| LumparLab Project description Lear Landscapes (An enquiry into theory and praxis) Lear Landscapes is a long-term enquiry into theory and praxis, a cross-genre venture investigating King Lear in contemporary performing arts within an international network of artists, theatres and research centres. Laboratories Five laboratories (2010/2011) will research and reflect the methods applied from five different points of view: the performer, the pedagogue, the director, the scenographer and the dramaturg as scientific observer, who is documenting and evaluating the process. Laboratory work will be done with professional performing artists (from dance, theatre and performance) providing different experiences, backgrounds and age. Participants mainly come from the Nordic countries, in exceptional cases artists from other countries are admitted. Research method and method research Methodically the laboratories of Lear Landscapes are based on two anchors: The "Viewpoints" created by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau offer to the performer tools for the creative process on stage. Their approach follows a formal route, through structure, form and composition. To compliment this, text research is based on the Russian tradition of drama analysis (Knebel, Vasiljev, Alschitz). This means that a very physical work, which has its main focus on listening and responding, working within an ensemble and interacting with others, will be combined with intensive work on the text, focusing on themes, perspective and philosophical aspects. Laboratory work is accompanied by ongoing documentation and evaluation. Laboratory research concerns several levels: it is about developing a method that connects the Viewpoints with the Russian tradition of text analysis. And it is also a research on the contemporary impact of Shakespeare's King Lear. The combination of working on a research method and method research shall improve performers' skills as well as it is meant to upgrade teaching. Knowledge we achieve through the work is supposed to be shared and spread (documentation, website, colloquia, articles in theatre magazines). Preproject At the moment LumparLab is working on a pre-project which includes research and preparations on several levels. One laboratory has already been done in November 2009 to explore the possibilities and difficulties of our research. This preliminary laboratory had its main focus on physical viewpoints; the goal was to train and develop the actors' awareness and presence in time and space on the floor. The text analysis focused on main themes and ideas of King Lear, act 1. As we found out, this combination is strongly inspiring and pulling forward creativity of the artists. After this extremely fruitful touch with the practical part of our research, we want to start the project Lear Landscapes in April 2010. By then the preparing research work will be done. Lear Landscapes In 2010 there are planned three laboratories: April 2010 laboratory in Föglö/ Åland September 2010 laboratory in Åland November 2010 laboratory in Åland (If it turns out that it is important for the work we might choose another place to work) April 2010 The first laboratory will continue and deepen the process started in the preliminary laboratory (Nov 09), this time focusing on composition. The tools aquired in the preceding laboratory will now meet the laws of scenic composition. Also the text analysis will focus on composition in Shakespeare's drama. The composition work on the floor will again follow the Viewpoints method and the text analysis on composition will be based on the Russian tradition. September 2010 With the second laboratory we will introduce another field of Viewpoints: Vocal Viewpoints, addressing sound and human voice as a tool on stage. Text analysis will now be focused on the use of phonetic elements in verse and prose - the conveyance of imagery and meaning through sound and rhythm in spoken language. November 2010 The third laboratory will again be dedicated to composition work. Continuing and developing the tools acquired to speak with Vocal and Physical Viewpoints, advanced composition training will train the actors' capability to carry out complex compository tasks in close connection with the material. Text analysis will lead to a deeper understanding and accurate use of the original text. Colloquia During the preproject we connected to theatre scientists on University level to provide an exchange, as well theoretically as artistically. Feedforward and feedback concerning the research process will thus gather other viewpoints. In 2010 we will arrange three academic colloquia in Stockholm. Our partners are Svein Gladsø (Prof. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim Media and Theatre Dept.), Kent Hägglund (Ass.Prof., lecturer and writer Institute of Education/Stockholm University), Martha Vestin (Prof.em. Dramatiska Institutet), Pirkko Koski (Prof.em. Univ. Helsinki). Perspective The enquiry on research methods as well as on method research on King Lear in this manifold manner aims on the long run also to find a way of bridging the gap between training and rehearsing for a performance. The laboratories have their main focus on research on both the methodical work in actor's training and the play King Lear. After closing the work of research through laboratories, which will not push on any results in terms of performance, the enquiry will be resumed by a separate phase of a Nordic King Lear production (2011/2012). LumparLab LumparLab is a theatre association situated on the Åland Islands. Its aim is to further knowledge and skills about current theatre developments in the Nordic countries and, at the same time, establish a cross-scientific approach to practical theatre work. LumparLab cooperates with artistic and scientific centres on a Nordic and international level. Lear Landscapes is an autonomous project within the association. LumparLab combines several perspectives on theatrical work, since the board brings together professionals from different fields: performance, education, directing, dramaturgy, scenography and scientific background. Furthermore we connect with universities and scholars on several levels to challenge and bring forward our own work as well as to share our approaches. Leading team Grete Sneltvedt MA stageartpedagogue and Dr. Heidrun Kaletsch teatredirector are both certified as theatre stageartpedagogue by Dr. Jurij Alschitz (European Association for Theatre Culture/GITIS Moscow). Since 2003 they have taught as a team in Italy, Sweden and Åland, continuously developing their trainingmethods. Within LumparLab this project focuses on the collaboration between performing arts and science in the Nordic countries. Katja von der Ropp MA (theatre studies/ Berlin, Helsinki), works as dramaturg and director of cross-genre performances in Berlin. Ingvill Fossheim MA, scenographer and costume designer, works in Norway/Finland/Great Britain, among others with Royal Shakespeare Company GB. __________________________________________________
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