Devised Theatre Book by Bert van Dijk

Devised Theatre is rapidly emerging as one of the most popular genres of contemporary theatre. This is reflected not only in the increasing number of successful companies devising their own work, but also in a dramatic shift in the approach to actor training.

Despite the fact that the actual practice presents as many variations as there are practitioners, there are a number of clear, defining principles shared by all.

I am proud to announce the recent publication of my Devised Theatre book that offers a practical guide to the devising process. The content of this paperback is presented in three sections:

The first section establishes what all devisers have in common. It presents a definition of Devised Theatre and highlights the opportunities and pitfalls, which can arise during the various stages of the devising process.

The second section outlines the philosophy and working principles that underlie my own method of devising, which is based on more than twenty-five years of training, teaching, performing and directing in this genre. It pays homage to the brilliant genius of my most influential mentors and provides an inter-cultural approach to actor training and the devising process that combines Japanese, M?ori and Contemporary European principles of training and performance practice.

The third section offers a wealth of exercises, which are practical, tested and valuable. They are arranged by vocabulary and principle, and can be adopted and adapted by anyone with a passion for devising theatre.

The book contains more than 190 pages of tips, insights, guidelines and practical suggestions, as well as numerous b&w and coloured images of performances I devised in recent years. It is a valuable resource for devisers, directors, presenters, coaches and drama teachers at all levels.