Tableau
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From the SFUSD Summer Institute
Contents |
TABLEAU and improvisational theater for the Classroom
By Stephen Bass and Maureen Sullivan
SLANT institute July 21, 2010 California Academy of Sciences
Tableau:
A silent and motionless depiction of a scene created by actors, often from a picture (plural tableaux). Vocabulary definition by SPARKed and TCAP 2004.
Applications:
To explore multiple perspectives of a story, snapshot, or scenario. To achieve this, participants are to create a tableau from which the individually step out and say a line from their perspective within the tableau. For our application today we will be reading and responding to a newspaper headline after the performance. Further applications can include students creating tableaux of natural, biological, and celestial environments for science. In this instance, participants can replicate a natural scene. E.G. Rock Cycle, Digestive System, Solar System etc… Create the picture and step out saying how you relate to the others and what your purpose is.
For a more detailed lesson plan File:Tableau lesson plan.doc
Building on some of the basic tenets of improvisational theater from our Vacations activity with Megan Simmons.
- The first idea is usually the best idea! Follow your instincts, listen to your gut and heart, and don’t think too much.
- Get the thinking part out of your brain and be responsive, embody emotion.
- Be present! Respond to what is actually being said and done. Not what you think should happen next.
- Do what naturally comes next, again don’t over think, analyze, or try to be funny.
- Say “YES” and…
- Make your partner look good, brilliant even.
- Embrace failure, use the “OH WELL!” say it loud, say it proud and throw your hands up in the air. This one I owe to Rebecca Stockley.
- Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
These basic ideas are pulled from work with Keith Johnstone and several company members of Bay Area Theatresports, Nan Crawford and the company of Pacific Playback Theater, as well as Augusto Boal.
A tableau is a set of poses, a human ‘snapshot’ that clearly illustrates a point. We use a few social realist paintings like the “Last Supper” to explain what a tableau is. Resource: https://owa.sfusd.edu/OWA/redir.aspx?C=824570517f114c90851843330e62c73d&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.evergreen.edu%2fwashcenter%2fnewsletters%2fFall2003Newsletter%2fPg36-37.pdf
Videos of Performances
Power Group 1 http://www.youtube.com/user/ISKME#p/u/7/4L3Z3fziwZg
Life Group 2 http://www.youtube.com/user/ISKME#p/u/6/KfhycvW4RYg
Green Group 3 http://www.youtube.com/user/ISKME#p/u/5/PKcuphujPos
Beans Group 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqWBFd7ZlyI&feature=channel
Mother Group 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YIANgNvmJQ&feature=channel
Gulf Group 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O3QevpU8sE&feature=channel
Carnivore Group 7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgsp6gAPb6s
Summer Group 8 http://www.youtube.com/user/ISKME#p/a/u/0/QO1pLBxyCqI
Improv Resources:
Impro for Storytellers by Keith Johnstone
Impro: Improvisation and the theatre by Keith Johnstone
Theatre of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal
The Rainbow of Desire by Augusto Boal
Improvisation for the Theater by Viola Spolin
