Sunday, January 04, 2009

Looking for New Technique and Performance Theory for Malay Theatre

Approaches to Acting Improv/ Physical Theatre/ Movement

There are many approaches to acting including the known techniques taught, practiced and written by Stanislavski, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen. Eventhough the school has chosen Uta Hagen as an important technique and texts, there are other approaches too in improvisations including techniques from movement as well as physical theatre. Contact improvisation for example is one of the techniques in the movement studies including Tai Chi, Pilates, 5 Rhythms, Body-Mind Centering and many other techniques including many Asian movement techniques that has been adopted by many western practitioners such as Eugenio Barba. Another interesting technique to be learned as part of Acting Improv would be various techniques in Physical Theatre such techniques by Mayerhold, Suzuki and also Commedia Dell Arte. As a dance and movement choreographer/ writer/ director/ dramaturg in theatre, it is my interest to research into various Asian theatre and dance techniques, especially Malaysia, ASEAN, South Asia, East Asia and Islamic tradition.