Two nations produce drama without script
A scene from the devised theatre drama Stranger. — Photo courtesy Life Art Viet Nam
HA NOI (VNS)– A scriptless drama titled Stranger, a joint theatre performance by Vietnamese and British artists, will be held at the World Stage Design (WSD) Festival from September 5-15 in Cardiff, Wales.
The one-and-a half-hour performance explores issues stemming from stereotypes of masculinity and femininity.
It traces the journey of a young woman and man who question the gender roles they are subject to and who discover acceptance through experiencing conflict and rejection with society, lovers and themselves.
Last year, with support from the British Council Art Fund, Denmark’s Cultural Development and Exchange Fund and Life Art Viet Nam, actress/director Phan Y Ly and actor Ho Ngoc Bao Khiem engaged with visual artist Paul Burgess and director Rob Hale to create theatre within an eastern context.
The performance experiments with new theatre to stimulate discussion and critical thinking on gender in Viet Nam, Ly said.
“Devised theatre involves actors and directors creating a show without using a script,” she said, adding that the actors started with questions and themes and created improvisations that illustrated the conflicts being explored.
Aspects of the actors’ personal life mix with performances to build stories and journeys, while visual and physical techniques are used to introduce spontaneity.
After its debut in April last year, the artists took the show to numerous venues.
Beside the WSD festival, the artists will also stage the play in London and Cardiff between August 23 and September 18 and work with directors to develop the visual elements and storyline.
Held every four years since 2005, WSD is a prestigious festival celebrating international performance design from the world of theatre, opera and dance as well as public performances and installations in non-theatre spaces. – VNS