Steven Berkoff
Date: 1937-present
Broad approach: A style of painting, music, or drama in which the artist or writer seeks to express emotion or inner feelings rather than external reality. and A mime technique in which actors use their bodies to create props or part of the set.
Example productions: Metamorphosis, East, Messiah
Key facts:
- Berkoff is an English actor, director and playwright
- he focuses on the physical abilities of the performers as a substitute for sets and props, often known as Telling the story without a set, eg through the performers’ use of their bodies. Steven Berkoff added his ideas to this concept.
- his work is influenced by Western theatre is considered to have originated in Ancient Greece in approximately 550 BC, when performances were held as part of festivals honouring the god Dionysus., Japanese A traditional form of Japanese theatre containing music, dance and drama, originating in the 14th century. and A traditional Japanese art form involving elaborate costumes, make-up and wigs, with exaggerated and stylised movement., Shakespeare, East End music halls and his Jewish heritage
- he also uses the techniques of A person or theatre company that creates practical work or theories to do with performance and theatre. such as A French performer and theatre director best known for the concept of Theatre of Cruelty. and A German theatre practitioner associated with Epic theatre. in his work
Example techniques:
- Abstract and sometimes surreal movement, not meant to look natural or realistic., including slow motion and robotic, from an Performers work together in rehearsal/performance to create a moment of action on stage. For example, Greek Chorus; slapstick sequence or physical theatre. of performers
- exaggerated An aspect of body language, using the face to convey emotions or feelings. and vocal work
- often includes A short comment made directly to the audience. and A tableau is a single freeze frame, a still image. The plural of tableau is tableaux.
- To minimise the use of set, props, costume etc in a production. use of costume and set
- exaggerated and stylised Acting through body movement without the use of speech., sometimes using masks
More guides on this topic
- Responding to a stimulus - Eduqas
- Developing an idea - Eduqas
- Selecting a genre or performance style - Eduqas
- Rehearsing for a performance - Eduqas
- Refining a performance - Eduqas
- Interpreting and performing a character - Eduqas
- Designing - Eduqas
- Health and safety considerations - Eduqas
- Creating a portfolio or devising log - Eduqas