Satj at 05:20, 27 December 2020

2020-12-27T05:20:03Z

Satj: Created page with "The notion of '''transformation''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms. == General meanings == Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion..."

2020-12-27T05:14:43Z

Created page with "The notion of '''transformation''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms. == General meanings == Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion..."

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The notion of '''[[transformation]]''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms.

== General meanings ==

Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion of the performer "transforming" him/herself into a character and the idea of the (magical seeming) "transformation of the set", the term was generally refers more specifically the to physical changes in the '''[[performer]]''' (i.e. by means of movement, voice, posture, make-up, costume, etc.). In this sense it was probably originally found in comments on [[revue]] styles of theatre, notably so-called [[transformation pieces]], referring to the fact that there is a constant and quick change of costume and character by the performers in the piece. The use of transformation is also often found in farces and comedies, as well as one-person shows. Also referred to as '''quick change performances''' or later as '''multiple role performances'''.

The concept takes on various forms and the term regularly occurs in phrases such as [[transformation scene]], [[transformation act]], [[transformation play]], [[transformation performer]], [[transformation role]], and so on.

== Occurrence in South Africa ==

===19th century peformers===

[[Mr St George]],

Notable South African examples of this style are the South African productions of:

===20th century South African adaptations===

[[Louis de Vriendt]] and his wife [[Mignon Sorel]] in the early 1900's, who, when they performed ''[[Die Niksnuts]]'' ("Worthless Man") for example, each enacted eight characters, utilizing a strong mimetic style of characterization based on the ''commedia del'arte''. (Referred to as "transformasie aktes" by [[André Huguenet]].)

The basic principle was later adapted simplified and very effectively employed for the "poor theatre" of the cultural struggle years, e.g. in the satirical work of such performers as [[Mbongeni Ngema]] and [[Percy Mtwa]] (e.g. in ''[[Woza Albert!]]''), [[Pieter-Dirk Uys]], [[Nicholas Ellenbogen]] and the stand-up comedy of people like [[Mark Banks]].

Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Themes|South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries]]

Return to [[Main Page]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The notion of '''[[transformation]]''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms.
+The notion of '''[[transformation]]''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms and [[transformation scenes]] have been a fundamental part of theatre for as long as the art form has existed. Indeed basic [[storytelling]] often involves multiple characters and various transformations by the narrator.
 == General meanings ==
-Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion of the performer "transforming" him/herself into a character and the idea of the (magical seeming) "transformation of the set",  the term was generally refers more specifically the to physical changes in the '''[[performer]]''' (i.e. by means of movement, voice, posture, make-up, costume, etc.). In this sense it was probably originally found in  comments on [[revue]] styles of theatre, notably so-called [[transformation pieces]], referring to the fact that there is a constant and quick change of costume and character by the performers in the piece. The use of transformation is also often found in farces and comedies, as well as one-person shows. Also referred to as '''quick change performances''' or later  as '''multiple role performances'''.
+Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion of the performer "transforming" him/herself into a character and the idea of the (magical seeming) "transformation of the set",  the term generally refers more specifically to the physical changes in the '''[[performer]]''' (i.e. by means of movement, voice, posture, make-up, costume, etc.). In this sense it was probably originally found in  comments on [[revue]] styles of theatre, notably so-called [[transformation pieces]], referring to the fact that there is a constant and quick change of costume and character by the performers in the piece. The use of transformation is also often found in farces and comedies, as well as one-person shows. Also referred to as '''quick change performances''' or later  as '''multiple role performances'''.
 The concept takes on various forms and the term regularly occurs in phrases such as [[transformation scene]], [[transformation act]], [[transformation play]], [[transformation performer]], [[transformation role]], and so on.
 == Occurrence in South Africa ==
 ===19th century peformers===

Transformation - Revision history

Satj at 05:20, 27 December 2020

Satj: Created page with "The notion of '''transformation''' as a theatrical technique and style comes in various forms. == General meanings == Besides the more theoretical/philosophical notion..."