Steven Berkoff Seven states of tension. Berkoff’s
Description: Steven Berkoff Seven states of tension. Berkoffs work exists at 1, 2 and 6, 7- it is all about extremes. Freezes should be held with great tension and with exaggerated facial expressions Movement is another language
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slide1. Steven Berkoff<br>
slide2. Seven states of tension.
Berkoff’s work exists at 1, 2 and 6, 7- it is all about extremes.
Freezes should be held with great tension and with exaggerated facial expressions
‘Movement is another language’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPSgGHxIxQ&safe=active<br>
slide3. The Actor creates the whole environment physically.
All props are mimed or physically embodied by part of the actors anatomy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2sKH3l7eM&safe=active
This should make theatre more of a spectacle
Test the level of physical control by using extremes of pace- slow/ fast
“I despise naturalism, a good actor should need no props.” Berkoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQOEZO1n10 Berkoff’s theatre<br>
slide4. Physical Theatre of Jacques Le Coq
Mime
Creating the environment physically
7 states of tension
Heightened Gesture
Brecht’s alienation
Plays seek not to recreate real life, but to revel in the spectacle of theatre
At times plays have been episodic and had a political message (Sink The Belgrano)
The notion of Gestus and exaggerated characters/ stereotypes
Greek Theatre
Use of a chorus
Long verse speeches
Directly addressing an audience Influences<br>
slide5. You should have hyperbolic physicality (clear Gestus- heightened gesture) play up the stereotype.
Play with the rhythm and tempo of the verse, enjoy the flow of the language
Deliver dialogue straight out to the audience- not to the other actor
Create the environment around you physically using mime and sound effects
Play the scene with great tension in your body.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2ePpFxRgDQ&list=FL4_W_gCizNgZauB_gFEZzqg So to play a Berkoff character<br>
slide6. ‘Newer Berkoff’* offensive, shocking, character driven plays
East
West
Greek
Kvetch
Decadence
‘Older Berkoff’ dark, chorus driven plays
The Trial
Metamorphosis
* I say ‘newer’ but these plays came out between 1975 and 1986, so they are all about 30 years old! – after this he tended to do 1 man shows in the 90s (Dog, Tell Tale Heart, Shakespeare’s Villains) Major Berkoff plays<br>
slide2. Seven states of tension.
Berkoff’s work exists at 1, 2 and 6, 7- it is all about extremes.
Freezes should be held with great tension and with exaggerated facial expressions
‘Movement is another language’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPSgGHxIxQ&safe=active<br>
slide3. The Actor creates the whole environment physically.
All props are mimed or physically embodied by part of the actors anatomy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2sKH3l7eM&safe=active
This should make theatre more of a spectacle
Test the level of physical control by using extremes of pace- slow/ fast
“I despise naturalism, a good actor should need no props.” Berkoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQOEZO1n10 Berkoff’s theatre<br>
slide4. Physical Theatre of Jacques Le Coq
Mime
Creating the environment physically
7 states of tension
Heightened Gesture
Brecht’s alienation
Plays seek not to recreate real life, but to revel in the spectacle of theatre
At times plays have been episodic and had a political message (Sink The Belgrano)
The notion of Gestus and exaggerated characters/ stereotypes
Greek Theatre
Use of a chorus
Long verse speeches
Directly addressing an audience Influences<br>
slide5. You should have hyperbolic physicality (clear Gestus- heightened gesture) play up the stereotype.
Play with the rhythm and tempo of the verse, enjoy the flow of the language
Deliver dialogue straight out to the audience- not to the other actor
Create the environment around you physically using mime and sound effects
Play the scene with great tension in your body.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2ePpFxRgDQ&list=FL4_W_gCizNgZauB_gFEZzqg So to play a Berkoff character<br>
slide6. ‘Newer Berkoff’* offensive, shocking, character driven plays
East
West
Greek
Kvetch
Decadence
‘Older Berkoff’ dark, chorus driven plays
The Trial
Metamorphosis
* I say ‘newer’ but these plays came out between 1975 and 1986, so they are all about 30 years old! – after this he tended to do 1 man shows in the 90s (Dog, Tell Tale Heart, Shakespeare’s Villains) Major Berkoff plays<br>