Beginning to Work Collaboratively

What is collaboration?

What are the benefits of working collaboratively? What might be some of the roadblocks that we might come across while working collaboratively? How can we avoid those roadblocks?



Working Collaboratively
Take a look at the following handout from “Devised Theatre: No Guts, No Glory” by Joan Schirle (2005). Take a look at your own guidelines for working.

Collaborative creation of original theatre

The collaborative creation of original theatre involves a group of theatre makers (creators, designers, directors and performers) who work together practically to examine and develop ideas in order to generate theatrical material that is then structured and organized into a piece of theatre.

The piece of theatre is rehearsed and presented to an audience.

There are three parts to this process, although these are sometimes run concurrently.

• Creating, generating and developing theatrical material
• Organizing and structuring the material into a piece of theatre
• Preparing (production and performance), rehearsing and presenting the piece for an audience

The piece of theatre that has been created is not necessarily scripted in traditional forms.

Unlike play text–based theatre written by a playwright(s), collaboratively created theatre is often developed by the performance and production team that also stage it and present it.

The collaborative creation of original theatre is also often referred to as devising.

Collaborative Project Group Worksheet

Homework:

--Make sure your research of a Professional Theatre Company is completed (and documented). Add to your blog & comment on Vibrant Voices.
--Description of how/why your group was created. Highlight individuals and interests. Go over the guidelines you set for yourself.
--Bring STARTING POINT to the group. (Next Friday)  Using REAL TIME, all students must react to the starting points brought forth. Decide on one that you would like to work with for the show.
--Next class, we will begin exploring these ideas.