic process, heritage, and culture. She retraces--and activates--her trajectory as a black woman artist in the world. ​ Innovative Prose ... from "聶 de donde eres ?" where are you from? and why are you wearing a sombrero? are you trying to go native? are you staking a claim? are you playing a part or a joke? who are you here, black girl? who do you think you are? what gifts are you bringing? what rights do you have? who are your people and where are they now? why is your accent so funny? what are you trying to say? when did you get here? how long will you stay? what lines are you drawing? what are you rendering? what do you recall?
Portal
When natural resources are gone, what is the future going to look like? In a world where most of the water in the world has been drawn into the salty oceans, the great rivers gone, the only available water is what you can salvage and recycle from your own body. What would nature make us give up to put things right, and at what cost? A group of children find themselves in a strange, unfamiliar place. A message is received through one of their brain-embedded ID Chips. In their world, certain words remain but their meaning has been lost to an incinerating climate, so how should they interpret this message? Is the portal an open door to a better dimension, or are the kids sacrificial lambs to the unforgiving laws of nature?
Portia and the Therapist
Rob Chantler's comedy is all about a deluded model and TV star called Portia, who is forced to attend anger management therapy in avoid to avoid prison after she assaults a bouncer. The jaded counsellor she ends up with, Helen, has no time for her or her lifestyle and can't wait to be free of it, but fate won't let that happen.
The Play's the Thing
An insider's spirited history of Yale Repertory Theatre In this serious and entertaining chronicle of the first fifty years of Yale Repertory Theatre, award-winning dramaturg James Magruder shows how dozens of theater artists have played their parts in the evolution of a sterling American institution. Each of its four chapters is dedicated to one of the Yale Rep's artistic directors to date: Robert Brustein, Lloyd Richards, Stan Wojewodski Jr., and James Bundy. Numerous sidebars--dedicated to the spaces used by the theater, the playwrights produced most often, casting, the prop shop, the costume shop, artist housing, and other topics--enliven the lavishly illustrated four-color text. This fascinating insider account, full of indelible descriptions of crucial moments in the Rep's history, is based in part on interviews with some of America's most respected actors about their experiences at the Rep, including Paul Giamatti, James Earl Jones, Frances McDormand, Meryl Streep, Courtney B. Vance, Dianne Wiest, and Henry Winkler--among many others. More than just a valentine to an important American theater, The Play's the Thing is a story about institution-building and the force of personality; about the tug-of-war between vision and realpolitik; and about the continuous negotiation between educational needs and artistic demands.
Three Magpies Perched in a Tree
A searing yet heartbreaking Indigenous Gothic that confronts the difficult reality of juvenile justice work.An Aboriginal man from the stolen generation works in his community, watching young people who confront the criminal justice system slip through the cracks time and time again. Taken from the lived experience of front-line juvenile justice work, this play grapples with the multitude of obstacles young Aboriginal people face and asks how much difference one man can make in the uphill battle to teach them that, despite what society has told them, their lives and futures matter.Brought to the stage by award-winning Indigenous creative Glenn Shea & narrated by legendary actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles, Three Magpies Perched in a Tree won the 2023 Green Room Award for Best New Writing, received the 2010 State Library of Victoria R.E Ross Trust Development Award and was Highly Commended for the Victorian Premier's Literary Award 2023.
Letters to a Young Playwright
In Letters to a Young Playwright, Szymkowicz dispenses hard-earned, unsentimental, and entertaining advice to early-career dramatists.
