We recently had a student show at TCAUP. My “Theater of the Absurd” project from last semester was selected to be in the show and won an award. Here’s the writeup and some images of the theater:
[un]intended performance
Drawing from the Dada film “Ghosts Before Breakfast”, this theater highlights the absurdity in daily life. Spatial sequences inspired by the film draw the pedestrian from their intended path through the site and into the theater, where they become both viewer and, unintentionally at times, performer. By putting the pedestrian’s path in clear visual juxtaposition to a more traditional stage space, creative possibilities are opened up for performance artists. A large two-way mirror overlooking State Street provides a different sort of stage where the performers are unaware, they see only their own reflections, and so the performance becomes that which people do when they think no one else is looking. These strategies draw attention to the absurdity of plans and appearances and the belief that we are in control.
