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 theatre n 1. a building designed for the performance of plays, operas etc. 2. The writing or production of plays. 3. a setting for dramatic or important events. [from Latin theatrum, from Greek theatron, place for viewing.] essay n. 1. a short literary composition dealing with a subject analytically or speculatively. 2. to attempt or endeavour; effort. 3. to test or try out. [from Old French essaier to attempt.] A theatre essay is a theatrical presentation of the written essay form. As with a written essay, the starting point for a theatre essay is a subject. On Theatre selects an issue of contemporary concern and then proceeds to debate, dramatise and present it on stage. We begin by looking for the most appropriate question to ask of the given topic. For On Religion we asked: "Is there a problem with religious belief?" For On Emotion the question was: "are we just the puppets of our emotions?" To help us answer this question we find a primary collaborator from outside of the theatre world such as Professor AC Grayling or Dr Paul Broks. Then we speak with a number of other experts, artists and interest groups in order to gather the widest possible range of views. The material is then work-shopped with actors to generate the most imaginative theatrical language to express it. A period of writing is followed by rehearsals. Finally the theme is interrogated and its question addressed in a powerful and provocative theatrical production. |
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