Peter Brook Workshop

Peter Brook Workshop (notes)

Peter Brook is a theatrical producer and director who was inspired by experimental theatre; Jerzy Grotowski, Bertolt Brecht, Meyerhold and Artaud all contributing to Brook's passion for dynamic and inventive theatrical techniques.

During the workshop I explored a variety of Brook's theatre techniques, mainly focusing on the methods he used throughout the lead-up to a performance. Interestingly, none of the exercises were independent; they all involved the trust and awareness of fellow performers in the room, demonstrating how Brook strongly believed in team work in order to form genuine connections within the cast. This, in turn, helps to create complex, rooted characters and to convey a real story.

Brook: "But the interesting thing is that such classes help no-one except the individual, because the real exercise with a group of actors is not for the person by himself. It isn't to make him cleverer or a better actor, or a better athlete or dancer. It's to make a group more sensitive to itself. Something quite different. When one does exercises, it isn't to make people more powerfully skilful, it's to make everybody from the start quite simply more sensitive. Once a group becomes more sensitive, each person feels the reward."  (http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/discover-more/platforms/platform-papers/peter-brook)

An example of our exploration of Brook's exercises was attempting to form a circle in complete darkness; the lights were turned off and as a class, we were asked to link hands with two people. Eventually - when everyone is holding hands - a whole circle would be formed. Naturally, I was quite sceptical about completing the task, but eventually the class successfully formed a circle. This exercise clearly supports Brook's beliefs about team work and being aware of those around you. In addition, this task required me to put my trust into my classmates and my own instinct, which are aspects of the task I can now apply to my performances and rehearsal processes in the future. Instinct is essential during performance as trusting my instinct will help my character(s) appear more genuine and less 'scripted'.

Additionally, I explored the use of improvisation - one of Brook's theatrical devices; as a group, we had one prop which we had to make into something completely different. This task required quick thinking, imagination and again, instinctive decisions. Not only this, but the use of group improvisation makes you obliged to accept the information you are given. This is useful in rehearsal as it teaches not to doubt other's ideas and to make good use of limited time, (working quickly and effectively).