British Theatre/Theatre of Cruelty

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Expert: - 8/26/2009


Question
Hello, our drama class is looking at preforming some of Artauds work.
I am trying to locate someone who is an expert on his work, or the other general features for Theatre of Cruelty.
I have some questions and was wondering if you might be able to answer some or any of them.

-Various sources suggest that Artaud used unique language in his preformances, what is meant by "unique language"?
-Where can we get scripts for his theatres such as Les Cenci?
-What is meant by having things "halfway between thoughts and gestures"?
-What type of props were used in his theatres
-What type of musical instruments did he use, and what type of music?
-Does Lighting play a big part in this specific theatre type?, and if does do you have the email address of someone we can contact for advice in creating thinness, thickness and opaqueness using lighting.
-How long does a preformance, such as Les Cenci, last for?
-How would the stage be set out?, (example of a floor plan)
-Can you use "fluid" on the stage?, (Blood, Water etc?)
-Is heavy makeup and detailed costuming used?
-Would Preforming something along the lines of a haunted house, where the audience walks through it and witness's whats happening inside, we thought of doing something like this as: It effects the audience as much as possible, Breaks down the barriers between the audience and turns them into participants, Also it shatters their false realities.
-Also do you know of any experts (other than yourself) who you may be able to refer us too for the answers you cannot provide?

Any answers you can provide would be much appreciated, as we are having trouble locating alot of information about Artaud and Theatre of Cruelty.

Thanks
Leighton and Classmates

Answer
Dear Leighton and classmates.

I am not an expert in either Artaud or the Theatre of Cruelty.

However I can give you some advice on lighting and some on staging the play.

It quickly becomes clear through the most basic research that Artaud was as mad as a bag of frogs.  He did have some interesting ideas on theatre which continue to have influence to this day.

I like your idea of a promenade performance, it is a good way of involving the audience in the show.

To create atmospheric lighting use a haze machine which creates a very thin smoke and light the actors from interesting angles.

All the answers to the rest of the questions depend on how you choose to stage the play and what the vision of the director may be.  It is worth bearing in mind that when Artaud first staged Les Cenci it was a total failure.  As for fluid on stage, yes, as long as you do a risk assessment.

I would suggest you contact your local theatre and ask a director and a lighting designer to come and talk to you, or possibly a member of the English department from your local University.

Best of luck with an interesting project,

George Tarbuck  

British Theatre

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George Tarbuck

Expertise

Contemporary British stage lighting practice and current stage lighting training. Stage lighting design and stage lighting technology. Devised and site specific theatre. I am a working freelance lighting designer and lecturer / subject leader in stage lighting.

Experience


Past/Present clients
Freelance Gaffer
Broken Home Movies, Film Workshop, Edinburgh

Architectural Lighting Designer
Le Marche Noir Restaurant, Waterfront Wine Bar, The Wine Emporium, Glasgow.

Sound and Lighting Gaffer
Martin Bone Associates ;
Trade Show Jaguar Launch
Trade Show Mondeo Launch.
Trade Show Mercedes Launch.   
Conference AGM United Biscuits.
Awards Ceremony Guild Hall.

Lighting Designer
Boilerhouse Theatre Co, Headstate devised play, Scottish Tour: Tramway Workshop, Lemon Tree Aberdeen, Paisly Arts Centre

Lighting Designer
Damage Theatre Co, Two Sevens Clash, Devised play Traverse Theatre.

Architectural Lighting Designer
Cliffe-Catterall Chartered Accountants Offices, Edinburgh

Architectural Lighting Designer
Linsmore Hotel, Aberdeen

Lighting Designer
Boilerhouse Theatre Co. ? No New Miracles ? by Alan Warner. Traverse Theatre, Tramway, Lemon Tree, Dundee Rep.

Lighting Designer
St.Magnus Festival. Orkney. Devised Dance Piece.
? Storm Watchers ? an ? Lord Of The Mirrors ?

Lighting Designer Boilerhouse Theatre Co. ? Pipers Cave ? by Rona
Munro. Paisley Arts Centre and Edinburgh Festival.

Lighting Designer Boilerhouse Theatre Co. Re-Light of Headstate by
Irvine Welsh. Cafe Graffiti. Edinburgh Festival.

Lighting Designer Queen Margaret College. ?Elizabeth Gordon Quinn?

Lighting Designer Boilerhouse Theatre Co. Re-Light of Headstate by
Irvine Welsh. Docklands International Festival
Greenwich.

Lighting Designer Benchtours Theatre Co. ? The Corridor ?. Traverse Theatre Edinburgh Festival 97. Scottish / Irish Tour.