The Embassy, the Ambush, and the Ogre
This volume presents a sophisticated and intricate examination of the parallels between Sanskrit and Greco-Roman literature. By means of a philological and literary analysis, Morales-Harley hypothesizes that Greco-Roman literature was known, understood, and recreated in India. Moreover, it is argued that the techniques for adapting epic into theater could have been Greco-Roman influences in India, and that some of the elements adapted within the literary motifs (specifically the motifs of the embassy, the ambush, and the ogre) could have been Greco-Roman borrowings by Sanskrit authors.This book draws on a wide variety of sources, including Iliad, Phoenix, Rhesus and Cyclops (Greco-Roman) as well as Mahābhārata, The Embassy, The Five Nights and The Middle One (Sanskrit). The result is a well-supported argument which presents us with the possibility of cultural exchange between the Greco-Roman world and India - a possibility which, though hypothetical, is worth acknowledging.Due to its comparative nature, this volume will appeal to both Indologists and Classicists, including Mahābhārata scholars, Sanskrit theater scholars, and those interested in comparative work with Sanskrit literature. It brings an original perspective to the field, and provides inspiration for new lines of research.
The Impossible Plays of Migdalia Cruz
In this collection, recipient of the 2023 DGF Legacy Playwright and award-winning multi-platform playwright, translator, and librettist, Migdalia Cruz dives into the impossible through her plays FISHTANK, SATYRICO?O, & TWO ROBERTS. Accompanied with reflections on the work from Virginia Grise, Morgan Jenness, and Todd London. Complemented by cover and interior illustrations from artist Christian Potter Drury. "Welcome to these Impossible Plays!The three plays included in this volume: FISHTANK, SATYRICO?O, &TWO ROBERTS, represent three of my waking-dreams about joy, grief, sex, spirituality, Democracy, and hope... If you read this volume, you will find thetrue meaning of impossible poured over impossible landscapes punctuated by the poetic realism that has conjured my ancestors and birthed this volume of plays."-Migdalia Cruz-This book is a part of the second round of the Sledgehammer Series with Before You Go by Sharon Bridgforth. The Sledgehammer Series lives within Tripwire's mission, with a specific focus on challenging how theater can live visually on the page.
Divine Invention
One morning, as I was writing, I suddenly understood that as a species, through incredible stubbornness, we were able to write love into our genetic makeup, and that this is enough to redeem us all. We were given mouths to bite with, and with deep intelligence and beauty, we learned to kiss each other. Part performance lecture, part auto-fictional memoir, Divine Invention is Sergio Blanco's attempt to say something new about love. To do so, he recalls his own experiences of love, true and invented, and explores the history of love in art, literature, music, and science. The result is a life-affirming new play. Written by acclaimed Franco-Uruguayan playwright Sergio Blanco (Thebes Land, The Rage of Narcissus, When You Pass Over My Tomb) and translated by his long-time collaborator Daniel Goldman, Divine Invention is 'collaboration to savour by two masters of the form' (Lyn Gardner). This edition was published to coincide with the English language world premiere at Edinburgh Fringe Festival's Summerhall in August 2024.
The Embassy, the Ambush, and the Ogre
This volume presents a sophisticated and intricate examination of the parallels between Sanskrit and Greco-Roman literature. By means of a philological and literary analysis, Morales-Harley hypothesizes that Greco-Roman literature was known, understood, and recreated in India. Moreover, it is argued that the techniques for adapting epic into theater could have been Greco-Roman influences in India, and that some of the elements adapted within the literary motifs (specifically the motifs of the embassy, the ambush, and the ogre) could have been Greco-Roman borrowings by Sanskrit authors.This book draws on a wide variety of sources, including Iliad, Phoenix, Rhesus and Cyclops (Greco-Roman) as well as Mahābhārata, The Embassy, The Five Nights and The Middle One (Sanskrit). The result is a well-supported argument which presents us with the possibility of cultural exchange between the Greco-Roman world and India - a possibility which, though hypothetical, is worth acknowledging.Due to its comparative nature, this volume will appeal to both Indologists and Classicists, including Mahābhārata scholars, Sanskrit theater scholars, and those interested in comparative work with Sanskrit literature. It brings an original perspective to the field, and provides inspiration for new lines of research.
