The very tired (DHWB-05-EN)

The very tired

Independent self exercise

None

• Space to move
• Relax, switch of cellphone etc

• Use your own concentration or preparation exercises or one from our website to focus and prepare your body.

about 15 minutes

Record yourself on video for feedback if you want, without feeling embarrassed, especially if this is the first time you try theatre exercises

This exercise is inspired by work we did using concepts by the great theatre pioneer Wsewolod Emiljewitsch Meyerhold, who had created models to train both professional and lay actors and had an important impact on modern theater before he became a victim of Stalin’s regime. He believed that emotional processes can be triggered by physical exercises related to the respective emotions. Physical movements and positions can symbolize emotions and relationships and can be used in large scales performances, as they are so concentrated, that they can be recognized even from a more distant spectator.  We belief that his exercises can be also used to experience one way to extend the presence of the body and experience it in a theater- oriented way. We offer one Meyerhold inspired exercise in a simplified form as a teaser.

In memory of the late great “Living Theater” actor Stephen Schulberg who was active reactivating Meyerholds work.

Jörg Bochow: Das Theater Meyerholds und die Biomechanik, Berlin: Alexander 2005. ISBN 978-3895810077

Through this method/action, these benefits are achieved:

• Experience your body in a different way and discover how you can use it in performance
• Realise that no long-term training or expensive technology is necessary to become creative

• Step 1: Prepare with a general concentration or stretching exercise you know already or take one from the website.

• Step 2: Stand upright, and imagine that you are hanging from a hook, your body, head, arms and legs “hanging” down without a rest of energy left, move like you are moved while hanging down from the hook, dragging your feet. Observe how you feel when you do the exercise.

• Step 3: Imagine how you would look on a stage when you do this.

Thomas Wenzel

Medical doctor, active also in the theatre for many years as part of activity in human rights, transcultural Psychotherapy, and the belief in the healthy aspects of creativity. Training with a focus in alternative theatre, including teachers in different traditions of modern theatre, such as members of Acroama, the Living theatre, Jerzy Grotowski, Yoshi Oida (assistent to Peter Brook), and the “Dramatic Center” training institution for alternative theatre in Vienna. Theater work as actor, assistant director, stage hand, writer and director, including in projects by Assunta Spissu (Vienna), Living Theater members, Armand Gatti, and Theaterbrett (Vienna). (Note- I am not related to the musician or the German actor with the same names, but reasonably unique).

Offers workshops in creativity and resilience building with a special focus on burn-out prevention, stress reduction and transcultural understanding.

Performing arts

English, German