Moderator: Hope McIntyre
Location: Room 0028 – Pavilion de la Faculté de l’aménagement – 2940 ch. de la Côte Ste-Catherine – Université de Montréal
(Building 36 on the UdM Map)
In-Person Session
Performing in Response to the Anthropocene
In this presentation I argue that there is an ethical imperative to re-imagine and deploy a climate-crisis response theatre—at once theory, practice and pedagogy—and acknowledge it will require dedication, courage and imagination. I believe we must engage in this work across the theatre academy, even though we have no idea of its potential efficacy in the face of an unprecedented set of global crises.
I claim that work of this disposition, whether in practice or the pedagogy that feeds it, may acquire the following features: Such work will break the frame of realism; that is, we ought not content ourselves with staging realistic plays that depict battles against the forces of ecocide. Thus, in crossing over into realms of abstraction we will find ourselves in the zones defined as ‘physical theatre’ and ‘dance.’ As a matter of theory with praxis we ought, when and where possible, exit the buildings where we normally work, and relocate to various outdoor environments to teach, create, supervise creation, and perform. In doing so we may forgo the usual divisions between ‘performer’ and ‘spectator,’ aligning our work with late 20th Century participant performance, defined by Nicholas Bourriaud as “relational aesthetics.” Theatre education will have to respond to the heightened emotional states and needs of its community, invoking the therapeutic potentials that have always abided in the art form. Such work will logically fuse with reflections of a spiritual nature, and may produce events that overlap with ritual observance. Artist-scholars who are committed to developing new approaches to pedagogy in the teeth of eco-crisis may need to learn new skills, or refresh existing ones. As Greta Thunberg has written, “We now need a whole new way of thinking.”
Conrad Alexandrowicz, University of Victoria
CONRAD ALEXANDROWICZ is a Professor in the Department of Theatre at the University of Victoria, where he teaches movement for actors and directs department productions. He enjoyed decades-long career in as a creator of performance, migrating from dance to theatre. The co-edited collection that he instigated, and to which he contributed, entitled Theatre Pedagogy in the Era of Climate Crisis, was published by Routledge in May 2021. He is now at work on another book for Routledge about performance training in the face of linked environmental crises, entitled Performing the Nonhuman: Towards a Theatre of Transformation.
Evaluation of the role of theatre for development in combating climate change in South Africa
This research examines the transformative potential of Theatre for Development (TfD) in addressing climate change issues within the Mosuthu community of Reservoir Hills, Durban, South Africa. The study investigates community members’ understanding of climate change, perceptions of TfD, and the crucial role of community participation. By focusing on capturing lived experiences and perspectives, the research aims to stimulate discourse and mobilise the community for climate action with participatory theatre techniques, critical awareness, and dialogue. In response to the urgency of climate change, the study explores innovative approaches for engaging communities in sustainable practices. Utilising TfD as a theoretical framework, the research design adopts a qualitative approach, integrating interviews, focus groups, and a stage play to provide a dynamic platform for participants to share narratives. This methodology allows for the collection of data reflecting the community’s collective consciousness, surpassing traditional interview and focus group methods. The stage play, a creative performance element, facilitates a deeper exploration of community perspectives on climate change issues, enhancing the research’s richness. Sample selection involves the random sampling of community members, including residents, local leaders, and environmental activists. Data from audience and participant perceptions will be captured through one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and a theatrical workshop. Thematic analysis, including thematic content analysis (TCA), will identify recurring themes and patterns in the collected data. The inductive method serves as the primary analytical approach, eliminating biases and establishing overarching impressions of the data. This research aims to provide valuable insights into TfD’s potential to empower the Mosuthu community to combat climate change, contributing to the broader discourse on innovative and culturally embedded approaches to climate change awareness and action
Philip Isaiah Smith, University of the Free State