Let It Grow
Let It Grow by Chad Henderson gives the audience a behind-the-scenes look at the changing dynamics involved in the production of a 30-year-old public television show about gardening, but it also explores relationships that are both public and private and, ultimately, none of anyone else's business other than the players involved. It invites a more nuanced look at intimacy and calls for humanity and rationality when doing so. Let It Grow is the fourth winning play in the Jasper Project's Play Right Series. It was developed over the summer of 2024 and performed as a staged reading at Harbison Theatre on September 14, 2024 in Columbia, SC, USA.
Nothing but the Truth
Stephen Bellamy and Susan Ives stand accused of murdering Stephen's wife, Lola. According to the prosecution, Susan found that her husband was having an affair with Lola and she persuaded Stephen to help her put a stop to it. With a knife. But, as the witnesses are called to give their evidence, it becomes clear that things are much more complicated than they first appear. Assuming, of course, that everyone is telling nothing but the truth. This play for six actors is inspired by the Bellamy trial from over 100 years ago but has been updated and set in Northwest England in the present day. Four actors play the Judge, the Usher, the Prosecution and the Defence. The other two actors play everyone else including all the witnesses and the accused. The audience are invited to select a jury and decide whether the defendants are guilty or not guilty before the truth is finally revealed.
Werner Herzog / Rogue Filmmaker
In Werner Herzog / Rogue Filmmaker, David LaRocca draws from a fan's resolute passion for his subject to face head-on vexing Herzogian notions such as ecstatic truth, the sublime, and the beguiling spirit that animates the fittingly titled Rogue Film School, which the author attended. In our distracted, dissipating times, Herzog is an icon of penetrating acuity, vigorous resolve, poetic straight-talk, and provocative medial experiments--someone with the mettle to mount visionary adventures: shouldered, provisional, failed, recuperated. In these pages, LaRocca follows the more than half-century-long footpath by which Herzog became his own genre: with fabricated films of daring, life-lived-at-the-limits intensity; artful literary innovations; and a persistently roving persona. Marshaling the awe suited to philosophical investigations, LaRocca tracks the study of Herzog from first forays to the fraught present moment, including critical dispatches on autobiography, parody, and artificial intelligence. As with any Herzogian enterprise, this one isn't for the faint of heart.
National Theatre Connections 2024
National Theatre Connections 2024 draws together ten new plays for young people to perform, from some of the UK's most exciting and popular playwrights. These are plays for a generation of theatre-makers who want to ask questions, challenge assertions and test the boundaries, and for those who love to invent and imagine a world of possibilities. The plays offer young performers an engaging and diverse range of material to perform, read or study. Touching on themes like trans-rights, the mental health crisis, colonial history, disability activism, and climate change, the collection provides topical, pressing subject matter for students to explore in their performance. This 2024 anthology represents the full set of ten plays offered by the National Theatre 2024 Festival (eight brand-new plays, and two returning favourites), as well as comprehensive workshop notes that give insights and inspiration for building characters, running rehearsals and staging a production.
Werner Herzog / Rogue Filmmaker
In Werner Herzog / Rogue Filmmaker, David LaRocca draws from a fan's resolute passion for his subject to face head-on vexing Herzogian notions such as ecstatic truth, the sublime, and the beguiling spirit that animates the fittingly titled Rogue Film School, which the author attended. In our distracted, dissipating times, Herzog is an icon of penetrating acuity, vigorous resolve, poetic straight-talk, and provocative medial experiments--someone with the mettle to mount visionary adventures: shouldered, provisional, failed, recuperated. In these pages, LaRocca follows the more than half-century-long footpath by which Herzog became his own genre: with fabricated films of daring, life-lived-at-the-limits intensity; artful literary innovations; and a persistently roving persona. Marshaling the awe suited to philosophical investigations, LaRocca tracks the study of Herzog from first forays to the fraught present moment, including critical dispatches on autobiography, parody, and artificial intelligence. As with any Herzogian enterprise, this one isn't for the faint of heart.
