The alchemy of the acting process : transformation and embodiment, in, and beyond, the theatre space

Watson, Lesley Ann

The alchemy of the acting process : transformation and embodiment, in, and beyond, the theatre space

Watson, Lesley Ann

Permalink

Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2017

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download contents and abstractAdobe PDF (82.75 kB)

Adobe PDF

Download thesisAdobe PDF (2.5 MB)

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Watson, Lesley Ann
dc.date.accessioned	2017-09-13T00:00:32Z
dc.date.available	2017-09-13T00:00:32Z
dc.date.issued	2017
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116894
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.	en_AU
dc.description.abstract	What makes it possible for actors to create impacting, transformative performance? This thesis refers to theories of acting, performance and devising in western traditions, and theories of consciousness, embodiment and neuroscience. A methodological bricolage approach to a devised theatre project was instigated to collect data during a three-week rehearsal. The thesis presents the empirical basis for a new theory to understand actors’ creativity, and its transformative impact. The actors’ felt-experiences and the creative processes and strategies they used were determined from video diaries and recorded discussions. The analysis highlighted the complexity at the heart of the actors’ creative process and signified six component elements – a quiet mind; activated senses; perceptively minded-body; imaginative exploration; investment of time; transformative, vulnerable instrument. The research revealed that the interaction of the combined elements transformed the actors through an alchemy of the actor’s process to achieve an authentic, impacting performance. These findings have implications for the enhancement of creative potential in other areas of life.	en_AU
dc.format	Thesis (MA)
dc.language.iso	en_AU	en_AU
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/116894/7/02whole.pdf
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	Actors' creative process.	en
dc.subject	Transformative performance.	en
dc.subject	Bricolage approach.	en
dc.subject	Theatre project.	en
dc.subject	Six component elements.	en
dc.subject	Alchemy of the acting.	en
dc.title	The alchemy of the acting process : transformation and embodiment, in, and beyond, the theatre space	en_AU
dc.type	Thesis	en_AU
utslib.copyright.status	open_access

Abstract:

What makes it possible for actors to create impacting, transformative performance? This thesis refers to theories of acting, performance and devising in western traditions, and theories of consciousness, embodiment and neuroscience. A methodological bricolage approach to a devised theatre project was instigated to collect data during a three-week rehearsal. The thesis presents the empirical basis for a new theory to understand actors’ creativity, and its transformative impact. The actors’ felt-experiences and the creative processes and strategies they used were determined from video diaries and recorded discussions. The analysis highlighted the complexity at the heart of the actors’ creative process and signified six component elements – a quiet mind; activated senses; perceptively minded-body; imaginative exploration; investment of time; transformative, vulnerable instrument. The research revealed that the interaction of the combined elements transformed the actors through an alchemy of the actor’s process to achieve an authentic, impacting performance. These findings have implications for the enhancement of creative potential in other areas of life.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/116894