The Intercultural Performance Handbook

The Intercultural Performance Handbook opens up a new world of technique for performers. The first ever full-length, fully illustrated manual for practitioners, it provides: *a guide to the physical, vocal and improvisational dynamics drawn from world performance styles *a new vocabulary with which to interpret plays from around the globe *games to use for exploring rhythm, movement, balance, tension and gesture, breathwork, stylisation and the use of the voice *a practical approach to creating vibrant theatrical work. Studies on intercultural performance are usually written by scholars and reasearchers. John Martin explains the definition and development of intercultural performance studies from the perspective of an experienced practitioner. He provides exercises, practical advice and a clear training process for the inquiring actor or director. This book is a process of discovery, carefully written so as to develop understanding and move towards empowerment for the adventurous theatre-maker.

John Martin is a theatre director and trainer, dedicated to fulfilling his teacher, Jacques Lecoq's appeal to "create the theatre which does not exist". Having directed and taught across the world, he has followed his own multi-racial origins to explore performance work relevant to a multi-cultural society. A pioneer of intercultural performance in the UK and founder of Pan Centre for Intercultural Arts, he also lectures in creativity fdrawing from a wealth of research across many performance traditions.

Introduction; 1. Discovery of Energy 2. Using the Energy 3. Rhythm 4. Improvisation 5. The Voice; Appendicies