UNO at Edinburgh: Devised Physical Theatre in Cross-Cultural Contexts
Advisor Information
Dr. Cindy Phaneuf
Location
MBSC 304
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
6-3-2020 10:30 AM
End Date
6-3-2020 11:45 AM
Abstract
European Theatre has been exploring movement-based devised processes for decades but it has not taken a significant hold in the U.S. One possible explanation is the plurality of cultural contexts in close proximity in Europe as compared to a more homogenous cultural landscape in the U.S. Physicality, that is, the language of movement, is useful in dramatic performance where cultural or linguistic barriers would otherwise hinder the audience's ability to understand and connect.
Little Wars is an original piece of devised physical theatre developed at UNO, and brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The Fringe is one of the largest and most diverse theatre festivals in the world, and was the ideal location to test the hypothesis of whether physicalized storytelling is able to transcend cultural barriers to create emotional connections with diverse audiences. Using anonymous survey data, 650 respondents from both Omaha, NE and the Edinburgh Fringe were asked to comment on their narrative comprehension, emotional response, and their overall connection to the performance. Responses show a significant level of agreement across cultural and national boundaries, as well as relative levels of theatrical experiences.
UNO at Edinburgh: Devised Physical Theatre in Cross-Cultural Contexts
MBSC 304
European Theatre has been exploring movement-based devised processes for decades but it has not taken a significant hold in the U.S. One possible explanation is the plurality of cultural contexts in close proximity in Europe as compared to a more homogenous cultural landscape in the U.S. Physicality, that is, the language of movement, is useful in dramatic performance where cultural or linguistic barriers would otherwise hinder the audience's ability to understand and connect.
Little Wars is an original piece of devised physical theatre developed at UNO, and brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. The Fringe is one of the largest and most diverse theatre festivals in the world, and was the ideal location to test the hypothesis of whether physicalized storytelling is able to transcend cultural barriers to create emotional connections with diverse audiences. Using anonymous survey data, 650 respondents from both Omaha, NE and the Edinburgh Fringe were asked to comment on their narrative comprehension, emotional response, and their overall connection to the performance. Responses show a significant level of agreement across cultural and national boundaries, as well as relative levels of theatrical experiences.