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Practical development

Create, Select and Refine

Generate more material than you need, choose what best serves the intention, then make the surviving moments precise.

The rehearsal cycle

Work in short, deliberate loops

  1. 1Set a questionWhat are you trying to discover or improve?
  2. 2Try one versionWork physically rather than debating every possibility.
  3. 3Observe the effectWhat became clearer, stronger or less convincing?
  4. 4Change one variableAlter pace, space, status, form, sound or design.
  5. 5Keep evidenceRecord the decision and the next practical action.

Generate material

Four exercises that stop the room becoming a committee meeting

Three versions Perform the same moment as naturalism, physical theatre and direct address. Compare the meaning, not just the style.
Status switch Replay the scene with the power relationship reversed, then keep any newly discovered behaviour.
Image to sequence Build a still image, animate it for twenty seconds, add one sound, then decide where it could sit in the piece.
Design first Begin with a lighting state, sound, object or costume restriction and let performers respond to it.

Select material

Use evidence, not attachment

Keep it when

  • the intention becomes clearer;
  • the audience gains new information or a changed perspective;
  • it creates useful contrast in pace, atmosphere or form;
  • the group can perform or operate it consistently.

Question it when

  • it repeats an earlier moment;
  • it is clever but unrelated to the central idea;
  • it depends on explanation outside the performance;
  • it cannot be rehearsed safely or reliably.

Development tools

Choose the problem you need to solve

Meaning and form

Genre, Style and Form

Compare theatrical languages and choose techniques that serve the intention.

 Audience journey

Narrative Structure

Test linear, episodic, cyclical and multi-strand ways of organising material.

 Precision

Refining and Polishing

Strengthen vocal, physical, spatial and technical detail.

 Portfolio evidence

Record the Decision

Turn practical experiments into clear development and evaluation evidence.
Finish every rehearsal with one sentence: “Next time we will test _____ because we need the audience to _____.”