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Steven Berkoff

Steven Berkoff. Seven states of tension. Berkoff’s work exists at 1, 2 and 6, 7- it is all about extremes. Freezes should be held with great tension and with exaggerated facial expressions ‘Movement is another language’ http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPSgGHxIxQ&safe=active.

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Steven Berkoff

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  1. Steven Berkoff

  2. Seven states of tension. • Berkoff’s work exists at 1, 2 and 6, 7- it is all about extremes. • Freezes should be held with great tension and with exaggerated facial expressions • ‘Movement is another language’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVPSgGHxIxQ&safe=active

  3. Berkoff’s theatre • The Actor creates the whole environment physically. • All props are mimed or physically embodied by part of the actors anatomy • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2sKH3l7eM&safe=active • This should make theatre more of a spectacle • Test the level of physical control by using extremes of pace- slow/ fast • “I despise naturalism, a good actor should need no props.” Berkoff • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZQOEZO1n10

  4. Influences • Physical Theatre of Jacques Le Coq • Mime • Creating the environment physically • 7 states of tension • Heightened Gesture • Brecht’s alienation • Plays seek not to recreate real life, but to revel in the spectacle of theatre • At times plays have been episodic and had a political message (Sink The Belgrano) • The notion of Gestus and exaggerated characters/ stereotypes • Greek Theatre • Use of a chorus • Long verse speeches • Directly addressing an audience

  5. So to play a Berkoff character • You should have hyperbolic physicality (clear Gestus- heightened gesture) play up the stereotype. • Play with the rhythm and tempo of the verse, enjoy the flow of the language • Deliver dialogue straight out to the audience- not to the other actor • Create the environment around you physically using mime and sound effects • Play the scene with great tension in your body. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2ePpFxRgDQ&list=FL4_W_gCizNgZauB_gFEZzqg

  6. Major Berkoff plays • ‘Newer Berkoff’* offensive, shocking, character driven plays • East • West • Greek • Kvetch • Decadence • ‘Older Berkoff’ dark, chorus driven plays • The Trial • Metamorphosis * I say ‘newer’ but these plays came out between 1975 and 1986, so they are all about 30 years old! – after this he tended to do 1 man shows in the 90s (Dog, Tell Tale Heart, Shakespeare’s Villains)

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