Rabbit-Proof Fence
Three Aboriginal girls are forcibly removed from their outback families in 1931 to be trained as domestic servants as part of official government policy. They escape and begin a 1500-mile journey home using a rabbit-proof fence as their guide, with the authorities chasing them all the way. Winner of a NSW Premier's Award for Script Writing and a Community Relations Commission Award, the screenplay is adapted from Doris Pilkington Garimara's book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, which is based on her mother's true story.
Splinter
Tales of missing children have always held a terrible fascination. Celtic folklore chilled the bones of many a superstitious new mother with stories of babies stolen from their beds by envious fairies, changelings left in their place. These days, when a child disappears the media grab us by the throat and won't let us go. These disappearances haunt us for days, weeks, years. In the dark of a Sydney winter, Hilary Bell's disquieting and downright chilling thriller Splinter channels tabloid news and primal fears alike. A couple are reunited with their missing daughter. Frantic activity has sustained them through her long absence. But now that she's home, her father struggles to recognise her. They'd thought some time away in their isolated beach house might help the family bond, might return Laura to her old self. Revisiting the sinister territories of Wolf Lullaby, Splinter reunites Bell's supreme atmospherics with another powerhouse performance from sister as a woman for whom a miracle becomes a nightmare. This claustrophobic chamber piece questions how well we know our families. Up close and intimate in the Stables, there's nowhere to hide.
How I Learnt to Act
Francis Greenslade has been an actor for thirty years. Here he tells the story of how as an enthusiastic but formally untrained actor he learnt to manage the demands of text and character and emotional connection with the character. Along with how to stand on your mark, and read a call sheet, and deal with directors. Half acting manual, half entertaining tale of the world of professional acting in Australia, this is a book for all actors, whether amateur or professional, novice or veteran, and indeed anyone who has ever wondered what it is that actors actually do.
Wondrous Strange
WONDROUS STRANGE by dramaturg, director, and long-lime literary manager Chris Mead is a high-wire musing on what makes great plays. For anyone who is into theatre of any kind, read on ... From Aristotle's Poetics to Suzan-Lori Parks' 'bad math' to the neurochemistry of storytelling, WONDROUS STRANGE takes the reader on a satisfyingly meandering journey through seven 'thoughts' on theatrical storytelling. Combining autobiography, practice and theory, Chris Mead has written a wondrous book for anyone who has ever grappled with what it means to tell a story on stage, one that both comprehensively elucidates the key schools of dramaturgical thought while celebrating their disruption and transformation.'ANCHULI FELICIA KING Mead's wide-ranging, deeply researched and erudite book makes it clear that there are no simple formulas to follow if you want to write a great play. It takes talent and great perceptive power, but finally the process is so mysteriously complex as to make it 'wondrous strange'.'DAVID WILLIAMSON Chris Mead'theatre-geek extraordinaire'shines a magnifying glass on this wondrous and strange medium of ours with this deep exploration of theatre at a cellular level throughout the ages. More than a brain dump, this is a carefully considered and finely crafted love poem to theatre that practitioners and theatre lovers from all walks of life can dive into and swim around in.'ANDREA JAMES Chris Mead promises '- vertigo, whiplash, forking paths and some thin ice ahead: but there is also insight and wonder'. He delivers each element superbly. His seven thoughts are provocative, insightful, wondrous, yes, and at times I felt the ice crack beneath me. This is not a manual, a how-to book to write plays - I've been writing plays for a long lime and I learned heaps but most importantly, I was reminded of how marvellous a play can be: full of wonder and as strange as can be.'PATRICIA CORNELIUS
Sniffing Glue and Playing Chicken on the M4
Redeemer is a poet that has to be seen live as well as read on the page. Delivered at a frenetic pace, his performances are never less than overwhelming in intensity and leave a lasting impact on the audience. Further imbued with an emotional honesty that hits at gut level. Yet that intensity is peppered with a marvellous sense of humour and punchy rhymes to die for. A unique poetic and performing talent that l can't recommend enough. Catch him live while you can because he's a young star in the making." Keith Robert Bray
A Simple Act of Kindness
With the help of her 'boomer' parents, Sophia takes the giant leap into the property market - but it's all about the fine print. And a global pandemic means a brand new deal. Now Sophia and Greg (her 'fiance') must live with Sophia's parents as 'downsizing' bites and this reconstructed family get swamped by their own ambitions. Family, it seems, is a big deal - and this could be a bad one. Award-winning playwright Ross Mueller aims his laser wit at the property market, family life and the transactions that bind us. This unlikely family must live together, as the cracks widen beneath them, threatening their hopes, their dreams - and their record collection! A Simple Act of Kindness is a comedy for a generation who've been locked down with the ones we ... love? Developed through the INK new writing program at Red Stitch.
