By O.Tokarchuk

Creative Laboratory. Test work-out of playwright/dramatic material. Actors` search for perspective Imagery solutions.

The idea, the bases and the relevance of the "Versions Theatre" (VT) method.

Traditionally, the work on any performing art project is initiated by a producer, director or management of a particular cultural institution. One of the steps in project preparation is casting and selection of actors and performers. These can be both - the consolidated acting groups from theatrical troupes as well as the enterprises. Any participant experienced in large-scale production projects can confirm that this work is riddled with risks.

The «actors» risks are related to their understanding of the drama/playwright chosen for the project, the ability to keep coherence, integrity and the composition of the whole play while unfolding the dramatic canvas of the script. Then, the risks of interaction between actors on the site and dissonances in the entire ensemble performance. And, finally, the mismatch between the actors’ performance and their internal understanding of the given roles.

There are many more risks, which we do not mention - such as directorial, artistic and producers’ risks or any financial risks associated with the high cost of any large-scale theatrical project, its implementation, advertising and expected success and profit.

All these risks can significantly affect the artistic value of the final outcome and may provoke irreversible financial losses. This is especially noticeable for the project’s investors and, subsequently, for all project participants.

The proposed method of the «Versions Theatre» dramatically reduces the appearance of most of the aforementioned risks and, at the same time, turns any disadvantages of the used “traditional” methods of scenic production into winning, inspiring aspects.

The essence of the «Versions Theatre» method lies in the multiple variational development of dramatic material by a working group of participants in the theatrical project. Each time, entire dramatic material or a specific part of it is taken into development.

The outcome is a short pilot performance or an expanded sketch-play that lasts about 20 minutes and is prepared following the methodology of VT. However, the final duration of the mini-performance depends on the volume of the selected dramaturgical material taken into development for the specific hypothesis - current version of view on the dramaturgical material.

Such a mini-play or an expanded sketch-play, we abbreviate as «Theatrical Version», a version of the playwright's view or a dramaturgical material or any part of it, that is taken for processing.

The performative Version can become polyphonic, multi-layered. The existence of two or more storylines, their development, and transformation on the site at the same time, adds volume to the performance and has a unique creative achievement for the directors.

At the stage of preparation of a large-scale theatrical project can be created dozens of such mini-performances, based on the playwright or dramaturgical material using the methodology of «Versions’ Theater». Watching such a «pilots», project organizers, producers, professional directors, artists can see all the perspectives for the opening or, in other words, investing into specific production project. This stage is the best time to decide whether to proceed with a large-scale production project, thereby avoiding the risks outlined at the beginning of this article.

The benefits for directors and producers are obvious; they get a «warmed up» and motivated ensemble of actors, passionately interested in creating a full-scale play. Moreover, this ensemble already has the worked-out «connections», made on the specific drama/playwright material, as well as has the local compositional solutions that subsequently can be used, adjusted or transformed by the appointed project director. Following this, a full-fledged rehearsal process ensues, encompassing costumes, decorations, music, lighting, and artistic solutions, culminating in the stage of Production and Post-production.

The «Versions Theatre» method in this sequence takes place — Pre-production.

Imagery and Imagery format in the construction of the Theatrical Version

The implementation of the VT method in full requires from the actors the ability to operate with the «tools» of Imagery. The relevant education takes place in the Academic Program and according to the methodology of the Institute.

The Program is designed to be completed during 600 academic hours. The educational format can be tailored to the abilities and goals of the parties ordering the specific educational program. It can be a full-time or part-time occupational mode. The terms of study are determined directly through acquaintance with the study group and the Academic Program organisers, before contract finalisation. The advantages of the part-time mode are that it allows participants not to interrupt their employment in any other theatrical productions while studying the Imagery and the method of «Versions Theatre».

The VT method is based on the following competencies:

• Any creative idea must meet specific criteria to verify its ability to make an impression and generate the relevant personal attitude of the members of the working group towards this idea

• To develop and work out the version of the creative idea, the working group of actors require knowledge and skills that allow them to formulate so-called «version’s questions» for the «situational(current) director» to receive «working material» from the other members of the working group

• The individual works with the material received from the group members requires the «situational(current) director to be able to lead a long-acting «monologue» using the elements of the compositional construction on the site

• The formulation of the tasks and creation of the Images and their Transformations require some specific skills that are developed by the actors upon completion of the educational program, following the methods of the Institute

• The completion of placed tasks and participation in the mini-play requires the actors to master the subject of Imagery and the ability to function/create in the Imagery format

• As a part of the VT method, the Constructive Analysis performed after each deployed sketch-play or mini-performance requires a completed qualification level of an actor who graduated from the Institute

All the aforementioned skills are being mastered by the actors as they study the Academic Program of our Institute.

The method of «Versions Theatre» is effective only in the working group of actors who have completed a full course of training in Imagery according to our program and methodology.

Possession of «tools» of Imagery and the VT method can be interesting for theatres of various scales and directions with a stable ensemble of actors, as well as for production centres, agencies working with actors from different databases, using casting selections

The actors who completed relevant education can form groups and apply the acquired skills and knowledge in any future theatrical projects that require education in the Imagery format of acting.

The Imagery itself and Imagery format enable participants to be effective at every stage of a play's creation and production. Starting with the hypothesis, a version of view on a playwright/dramaturgical material, following an acting and directing work according to the proposed methods of VT and the School of Imagery, and ending with sketch-plays or final mini-performance - Theatrical Version of view on the playwright/dramaturgical material completed with detailed analysis of the performative outcome.

Imagery is the language and format of creativity

We claim that the actor himself is the tool of his art of acting and that the subject of the art of acting is the «Iindividual», «In pair» and «Compositional» behaviour in Imagery format.

Image, in our thesaurus, is a behavioural category – a unit of human behaviour that has all the characteristics of behaviour in general, as, for example, a molecule of matter has all the attributes of matter itself.

An integral feature of the Image is the ability to make an Impression, to be changeable and stable, restrained at the same time.

The Image format in the art of acting folds the acting exclusively into Images and their Transformations. The creation of Images and their Transformation takes place according to the unique authorial methods of the Institute.

Imagery is inherent in all kinds of arts, including poetry, literature, singing, choreography and more. However, in the art of acting, Imagery defines the quality of acting!

According to its developers, the «Versions Theatre» method should become the predominant acting technology in preparation for a full-scale theatrical production cycle.

Any performing, theatrical project created in the Imagery format will increase the quality, significance, artistic level and sophistication of theatrical art and quality of life in general.

The Analogues of the “Versions” method, in other, non-theatrical fields

Architecture and construction

Modelling and layout are mandatory phases of creating and implementing a plan for any construction project.

IT industry

Proof of Concept (PoC) is a demonstration of the practical feasibility of any method, idea, or technology, to prove the fact that the technique, idea or technology works.

Film production

Creation of a pilot series of a television series