Social Theatre

Now that the Wednesday Workshops are in full swing- ticking along every week with just enough participants to make it possible- I can be in the lucky position now to sit back and begin analysing what is happening.

By setting up these workshops in the UK I am essentially embarking upon my own independent research project into what happens when you test out a deeply Brazilian set of performance techniques in London. This cultural submersion was something I hoped would offer me some profound insights into not only makes Tá Na Rua a reputable Brazilian theatre company worthy of import, but also whether when stripped down from their avert Brazilian-ness Tá Na Rua can offer a sound, usable and original set of acting techniques that are worthy of a place amongst other international greats such as Stanslavsky, Brecht, and even their once friend and neighbour- Boal.

In a research project such as this, I am finding that it is by exploring the problems we encounter in the practice that we make discoveries into the theory. Perhaps the term problem is too harsh a word for this instance- not so much a problem, more an area of slight confusion- which occurred when I was trying to figure out how to promote these workshops. The issue arose when I was having difficulty promoting the workshops to both the Drama students of Goldsmiths University and the dance students of the Laban Centre- without the hastle of producing two sets of flyers. After hearing me moan on about this complex problem my DJ Alex asked me a question that got me thinking ‘Emma, are you trying to teach actors to become dancers? Or dancers to become actors?’

Alex is not the only one confused by what exactly it is I am trying to create with this group- it seems every time I speak about this theatre company to an English-man/woman they look back confused and question me about whether it is not in fact a dance troupe? Certainly when I try and explain exactly what goes on in the workshops the group seems to...