Shannon Mowat

Performing Arts (Gina)

Physical Theatre

Physical theatre is used to describe any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama
through primarily physical and secondarily mental means. It can be used to help the actors gain a
better understanding of the plays, but there has been some considerable confusion as to how
physical theatre should be defined.
Physical Theatre Origins
According to common belief this style of performance originates from ancient Greece. In the ancient
Greek theatre the actors performed as a chorus of about 12-15 actors. They would help the
audience understand the storyline better and they helped portray the relationship between the
main characters in a way that was easier for the audience to understand as they clarified emotions
and thought the characters were experiencing. They were seen as representing communication
through words, song and physical theatre. Chorus performers frequently wore masks and strapped
on body parts, such as extra arms or a tail, to make them seem larger than life. Theatre in ancient
Rome was developed from Greek forms and also employed a chorus to help tell the story. Roman
actors still more masks, but they used mime rather than speech.
Commedia Delle Arte
Commedia delle Arte featured a series of key characters that played out specific roles and only did
specific things in the drama. Three examples of these characters are: Columbine, Harlequin and
Buffo.
One of the key features of this form of theatre was that it allowed female performers almost
unheard on at that time. There are early records going back to the mid-1500s that talk about women
on stage in these comedies. These plays were improvised, but gradually became more formally
structured. They became known as the Zanni comedies. Their subject matter was universal, such as
love, death and betrayal. Improvised comedy scenes were called burle.
The key characters mentioned all have particular ways of behaving. Because the work has improved,
it often took inspiration from the local realities where performance was taking place. For example
the actors would mock the towns mayor or other figures of authority.
The tradition of this theatre form still goes on in the work of some writers and directors.
Kathakali
Kathakali is an ancient Indian tradition of dance-drama from Kerlal dating back to the 16th century. It
uses very distinct characters, who wore elaborate costumes, masks and make-up. Music based on
Indian melodies that usually associate with different seasons or time of the day and there are many
classic Kathakali stories that can be shown through physical theatre.
Masks
Masks are a very effective and popular way of performing physical theatre. Masks seemed to help
the actor develop the physicality of the character, to play a number of characters within a scene or

Shannon Mowat

Performing Arts (Gina)

play and also to bring to life very different ones from the classic of characters that they may be
expected to play.
The coaches/teachers believed that by wearing a mask the actor could be whoever he or she wanted
to be. The idea was that the audience would concentrate more on the body language of the actor in
the mask than the actor that isnt wearing one.
Jerzy Grotowski
Grotowski was born on 1933 and dedicated his life to developing a style of physical theatre that was
more about being truthful. He didnt want his performers to develop skills that masked their true
nature. His performances involved sitting the audience within the production, encouraging
interaction between them and the actors.
The influence of his work can be seen today in performances created and directed by many
contemporary practitioners. The company DV8 Physical Theatre often produced work that places the
audience squarely in the centre of the action. Frantic Assembly performers often talk directly to their
audience and many more.
DV8 Physical Theatre
They are a dance-drama company set up in 1986. DV8s work is often very highly challenging and
sometimes dangerous for the performers. The companys director, Lloyd Newson, generally works
with trained dancers, rather than actors. Much of their work is highly dance-based, but actors have
had roles in some performances, for example in a show called Living Costs. Sometime their work is
specifically produced for a particular place or space.
DV8s 2003 production, which included some elements from Living Costs, was site-specific having
been designed for performance in the London gallery building of the Tate Modern. The Tate Modern
is a huge London art gallery which used to be a power station. This is a play about life today and how
we see each other. It involves a series of scenes that takes place in different parts of the building.
Performers begin their show in the massive Turbine Hall on the ground floor. As the show
progressed, the audience were directed to scenes take place in other gallery rooms. The show
involves actors, dancers, trapeze artists and a narrator, who wasnt always present in the building.
This companys work is uncompromising and can even be violent their main aim is to break down
what they perceive as barriers between more conventional forms or dance and drama.
Frantic Assembly
They are a much newer theatre company that has developed its own distinct way of working. The
company was set up on in the 1990s by Scott Graham and Steve Hoggett and has used text and
improvisation as their basis for drama. They approached ideas and texts in their own unique way, for
example they might cut up a play script and re-organise it.
Their directors want their performers to be bold, experimental and not bound by rules, which is why
their work is challenging, new and irreverent.

Shannon Mowat

Performing Arts (Gina)

Conclusion

Through learning all this I now believe that physical theatre is an art of the body. Physical theatre is
more than just dancing, it is how a dancers body portrays a story and influences different reactions
and thoughts from the audience, who can interpret the dancers vision in many different ways.
Although its not very commonly known with people that dont dance or act it is often used in
productions and shows throughout the world.