Horror for Weenies
A smart, funny crash course in 25 iconic horror movies, from Psycho to Hereditary, for people who love getting the reference but hate being scared. You don't have to miss out just because you don't like to be frightened! Stop trying to read nonsensical Wikipedia plot summaries (we know you're doing it), and let an expert tell you everything you need to know about the most influential horror films of the past 60 years--without a single jump scare or a drop of gore. With a rundown of the history and significance of horror cinema, explanations of common tropes, and detailed entries on 25 important movies ranging from Night of the Living Dead to The Blair Witch Project to Get Out, Horror for Weenies will turn even the scarediest of cats into a confident connoisseur. Each entry includes: A detailed plot summary, with enough jokes that it won't freak you outSmart, illuminating analysis of the film's themes and cultural significance Descriptions of iconic scenes you definitely do not want to look at Talking points for impressing even the biggest scary-movie buffsHorror for Weenies is the first installment in the Outsider's Guide series, which offers highly readable crash courses in major cultural phenomena, so you can catch the references and understand the big deal. Never get left out of a conversation again!
Futurama Presents: Bender's Guide to Life
A hilarious how-to guide on being human by everyone's favorite Bending Unit, Bender B. Rodriguez. HEY MEATBAG! Are you a human or do you just want to be one? Do you think you're good at being human? Well, you're WRONG, pal! Get right with the info in Bender's Guide to Life: By me, Bender!, and you too can be almost human! Here's all the nitty-gritty detail on how to eat, drink, and be merry, in home life, work life, or any other kind of life that you might have. From office pranks to how NOT to "Kill all humans!," Bender's Guide to Life features original art and questionable advice for the ages from all your Futurama favorites including Fry, Leela, Amy, and yes, Bender himself. And even some from no one's favorite, Dr. John Zoidberg. "A truly delightful book loaded with useful information." --Me, Bender "So smart, so helpful, essential reading for all humans." --Also me, Bender "Best book I've ever read. You're a dummy if you disagree." --Bender B. Rodriguez, Robot "He'll steal your heart . . . and your wallet." --Professor Farnsworth or somebody
How to Win at the Challenge and Life
You've seen the rivalries. You've witnessed the blood, sweat, and tears. You've celebrated the champions. But what does it really take to win MTV's The Challenge? And what happens after the cameras stop rolling? Since 1998, MTV's The Challenge has tested competitors' physical, mental, and emotional endurance. Some go on to become Challenge legends, going down in history as players who changed the game forever. But for each champion, there are dozens more who try and fail (over and over again) to earn the title. In her time covering the show, pop culture journalist and Challenge superfan Sydney Bucksbaum has gotten to know many of the champs, gaining an insider's knowl-edge of what goes into making a winning strategy--and how difficult it is to actually pull it off. Here, she profiles twenty-one of the most popular, successful, and infamous champions and reveals not only how they won The Chal-lenge but also how they applied the skills they learned from the experience to their personal lives and careers. From seven-time winner Johnny "Bananas" Deve-nanzio, Challenge "Godfather" Mark Long, OG champ Veronica Portillo, elimination beast Emily Schromm to most-improved competitors Cara Maria Sorbello and Chris "C.T." Tamburello, the best in the game look back at their decades of hard work, including the euphoric highs, devastating lows, and everything in between. Eye-opening and inspiring, How to Win at The Challenge and Life is the must-have book for any and all fans looking to level up their own lives--and learn never-before-heard stories from the people who have dominated the show in every way.