Lighting Designer Grid Iron Theatre Co. ? Gargantua ? Edinburgh
Festival 98. Fringe First. Promenade. Site Specific.

Electrics Assistant " House of Mirth " Feature film. Location filming in Glasgow.

Consultancy Benchtours Theatre Co. Technical Consultant and Client Liason. Lottery Bid for Lighting and Sound equipment.

Lighting Designer Grid Iron Theatre Co. ? Monumental ? Citizens Theatre
Glasgow. 1999. Promenade. Site Specific.

Lighting Designer Arches Theatre Co. ? Horses Horses ? Arches Theatre Glasgow. 2000. Promenade.

Lighting Designer Grid Iron Theatre Co. "Decky Does a Bronco" Site specific. Tour. Summer 2000.

Technical Consultant / Hill Street Theatre. Gateway Theatre. Universal Arts Production Manager fringe festival 2000.

Lighting Designer Boilerhouse Theatre Co. " RED " Promenade. UK Tour.

Lighting Designer Prime Productions. Sunset Song. Scottish Tour.

Technical Consultant / Hill Street Theatre. Gateway Theatre. Universal Arts Production Manager Edinburgh festival. 2001.

Lighting Designer Grid Iron Theatre Co. Co-Production with Almeida Theatre. Decky Does A Bronco Site Specific. UK Tour. Summer 2001.

Lighting Designer The Seer. New One Act Opera. Dingwall Festival. Autumn 2001.

Lighting Designer Fermentation Grid Iron Theatre Co. Spring 2002. Lighting Designer Grid Iron Theatre Co. VARIETY. Edinburgh International Festival 2002. Kings Theatre. Lighting Designer BBC 4. Grid iron Theatre Co. VARIETY. Lighting Designer SUNSET SONG Prime Productions. No.1 Scottish Tour. Lighting Designer Grid Iron - Unique Events. Burns Festival Alloway. Promenade Show. "The Houghmagandie Pack" Lighting Designer Mr McFalls Chamber Orchestra Queens Hall Edinburgh Lighting Designer Grid Iron. Edinburgh Festival 2003. " Those Eyes That Mouth" Five Awards inc. Fringe First Lighting Designer Arches Theatre Co. ?To The Moon? Young Directors Awards Spring 2004 Lighting Designer Greyfriars Kirk Charity show for Maggie?s Centre Lighting Designer Boilerhouse Theatre Co. ?The Bridge? Glasgow Green, The Quad ? Edinburgh Festival. France. Summer 2004 Lighting Designer FidgetFeet Company. ?Solaris? ?Can?t Handle Me? Ariel Dance. Customs House Newcastle. Dublin Festival. Lighting Designer Papillion Productions. ? One, One Two? Dance Piece North Edinburgh Arts. 2004. Lighting Designer Children Of The Sea Botanic Gardens Edinburgh 2005. Five Awards including Fringe First Lighting Designer ?Shift? Site specific art project. National Trust. Newhails House, Mussleburgh. 2005 Lighting Designer ?The Trial? Tramway Glasgow Lighting Designer A Christmas Tale. Theatre Workshop Edinburgh Lighting Designer ?Heid? Musical Scottish Tour 2006 Previous Theatre Lighting Design work includes, FOR THE TRAVERSE THEATRE : FUGUE, SPACE INVADERS, BUGLER BOY, MEDEA, THE INNOCENT, POINTS OF DEPARTURE ( Amsterdam / Edinburgh ), 78 REVOLUTIONS, KLIMKOV, AN HISTORIE OF THE MACHINE, ROUGHNECK, NOONDAY DEMONS, MORE HAPPY CHICKENS, THROUGH THE LEAVES ( London / Edinburgh ), DEAD MEN ( Australia / Edinburgh ), WHITE ROSE (London / Edinburgh), LOSING VENICE ( Australia / Edinburgh ), AUS DER FREMDE, ELIZABETH GORDON QUINN, DEATH OF ELIAS SAWNEY, KORA, THE ORPHANS COMEDY, BURNING LOVE, LUCY?S PLAY, KATHIE & THE HIPPOPOTAMUS (London / Edinburgh), BLITZ, ABLE BAREBONE, PLAYING WITH FIRE, NOAH?S WIFE, THE PROWLER. A MAN WITH CONNECTIONS (London / Edinburgh). SHADOWING THE CONQUEROR, THE CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH POLE (London / Edinburgh), THE RAIN GATHERING. FOR MONSTROUS REGIMENT: BEARTRICE FOR COMMUNICADO THEATRE: MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS GOT HER HEAD CHOPPED OFF, DESIRE.

























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