Futurist Theatre & Performance

Boos, hisses, spaghetti and chaos

Lecture Sections Theatrical context Ideas of futurist theatre Futurist performance tactics Theatre forms Synthetic Theatre The future

Contexts Avant-garde movements c. 1880 - 1930 Challenge to conventions

But why at this time?

No more artistic patronage Economic imperative Emergence of bourgeoisie Technological innovation

Theatrical Contexts Electricity New visual effects Changed dynamics between audience &

stage Naturalism/realism 4th wall Psychologically motivated characters

Riots and Revolts Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi,

1896, Paris Obscene, grotesque,

farce First word - ‘merdre’ 40 life-size dummies Anti-realist Caused riot

Alfred JarryVeritable Portrait of M Ubu

1896Woodcut

Ideas of Futurist Theatre Provocative, engaging

& dynamic Reaction to stagnant

practices - mediocre and repetitive

Counter-strategies Rejection of well-made

play

Rejection of naturalistic language

‘the fist into the artistic battle’

‘the brutal entry of life into art’

Politics as performative

Poupees Electriques (1909)Roi Bombance (1909)

Declaimed manifesto Theatre as art-action Audience riot Spectacle on stage &

in auditorium Marinetti pleased with

response - scandal!

Futurist serate Mixture of forms Means of presenting

ideas and aesthetics Art of declamation Dynamic & Synpotic

Declamation Warlike speech Audience provokedUmberto Boccioni

Futurist Serata in Milan (ca. 1911)

The Audience Force audience to pay attention Spectator at centre of activity –

provoked to react Riots, audience responses, arrests Manifesto on the Pleasure of Being Booed Interactivity Maximise sensory & minimise intellectual

Manifesto on Variety Theatre (1913) ‘no tradition, no

masters, no dogma’ Ideal model - mix of

genres/forms Melding of high and

low art Audience involved Plagiarism & parody

of masterpiecesGino Severini

The Dance of the Pan-Pan at the "Monico" 1909-1911 / 1959-1960 (Oil on canvas)

Futurism and dance Links to Diaghilev’s

Ballets Russes 1913 The Rite of

Spring Caused riots

Ballets RussesRite of Spring dancers

Balla and Stravinsky’s Fireworks (1917) No performers, only

sets & lights & music Stage and auditorium

involved Part of ballet

programme 5 minutes duration,

with 49 different stage settings

Giacomo BallaStage design for Stravinsky’s Fireworks

Manifesto on Futurist Dance (1917) Nijinsky, Isadora

Duncan & Loïe Fuller Use of electricity - light

projections Challenged

conventional dance Movement rather than

storyPortrait of Loïe Fuller, by Frederick Glasier, 1902.

Futurist Synthetic Theatre (1915) Brief Compression of

events, scenarios, ideas

Anti-naturalism Minimal settings No reason, logic or

meaning

Interpenetration of forms

Directed at sensory, not intellect

Dynamic & fragmentary symphonies

Simultaneity

The Future of Futurist

PerformanceOver to you!

Good luck.