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, including set-building workshops and the like) has also been adopted and used metaphorically in a range of other ways in theatre and [[performance]] since the 20th century.  
  
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= The concept [[workshop]] used in theatre and performance=
  
= 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'', when emplyed in theatre and performance, '''[[workshop]]''' generally refers to the theatrical 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"; "a [[workshop]] production")
  
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''Besides [[experimental theatre]] and [[laboratory theatre]], other related concepts include [[improvisation]] and [[theatremaking]]''.
  
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]]
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=The concept of [[workshop theatre]]=
 
 
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 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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The term [[workshop theatre]] specifically 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 can be used as a verb ("to [[workshop]]" a play, a scene or a production"), an adjective ("a [[workshop]] production or [[workshopped]] play") or a noun (e.g. to a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility workshop processes take place).
  
[[Laboratory]], [[improvisation]] and  [[theatre-making]].
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=The concept as it evolved in South Africa=
  
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==The broad history==
  
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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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==Somes key South African role-players ==
  
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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[[Athol Fugard]]
  
=As a venue=
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[[Barney Simon]]
  
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[[Mbongeni Ngema]]
  
== [[Theatre Workshop '71]] ==
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[[Mshengu]]
  
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[[Nicholas Ellenbogen]]
  
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==Somes South African workshop-oriented companies and venues ==
  
== [[The Workshop]] in Cape Town ==
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Click on the name below for details on the companies/venues.
  
[[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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[[Theatre Workshop '71]]
  
== Sources ==
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[[The Workshop]], Cape Town (1976)
  
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[[The Company]] ([[Market Theatre]])
  
== For more information ==
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= Sources =
  
  
== Return to ==
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= Return to =
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Themes|South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Themes|South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries]]

Latest revision as of 07:17, 10 October 2022

The term workshop, with its traditional meaning as a place where construction and repair work are done, including set-building workshops and the like) has also been adopted and used metaphorically in a range of other ways in theatre and performance since the 20th century.

The concept workshop used in theatre and performance

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, when emplyed in theatre and performance, workshop generally refers to the theatrical 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"; "a workshop production")

Besides experimental theatre and laboratory theatre, other related concepts include improvisation and theatremaking.

The concept of workshop theatre

The term workshop theatre specifically 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 can be used as a verb ("to workshop" a play, a scene or a production"), an adjective ("a workshop production or workshopped play") or a noun (e.g. to a temporary or permanent venue/company/facility workshop processes take place).

The concept as it evolved in South Africa

The broad history

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.

Somes key South African role-players

Athol Fugard

Barney Simon

Mbongeni Ngema

Mshengu

Nicholas Ellenbogen

Somes South African workshop-oriented companies and venues

Click on the name below for details on the companies/venues.

Theatre Workshop '71

The Workshop, Cape Town (1976)

The Company (Market Theatre)

Sources

Return to

Return to South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to South African Theatre Venues, Companies, Societies, etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page