Difference between revisions of "First Physical Theatre Company"

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[[First Physical Theatre Company]] is a theatre company attached to the [[Rhodes University]] Drama Department.
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[[First Physical Theatre Company]] is a theatre company attached to the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]].
  
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Sometimes referred to by its acronym as the [[FPTC]].
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'''It is often also listed simply as [[First Physical]], or on occasion referred to by its acronym as the [[FPTC]].'''
  
 
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.   
  
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Works produced by the company include *** (199*),  ''[[The Unspeakable Story]]'' (1996) created by Gordon, dramatist [[Reza de Wet]], mime-artist [[Andrew Buckland]] and students from the company, ***** (199*), ****(199*), and ***** (200*), ''[[Vrypas]]'' (NAF, 2006),  ''[[16 Kinds of Emptiness]]'' (NAF, 2006). 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. Company members over the years have included [[Samantha Pienaar]], [[Lanon Prigge]], [[Juanita Finestone-Praeg]], [[Heike Gehring]], [[Acty Tang]],  [[Sheena Stannard]] ***
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Works produced by the company include *** (199*),  ''[[The Unspeakable Story]]'' (1996) created by Gordon, dramatist [[Reza de Wet]], mime-artist [[Andrew Buckland]] and students from the company, ***** (199*), ****(199*), and ***** (200*), ''[[Vrypas]]'' (NAF, 2006), ''[[lake…beneath the surface]]'',  ''[[16 Kinds of Emptiness]]'' ([[NAF]], 2006). 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. Company members over the years have included [[Samantha Pienaar]], [[Lanon Prigge]], [[Juanita Finestone-Praeg]], [[Reza de Wet]], [[Heike Gehring]], [[Acty Tang]],  [[Sheena Stannard]] ***
  
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The manuscripts and other materials of these productions are held in the [[National English Literary Museum]] ([[NELM]]) in Grhamstown, as the [[FPTC archives]].  
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The manuscripts and other materials of these productions are held in the [[National English Literary Museum]] ([[NELM]]) in Grahamstown, as the '''[[FPTC Archive]]'''.  
  
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During her time in Grahamstown, playwright [[Reza de Wet]] (1952-2018) was a at times a creative collaborator with both the [[Rhodes Drama]] department, and particularly the  [[FPTC]]. Most of the scripts she created are housed at [[National English Literary Museum]] ([[NELM]]) in the [[FPTC]] archive. Among the works are six scripts she contributed for [[Gary Gordon]]’s "[[Danceplay|danceplays]]" (a playful, yet perhaps accurate and useful, term  that Gordon coined to describe his Physical Theatre forms and collaborations). De Wet also toured and performed with the company for selected performances of the company’s signature work,  [[The Unspeakable Story]] in 1995.
 
  
  
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Prigge, L & "Community-cation". 1996. Physical Intelligence. Pienaar, S. (ed) Issue 1/June, pp.1-3. The First Physical Theatre Company, : Press package.
 
Prigge, L & "Community-cation". 1996. Physical Intelligence. Pienaar, S. (ed) Issue 1/June, pp.1-3. The First Physical Theatre Company, : Press package.
  
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[[Juanita Finestone-Praeg]]. 2018. "Drifting: Reminiscing. Remembering. Reinventing. Reza" (Draft manuscript, courtesy of the author.)
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Go to the First Physical Theatre website at http://www.ru.ac.za/firstphysical
 
Go to the First Physical Theatre website at http://www.ru.ac.za/firstphysical

Latest revision as of 23:58, 3 January 2024

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.

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.

Works produced by the company include *** (199*), The Unspeakable Story (1996) created by Gordon, dramatist Reza de Wet, mime-artist Andrew Buckland and students from the company, ***** (199*), ****(199*), and ***** (200*), Vrypas (NAF, 2006), lake…beneath the surface, 16 Kinds of Emptiness (NAF, 2006). 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. Company members over the years have included Samantha Pienaar, Lanon Prigge, Juanita Finestone-Praeg, Reza de Wet, Heike Gehring, Acty Tang, Sheena Stannard ***

The manuscripts and other materials of these productions are held in the National English Literary Museum (NELM) in Grahamstown, as the FPTC Archive.



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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