96449 - Laboratory of Theatrical Direction (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the laboratory the student: acquires elements of directing practice, identifying the possibilities of mutual development and interpenetration; learns to relate to the different operational levels of the theatrical performance (actors, figurative and textual spatial); analyzes the essential structures of the compositional process, having the tools to follow transformations and interactions.

Course contents

The most conspicuous part of the workshop will consist of the analysis of one or more direction performances.

Michela Lucenti's new production for ERT inspired by Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal will be examined. Students will attend a couple of rehearsals of the performance, and the final performance, and will have a meeting/discussion with the artist and, if possible, with the actors-dancers.

The properly laboratory part will be anticipated by an introduction to the concept of direction and to the theoretical and historical foundations of theatrical direction.

Readings/Bibliography

• Notes from lessons;
• Roberto Tessari, Linee di avviamento alla lettura critica dello spettacolo teatrale, in Roberto Alonge, Roberto Tessari, Lo spettacolo teatrale. Dal testo alla messinscena, Milano, LED, 1996, pp. 11-53;
• Roberto Alonge, Il teatro dei registi. Scopritori di enigmi e poeti della scena, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2006.

Students who already made the exam of  Storia della regia, instead of Tessari's text, will have to study

• Marco De Marinis, Il nuovo teatro 1947-1970, Milano, Bompiani, 1987 (chapters 1, 3, 7, 10 only).

  Students are recommended to read some texts written by great directors. For example:

• Konstantin Stanislavskij, Le mie regie, Imola, Cue Press, 2016-2019.
• Adolphe Appia, Attore, musica e scena, a cura di Marrotti Ferruccio, Imola, Cue Press, 2020.
• Edward Gordon Craig, Il mio teatro, a cura di Ferruccio Marotti, Milano, Feltrinelli, 1971.
• Aleksandr Tairov, Appunti di un regista, Imola, Cue Press, 2020.
• Julian Beck-Judith Malina, Il lavoro del Living Theatre (materiali 1952-1969), Milano, Ubulibri, 1982.
• Jerzy Grotowski, Per un teatro povero, Roma, Bulzoni, 1970.
• Carmelo Bene, Opere, Milano, La nave di Teseo, 2023.

Teaching methods

In addition to the lectures, the workshop includes seminar discussions, exercises, the viewing of performance rehearsals, and testimonies by playwrights/directors/actors.

Assessment methods

The final test will consist of an oral interview which will focus on the topics explained in class and on the volumes listed in the bibliography. The oral interview will evaluate the knowledge and critical skills gained by the student.

Teaching tools

Students will watch videos, iconographic material, rehearsals of performances, and they will listen to oral testimonies of directors/playwrights/actors.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Randi