BART 12A24 - Performing Old Myths: Narcissus Resung
The aim of this workshop is to guide you as you create your own scenic reinterpretation of the Myth of Narcissus, as told by Ovid in his Metamorphoses. Through a combination of creative writing, improvisation and practical scenic work, you will make this old story yours, both individually and as a group. This is not a theater history class, but a creative workshop in which you will be the playwright, director and actor of your performance, all at once. Using Narcissus as a primary material, you will experiment with various acting and directing methods (storytelling, improvisation, inner monologue, active analysis) which will help you shape a collective re-interpretation of this 2000-years-old story. To do so, we will work quickly, “badly” and joyfully during rehearsals - for which you need to come prepared.
The semester will be broken down around three key moments : the Cartes Blanches (3 to 5 min solo show written and directed by you), the Scenic Works (3min Shakespear's scene in tandem), the Final Performance (in the form of a collage/great improvisation with the group). In this class, you will be led to question the
ower/relevance of ancient myths. You will be encouraged to reflect and share your own experience creatively, under the lens of Narcissus' story : we will address themes
such as love, beauty, identity, the self, and change. Finally, we will be discussing the ethics behind the act of performing. Together, we will work toward becoming a group of thorough readers, thinkers and committed artists.
Martin NADAL
Atelier
English
Spring 2022-2023
To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments (at least three grades):
1°) Essay 1 (Monologue : 700 words) due on 05.02 (20% of the grade)
2°) Essay 2 (Diary : 1000 words) due on 09.03 (20% of the grade)
3°) Essay 3 (Letter to Narcissus : 1000 words) due on 13.04 (20% of the grade)
4°) Carte Blanche Performance on 23.02 (10% of the grade)
5°) Shakespeare Scene Work Performance on 30.03 (10% of the grade)
In-class participation : 20% of the grade
At the end of the course, the student is expected to :
1°) gain insight on the creative process behind stage composition and be able to conduct, lead and manage a collective performing arts project from playwriting to directing and acting
2°) have a better understanding of the acting and directing methods, esthetics and ethics inherited from the world's top performing artists of the past century
3°) be able to analyze, contextualize and interpret founding myths in the light of the present
In this artistic workshop, students will go through a wide range of exercises - both individually and in group. They will experiment with creative writing, scene analysis, improvisation, directing and acting. They will be asked to engage in group discussions, structured feedback and rehearsals in and outside of class. Throughout the semester, they will be encouraged to develop a critical point of view on their own practice, thanks to a three-entries diary.
Metamorphoses, Ovid, chapter Narcissus and Echo, Penguin Classics