biomechanics (of theatre!) kelly nienaltowski. born in penza, russia 1874 family of a russian-...
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Born in Penza, Russia 1874
Family of a Russian-German wine manufacturer
"Vsevelod" an Orthodox Christian name, not birth name
Studied law at Moscow University (never got degree)
Under Vladimir Nemirovich Danchencko, joined Moscow Art Theatre
Performed 18 roles at MAT (Treplev in The Seagull by Chekov)
Left MAT, began experimenting
Russian Revolution 1917 – joined the Commies
Had a falling out with Stanislavski
Late 1939 – arrested/tortured/forced to confess involvement with enemies
Sentenced to death by firing squad in early February, 1940
Vera Kommissarzhevskaia founded theatre in St. Petersburg and invited him to direct
Once a Commie, appointed head of the theater division of the People's Commissariat for Education
1923, Meyerhold had his own troupe in Moscow, and staged innovative productions of both classics and new works
Mid-1930s, Meyerhold's relentless experimentation was no longer in favor. His theater was harshly criticized and then closed in 1938
Stanislavski died – Meyerhold directed his opera for nearly a year until his arrest
Provocative experiments dealing with physical being and symbolism in an unconventional theatre setting
One of the seminal forces in modern theatre
Searched for theatrical innovations
Stanislavski Meyerhold
Actor's own personal memories create character’s internal motivation
Perfect and defend ‘realist’ method
Psychological truth on stage
Connected psychological and physiological processes
Learning gestures and movements as a way of expressing emotion outwardly
Symbolist/Experimental theatre
One could call up emotions in performance by practicing and assuming poses, gestures, and movements.
Developed a number of body expressions that his actors would use to portray specific emotions and characters.
Tried to return acting to the traditions of Commedia dell’arte
Meyerhold inspired revolutionary artists and filmmakers such as Sergei Eisenstein, who studied with Meyerhold and whose films employed actors who worked in Meyerhold’s tradition. Eisenstein cast actors based on what they looked like and their expression, and followed Meyerhold’s stylized acting methods.
Ian Way’s E.T. is good example of experimental theatre that centered around symbolism
Although it was more geared towards Quantum Mechanics, the cast touched on biomechanics
Jef’s classes are also very closely related to Meyerhold’s techniques.