Difference between revisions of "Workshop"

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'''Workshop''': Besides its traditional meaning as a place where construction and repair work is done, the  term '''[[workshop]]''' is used in a range of ways in theatre. Related to the concepts of [[Experimental theatre]] and [[Laboratory theatre]], though perhaps with less of the accent on "scientific research processes" implied by ''experimental'' and ''laboratory''.
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The term [[workshop]], with its traditional meaning as a place where construction and repair work are done, has been adopted and used metaphorically in a range of ways in theatre and [[performance]] since the 20th century.  
  
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= The basic conecpt =
  
= As a concept =
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Related to the concepts of [[Experimental theatre]] and [[Laboratory theatre]], though perhaps with less of the accent on "scientific research processes" implied by ''experimental'' and ''laboratory'', [[workshop theatre]] refers to the process of creating a [[performance]] by [[experimentation]] and [[improvisation]].
  
== As a verb ("to [[workshop]] a play", "[[workshopping]] a play") ==
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The basic term [[workshop]] can be used as a '''verb''' ("to [[workshop]] a play"), a '''noun''' ("a [[theatre workshop]]"), or '''adjectivally''' ("a workshopped text")
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=The concept of [[workshop theatre]]=
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The term [[Workshop theatre]] emphasises the notion of creating or shaping a theatre text through a [[workshop]] process, i.e. by having the actors and director create or adapt a play through a [[improvisation]] processes (hence the term [[workshopping]]) a text/scene/play, and can refer to both the process itself as well as the [[venue]] where/by which such processes are employed (i.e. a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility to facilitate such work).
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The basic term [[workshop]] can be used as a verb ("to [[workshop]] a play", "[[workshopping]] a play"), an,  ==
  
  
Process of creating a performance by experimentation and improvisation. The notion of creating or shaping a theatre text through a workshop process, i.e. by having the actors and director create or adapt a play through a [[improvisation]] process (hence the term [[workshopping]]) a text/scene/play.  Theatre made in this way is usually referred to [[Workshop theatre]]
 
  
 
A closely related concepts are [[improvise]], [[improvisational theatre]] and [[playmaking]].
 
A closely related concepts are [[improvise]], [[improvisational theatre]] and [[playmaking]].
  
== As an adjective (“a workshop production”) ==
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== As an adjective ("a [[workshop]] production") ==
 
   
 
   
 
adjectivally (“a [[workshop]] production” or ''[[workshopped]]'' production, )  
 
adjectivally (“a [[workshop]] production” or ''[[workshopped]]'' production, )  
 
  
 
== As a noun (==
 
== As a noun (==
 
   
 
   
Used to refer to a company or venue where workshop processes (play development, experimentation and improvisation) take place. (e.g ''[[Theatre Workshop '71]]'', *** ).  it is a concept introduced into the South African scene via the American ''avant garde'' movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s, but came to real prominence as an alternative creative form in the 1970-1980 struggle period among writers in English, gradully becoming the dominant form of play creation, really ousting the traditional playwright as dominant creative figure in the local industry. After 1994 this position has slipped a little. ****  
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Used to refer to a company (e.g [[Theatre Workshop '71]]), or venue (e.g.  [[The Workshop]], Cape Town) where workshop processes (play development, experimentation and [[improvisation]]) take place.
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A [[theatre workshop]] thus most often refers to a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility to facilitate such work.   ****  
  
  
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As a verb: A [[theatre workshop]] thus most often refers to a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility to facilitate such work.
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As a verb:  
  
 
=As a venue=
 
=As a venue=
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=The concept as it evolved in South Africa=
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The concept was introduced into the South African scene via the British and American ''avant garde'' movements of the 1960s and 1970s, but became really prominent as an [[alternative]] creative form in the 1970-1980 struggle period among writers and [[theatremakers]] in English, gradually becoming the dominant form of play creation for political work especially, for a while almost ousting the traditional playwright as dominant creative figure in the local industry. This situation continued after the politcal shift in the country in 1994, [[theatremakers]] working in all the South African languages having adopted it as a valuable creative tool.
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Prominent examples of companies and venues using the term in their names are:
  
  
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== [[The Workshop]] in Cape Town ==
 
== [[The Workshop]] in Cape Town ==
  
[[Organisation of South African Artists]]  (OOSAA), initiated “'''The Workshop'''”: a series of artmaking activities and events during the course of 1976 in the space in Mowbray that would subsequently become the [[Community Arts Project]] ('''CAP''').
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[[Organisation of South African Artists]]  (OOSAA), initiated [[The Workshop]]: a series of artmaking activities and events during the course of 1976 in the space in Mowbray that would subsequently become the [[Community Arts Project]] ('''CAP''').
  
 
= Sources =
 
= Sources =

Revision as of 06:35, 10 October 2022

The term workshop, with its traditional meaning as a place where construction and repair work are done, has been adopted and used metaphorically in a range of ways in theatre and performance since the 20th century.

The basic conecpt

Related to the concepts of Experimental theatre and Laboratory theatre, though perhaps with less of the accent on "scientific research processes" implied by experimental and laboratory, workshop theatre refers to the process of creating a performance by experimentation and improvisation.

The basic term workshop can be used as a verb ("to workshop a play"), a noun ("a theatre workshop"), or adjectivally ("a workshopped text")

The concept of workshop theatre

The term Workshop theatre emphasises the notion of creating or shaping a theatre text through a workshop process, i.e. by having the actors and director create or adapt a play through a improvisation processes (hence the term workshopping) a text/scene/play, and can refer to both the process itself as well as the venue where/by which such processes are employed (i.e. a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility to facilitate such work).

The basic term workshop can be used as a verb ("to workshop a play", "workshopping a play"), an, ==


A closely related concepts are improvise, improvisational theatre and playmaking.

As an adjective ("a workshop production")

adjectivally (“a workshop production” or workshopped production, )

As a noun (

Used to refer to a company (e.g Theatre Workshop '71), or venue (e.g. The Workshop, Cape Town) where workshop processes (play development, experimentation and improvisation) take place.

A theatre workshop thus most often refers to a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility to facilitate such work. ****


Laboratory, improvisation and theatre-making.



As a verb:

As a venue

The concept as it evolved in South Africa

The concept was introduced into the South African scene via the British and American avant garde movements of the 1960s and 1970s, but became really prominent as an alternative creative form in the 1970-1980 struggle period among writers and theatremakers in English, gradually becoming the dominant form of play creation for political work especially, for a while almost ousting the traditional playwright as dominant creative figure in the local industry. This situation continued after the politcal shift in the country in 1994, theatremakers working in all the South African languages having adopted it as a valuable creative tool.

Prominent examples of companies and venues using the term in their names are:


Theatre Workshop '71

The Workshop in Cape Town

Organisation of South African Artists (OOSAA), initiated The Workshop: a series of artmaking activities and events during the course of 1976 in the space in Mowbray that would subsequently become the Community Arts Project (CAP).

Sources

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