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Berkoff's Theatrical Techniques

Berkoff is a British theatre practitioner known for his experimental style that uses physical theatre techniques like mime, exaggerated movement, and improvisation. He believes actors' bodies should convey the story rather than relying on sets. His style, called the Berkovian Style, is influenced by Greek theatre and is characterized by stylised movement, exaggerated expressions and minimal costumes/sets. Berkoff aims for "total theatre" where every aspect has purpose to shock or amaze audiences.

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260 views11 pages

Berkoff's Theatrical Techniques

Berkoff is a British theatre practitioner known for his experimental style that uses physical theatre techniques like mime, exaggerated movement, and improvisation. He believes actors' bodies should convey the story rather than relying on sets. His style, called the Berkovian Style, is influenced by Greek theatre and is characterized by stylised movement, exaggerated expressions and minimal costumes/sets. Berkoff aims for "total theatre" where every aspect has purpose to shock or amaze audiences.

Uploaded by

ikelley941
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Berkoff

By Izzy Kelley
What is Berkoff's theory?

His plays often use physical


A British theatre practitioner He believes that actors' bodies
theatre techniques like mime,
who is known for his should convey the story rather
exaggerated movement and
experimental style. than relying on sets.
improvisation.
Theatrical style and use of convention.

What is the
They'd call the Berkovian Style.
Berkovian
style?
' Berkoff's work is influenced by Greek
theatre, Japanese Noh and Kabuki,
Shakespeare, East End music hall and his
Example techniques:

How do stylised movement , including slow motion and


robotic, from an ensemble of performers.
you exaggerated facial expressions and vocal work.

perform often includes direct asides and tableaux.


Berkoff?
minimalistic use of costume and set.

exaggerated and stylised mime , sometimes using


masks.
• Total Theatre. Every aspect of theatre must
have purpose: every movement, that is
What does choreographed, each line, lighting effect,
mood or message; each sound effect to each
Berkoff prop that has a use.
mean by • Extreme moods to give the audience an
total theatre? overwhelming experience and to shock,
amuse, scare, or amaze them.
What are • Medium scale works are Kvetch (1986),
Acapulco (1990) written while Berkoff was
some filming Rambo, Brighton Beach Scumbags
examples of (1991) and the recent Sit and Shiver (2004).
The other large scale works are Dahling You
Berkoff's were Marvellous (intended as a television
work? play) and Ritual in Blood (2001).
Gestures and movement
What are
the key Artaud wanted actors to engage the audience
techniques with physical movements and gestures

used in the Which were often used to replace text and words.
theatre of
cruelty? Artaud believed that assaulting one's senses with
movements and gestures (and other aspects)
allowed for a greater emotional experience.
• Berkoff doesn't exactly use masks in his
Why did shows like Trestle theatre but in ' The Trial'
Berkoff use and ' Tell Tale Hearts' he uses face paint to
take away the sense of character from the
white face performer separating them with the help of
paint? gestures and body language to highlight the
difference.
How was
Berkoff • The German playwright Brecht left Germany when

influenced Hitler came to power. His plays show his anti-


fascist stance, and were also innovative, in
particular his Verfremdungseffekt (alienation
by Brecht? effect) which Berkoff uses in East where actors
destroy naturalism by, for example, addressing to
the audience
Why is Theatre of Cruelty good?
• Artaud wanted to disrupt the relationship between audience and performer.
• The 'cruelty' in Artaud's thesis was sensory, it exists in the work's capacity to shock and
confront the audience, to go beyond words and connect with the emotions: to wake up the
nerves and the heart.
1.stylised movement , including slow motion
and robotic, from an ensemble of performers.
2.exaggerated facial expressions and vocal
Examples of work.
3.often includes direct asides and tableaux.
Berkoff i 4.minimalistic use of costume and set.
would use in 5.exaggerated and stylised mime , sometimes
devised using masks.

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