Meyerhold’s Theatre Biomechanics

Biomechanics (med.) is the interdisciplinary study of the movement and the mechanisms causing the movement of living beings as well as of the action of internal and external forces on the living body and the consequences of these actions.

Theatre Biomechanics was created by Vsevolod Meyerhold and his actors at the beginning of the 20th century from a synthesis of European and Eastern theatre traditions. It is a psychophysical training for actors, focused on teaching the most fundamental principles of the actor’s craft. Biomechanics helps the actor to feel and understand his scenic presence (in time and space) – it teaches co-ordination, balance and how to precisely execute the tasks set by a director while developing creativity and providing tools to compose movement activities. Biomechanics classes followed the following steps: (1) preliminary training developed individually by the teacher observing the general principles of Biomechanics, (2) teaching classic movement etudes composed by Meyerhold, which form the core of the technique.

There are some skills that can help the actor in his/her work: co-ordination in space and time, balance and readiness to focus. Biomechanics training helps to acquire these skills. Each workshop consists of two parts. The first part is general training during which participants learn how to construct movement using the principles of Biomechanics. In the second part, participants learn one of Meyerhold’s five biomechanical etudes.

This workshop is intended for performers with previous experience of Meyerhold’s Theatre Biomechanics.

Application

Please email your completed application form to Justyna Rodzińska-Nair at justyna@grotowski-institute.art.pl by 5 October 2016. Please ensure that the subject line of the email reads: ‘Theatre Olympics’ followed by the name of the chosen workshop. The number of places is limited. Applicants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.