Berkoff
03/11/2024
Steven Berkoff was born in East London in 1937 and perfected his dramatic skills at the City Literary Institute, Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and at Jacques Lecoq (L'École Internationale de Théâtre).
- he focuses on the physical abilities of the performers as a substitute for sets and props, often known as total theatre
- his work is influenced by Ancient Greek theatre, Japanese Noh and Kabuki, Shakespeare, East End music halls and his Jewish heritage
- he also uses the techniques of practitioners such as Artaud, Jacques Lecoq and Brecht in his work
Example techniques:
- stylised movement, including slow motion and robotic, from an ensemble of performers
- exaggerated facial expressions and vocal work
- often includes direct asides and tableaux
- minimalistic use of costume and set
- exaggerated and stylised mime, sometimes using masks
Total Theatre
Total theatre was created by Steven Berkoff. It aims to have maximum involvement from all aspects of theatre so it uses:
Dance - there may be scenes or characters that are portrayed though dance.
Song - although it is not strictly a musical, parts of the story in total theatre can be told through song.
Slide Projection - rather than have a permanent backdrop, total theatre often uses a projected series of slides that may change over the course of the play.
