Difference between revisions of "First Physical Theatre Company"
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Founded informally in July 1993 by [[Gary Gordon]] as a project of the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]]. The aim of the company was to “create a leading and powerful repertoire of new South African theatre works; devise high profile exciting and illuminating educational and development programmes; achieve and maintain a highly professional and critical level of creative educational and performance ability; publish and distribute in-depth and critical writing on dance and theatre development in South Africa” (Gary Gordon: Lessons and Mirrors, July 1997) To this end it employs both students and professional performers trained by the Department. Ultimately the company is best known for its physical theatre performances at the [[Grahamstown Festival]] and the Vita [[Dance Indaba]], as well as other arts festivals. | Founded informally in July 1993 by [[Gary Gordon]] as a project of the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]]. The aim of the company was to “create a leading and powerful repertoire of new South African theatre works; devise high profile exciting and illuminating educational and development programmes; achieve and maintain a highly professional and critical level of creative educational and performance ability; publish and distribute in-depth and critical writing on dance and theatre development in South Africa” (Gary Gordon: Lessons and Mirrors, July 1997) To this end it employs both students and professional performers trained by the Department. Ultimately the company is best known for its physical theatre performances at the [[Grahamstown Festival]] and the Vita [[Dance Indaba]], as well as other arts festivals. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Documentation== | ||
| + | |||
| + | In 2002, ''[[The Art of Physical Intelligence]]'' is a series of 3 manuals on [[Physical Theatre]] was published by the [[First Physical Theatre Company]] in Grahamstown, offering insight into [[physical theatre]], contemporary dance and choreography. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''For more information, see ''[[The Art of Physical Intelligence]]''.''' | ||
==Company members== | ==Company members== | ||
| − | Company members over the years have included [[Samantha Pienaar]], [[Lanon Prigge]], [[Juanita Finestone-Praeg]], [[Reza de Wet]], [[Heike Gehring]], [[Acty Tang]], [[Sheena Stannard]]. | + | Company members over the years have included [[Andrew Buckland]], [[P.J. Sabbagha]], [[Rob van Vuuren]], [[Samantha Pienaar]], [[Lanon Prigge]], [[Juanita Finestone-Praeg]], [[Reza de Wet]], [[Heike Gehring]], [[Acty Tang]], [[Sheena Stannard]], [[Craig Morris]]. |
==Productions== | ==Productions== | ||
Works produced by the company include: | Works produced by the company include: | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1994: ''[[Dialogue]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1995: ''[[The Unspeakable Story]]'' | ||
1996: ''[[The Unspeakable Story]]'' | 1996: ''[[The Unspeakable Story]]'' | ||
| − | + | 1996: ''[[Dead: A Slight History of One Called Ivan]]'' | |
| + | |||
| + | 1999: ''[[Knowing it was a mirage made no difference]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2000: ''[[Bessie's Head]]'' | ||
2001: ''[[lake…beneath the surface]]'' | 2001: ''[[lake…beneath the surface]]'' | ||
2001: ''[[On the Lake]]'' | 2001: ''[[On the Lake]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2004: ''[[Breathing In]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2006: ''[[Bessie's Head 2006]]'' | ||
| + | |||
| + | 2006: ''[[Vrypas]]'' | ||
2006: ''[[16 Kinds of Emptiness]]'' | 2006: ''[[16 Kinds of Emptiness]]'' | ||
Latest revision as of 12:36, 11 August 2026
First Physical Theatre Company is a theatre company attached to the Rhodes University Drama Department.
It is often also listed simply as First Physical, or on occasion referred to by its acronym as the FPTC.
History
Founded informally in July 1993 by Gary Gordon as a project of the Rhodes University Drama Department. The aim of the company was to “create a leading and powerful repertoire of new South African theatre works; devise high profile exciting and illuminating educational and development programmes; achieve and maintain a highly professional and critical level of creative educational and performance ability; publish and distribute in-depth and critical writing on dance and theatre development in South Africa” (Gary Gordon: Lessons and Mirrors, July 1997) To this end it employs both students and professional performers trained by the Department. Ultimately the company is best known for its physical theatre performances at the Grahamstown Festival and the Vita Dance Indaba, as well as other arts festivals.
Documentation
In 2002, The Art of Physical Intelligence is a series of 3 manuals on Physical Theatre was published by the First Physical Theatre Company in Grahamstown, offering insight into physical theatre, contemporary dance and choreography.
For more information, see The Art of Physical Intelligence.
Company members
Company members over the years have included Andrew Buckland, P.J. Sabbagha, Rob van Vuuren, Samantha Pienaar, Lanon Prigge, Juanita Finestone-Praeg, Reza de Wet, Heike Gehring, Acty Tang, Sheena Stannard, Craig Morris.
Productions
Works produced by the company include:
1994: Dialogue
1995: The Unspeakable Story
1996: The Unspeakable Story
1996: Dead: A Slight History of One Called Ivan
1999: Knowing it was a mirage made no difference
2000: Bessie's Head
2001: lake…beneath the surface
2001: On the Lake
2004: Breathing In
2006: Bessie's Head 2006
2006: Vrypas
2006: 16 Kinds of Emptiness
Annually for a number of years they also presented their New Voices programme with their young performers and choreographers at the NAF, under the artistic direction of Gary Gordon.
The manuscripts and other materials of these productions are held in the National English Literary Museum (NELM) in Grahamstown, as the FPTC Archive.
Awards
First Physical Theatre Company was a finalist in the 2003 Arts and Culture Trust Awards for Most Successful ACT-funded Project.
Sources
Prigge, L & "Community-cation". 1996. Physical Intelligence. Pienaar, S. (ed) Issue 1/June, pp.1-3. The First Physical Theatre Company, : Press package.
Juanita Finestone-Praeg. 2018. "Drifting: Reminiscing. Remembering. Reinventing. Reza" (Draft manuscript, courtesy of the author.)
Go to the First Physical Theatre website at http://www.ru.ac.za/firstphysical
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