Intersection
It's midnight and twin siblings argue over what to do with the dog they just ran over. In a school common room a student is struggling to clean a sharpie drawing of a you-know-what off a window. In an undisclosed location a boy prepares for his new life in a special witness protection program for embarrassed youths. Intersection: Arrival is a collection of short plays written by some of Australia's most exciting young writers. Each year ATYP brings together 20 playwrights from across the country and challenges them to create stories that speak to the experience of being seventeen years old in Australia, here and now. The ten most startling pieces are put on stage.
Bowerbird
'Mostly it feels like you don't know-like you're reaching for something that you can't quite grab. Some writers talk about their fear of the blank page, but the playwright who draws work from life can have the opposite problem. Spoilt for choice. Presented with myriad possibilities and competing ideas of how to condense the source material or arrange it in a theatrically dynamic, original and compelling way. Lost in a sea of options, yet perversely obsessed with the interview not done, the perspective not transcribed, the final piece of the jigsaw forever elusive. And it's not about a lack of confidence, although that can hum away in the background for longer than you might expect. It's about not trying to have clarity. It's about waiting until you do.' So begins Bowerbird, a journey through the life and plays of Alana Valentine, as well as the creative process behind the plays. One of Australia's most inventive playwrights, Alana shows the power of bringing new audiences into our theatres to share the space with traditional audiences, detailing how to gather and transform lived experience into compelling drama. In Bowerbird she reveals the motor of her artistry by combining stories from her life with observations from her experience. 'Bowerbird is written with all the humanity, wisdom, humour and generosity that we recognise and love in Alana Valentine's work. This is much more than a guide for aspiring writers: this is a book for anyone who loves theatre, its power and its people.' - Neil Armfield AO
Who Is in the Room?
With this book, Brooke O'Harra takes up directing as an artistic practice in and of itself. Speaking beyond and against craft, O'Harra drives the art of directing forward.O'Harra investigates a series of important questions: How do we wrest our work from institutional imperatives of public building and culture building? How can an artist-driven discourse lead us toward the urgencies of artists and their publics in this moment? How do we "make" plays? How do we activate the relationships of making, whether between artists in the rehearsal room or between the production and the audience? Brooke addresses all aspects of the directorial process: reckoning with the script through dramaturgy, working within the rehearsal room, collaborating with other artists, as well as staging and production.This exploration will be of great interest to students and scholars in performance studies with a particular interest in directing.
The Art and Practice of Directing for Theatre
The formation and communication of vision is one of the primary responsibilities of a director, before ever getting to the nuts and bolts of the process. The Art and Practice of Directing for Theatre, Second Edition helps the young director learn how to discover, harness, and meld the two.Providing both a practical and theoretical foundation for directors, this book explores how to craft an artistic vision for a production, and sparks inspiration in directors to put their learning into practice. This new edition is fully revised to address changes in theatre since the Covid pandemic, new technology, intimacy direction, and inclusive practices. It features: Guidance through day-to-day aspects of directing, including a director's skillset and tools, script analysis, and rehearsal structure. Advice on collaborating with production teams and actors, building communication skills and tools, and integrating digital media into these practices. Discussion questions and practical worksheets covering script analysis, blocking, and planning rehearsals. Updated references to reflect the changes in the theatre community and profession since the original writing. Updated examples of studies and technology. This book is written for students in Theatre Directing courses, along with new and aspiring theatrical directors. The Art and Practice of Directing for Theatre, Second Edition includes access to downloadable worksheets, available at www.routledge.com/9781032619514.
