Literature Review 2

Relationships between Educational Theatre and Professional Theatre

 

This Journal notates the finding of a two phased conference held between February 3-6 and May 26-31 in 1966 exploring the relationship between theatre's educators and professional practitioners; and the past, present and future of Actor training in America. This development conference was held in order to foster mutual beneficial relations between the American professional and academic theatre. Particular emphasis from this government programme was put on the necessity to improve actor educational training.

I was intrigued by the main objectives of this conference which were to establish areas of action in which separately and combined teachers in academic and professional theatre could add to improve America theatre including theatre education. The idea that both sides of theatre could in some way have a mutual benefit gave me the idea that I could perhaps investigate two opposing roles in the arts as part of my inquiry looking at views of teachers and performers within the arts.

I find the following exert from this journal very compelling evidence to suggest that each role in the theatre industry from 'Actors, writers, directors, teachers, designers, technicians, and managers are all members of this profession; live theatre, cinema, and television are all major forms of his profession' can show how each strengthens one another.
 
'the areas of preparation and performance are interdependent; one relies on the other for purpose, meaning, and continuity. To improve one is to strengthen the other.' I understand this analysis as thus if a teacher is as informed as possible the artist they train will become stronger and more accomplished for this. I saw this as an idea where I could examine the abilities and skills a teacher poses and see what this could bring to a performers career. I then wondered as a fellow teaching performer what the combination of a teacher and performer could bring seeing firstly if the two could be sustained without impeding the other.

My review of this piece of literature has brought further reassurance from a historical approach as well being from 1966 that the integration/collaboration of two roles within the arts perhaps could be a positive move for mutual benefit moving forward.


Relationships between Educational Theatre and Professional Theatre: Actor Training in the United States: A Report on the University of Minnesota Conference, February 3-6 and May 26-31, 1966
Kenneth L. Graham, Lee Strasberg, Duncan Ross, Kristin Linklater, O. Meredith Wilson
Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press Stable URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/3204968 .

Accessed: 26/11/2011 15:59