The Master Builder Project

Description

The Course

Led by Richard Spaul – actor, director and founder member of Cambridge Experimental Theatre and in situ: – the course will explore texts from different periods of Ibsen’s artistic life, working on many aspects of stagecraft and acting technique.

We will look at characterisation, how voice and movement can be employed; and we will look at how actors can work together to create tension, excitement, atmosphere and powerful rhythms and images.

Ibsen is one of several European dramatists associated with the development of realism in performance – sometimes called ‘naturalistic’ acting technique. We will be looking at this in detail, as well as approaches where ritual, symbol and stylisation come into play.

One of in situ:’s hallmark approaches concerns the use of space and site: what different spaces uniquely offer and how different sites bring out different meanings in the work. We will be using all this, along with an emphasis on how performers can devise and collaborate in ways that are creative, effective and fun.

We’ll be thinking about the wider context of Ibsen’s work and taking inspiration from other artists associated with him. In particular, we will be looking at the work of fellow Norwegian Edward Munch and seeking challenging and powerful connections between Ibsen’s words and Munch’s images.

The course is open to all and beginners are welcome. The work is ambitious and we will be pushing a few boundaries, so while it’s demanding, it’s also great fun, with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

The course will appeal to actors and artists with an interest in Ibsen, acting technique, how to work with a text, experimental theatre and, particularly, site-specific work and effective techniques for devised theatre.

We hope you can join us for this enjoyable and stimulating course.

For further information, telephone Richard Spaul on 01223 211451.

Your teacher, Richard Spaul, is a founder member of in situ: and one of the company’s artistic directors. He was also Artistic Director and founder of the pioneering experimental group – Cambridge Experimental Theatre, active in the 80s and 90s. He has trained in vocal technique with Noah Pikes, Enrique Pardo and other members of the Roy Hart Theatre; In addition to teaching Voice, he also teaches Text, Shakespeare, Storytelling and
Improvisation. Recent work includes a solo performance of Hamlet and a series of solo performances, including the popular Ghost Stories, focussing on Artists of the Uncanny.