What is the history of devised theatre? Why have theatre-makers, since the 1950s, chosen to devise performances? What different sorts of devising practices are there? What are the myths attached to devising, and what are the realities?
First published in 2005, Devising Performance remains the only book to offer the reader a history of devising practice. Charting the development of collaboratively created performances from the 1950s to the early 21st century, it presents a range of case studies drawn from Britain, America and Australia. Companies discussed include The Living Theatre, Open Theatre, Australian Performing Group, People Show, Teatro Campesino, Théātre de Complicité, Legs on the Wall, Forced Entertainment, Goat Island and Graeae. Providing a history of devising practice, Deirdre Heddon and Jane Milling encourage us to look more carefully at the different modes of devising and to consider the implications of our use of these practices in the 21st century.
General Editors' Preface
Acknowledgements
Foreword
1. Introduction
2. Devising and Acting
3. Devising and Visual Performance
4. Devising and Political Theatre
5. Devising and Communities
6. Contemporary Devising and Physical Performance
7. Contemporary Devising and Postmodern Performance
8. Conclusions
Notes
Further Reading
Bibliography
Index.
