A Matter of Relationships: Dramatising, Staging and Planning Ecological Performances

Autori

  • Emanuele Regi Università degli Studi di Bologna

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-9251/20811

Parole chiave:

Sustainability, Ecology, Performance, Dramaturgy, Nature

Abstract

This article aims to explore patterns of the creative process in which performance faces ecological thought, placing about sustainability strategies. Many scholars have investigated the relationship between theatre and ecology since the end of the XXth century. Two positions have emerged strongly: ecology as a metaphor (Marranca) or as a performative tool (Chaudhuri). We will reflect on more recent points of view (Giannachi Stewart, Theresa J May, Baz Kershaw) and try to relate them to sustainability science (Bologna). Then, it will be important to focus on two phases of the creative process, dramatization, and staging, to understand the evolution of artistic practices about environmental issues. Finally, we are going to apply the methodological pattern outlined by the theoretical and practical analysis to two case studies: weLAND (2021), a contemporary circus show that staged climate migration, and La möa (2022), a choreographic work in nature that embodied the relationships in the river habitat.

Riferimenti bibliografici

Arons, W., May T. J., Reading in Performance and Ecology, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2012

Bologna, G., Manuale della sostenibilità. Idee, concetti, nuove discipline capaci di futuro, Edizioni Ambiente, Milano, 2008 (2nd edition)

Bramini, S., Dialoghi con il genius loci, in M. G. Borelli (edited by), Teatro Natura. Il teatro nel paesaggio di Sista Bramini e il progetto “Mila di Codra”, Spoleto, Editoria&Spettacolo, 2015

Brecht, B., Scritti teatrali, Einaudi, Torino, 2001

Chaudhuri U., There Must Be a Lot of Fish in That Lake. Toward an Ecological Theatre, in “Theater”, 25/1, 1994

Colomban L., Anna e Lawrence Halprin: il ciclo RSVP, in “Danza e ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni”, 9/9, 2017

Curtis D. (ed.), Building Sustainability with the Arts: Proceedings of the 2nd National EcoArts Conference, Cambridge Scholar Publishing, Newcastle, 2017

Fuchs, E. and Chaudhuri, U. (ed.), Land/Scape/Theater, University of Michigan Press, USA, 2002

Fuchs, E., The Death of Character. Perspectives on Theater after Modernism, Indiana University Press, 1996

John-Alder, K., Processing natural time: Lawrence Halprin and the Sea Ranch ecoscore, in “Studies in the history of gardens & designed landscapes”, 34/1, 2014, pp. 52-70

Jones, E. E., A Practical Guide to Greener Theatre: Introduce Sustainability in your Productions, Focal Press, Burlington (MA), 2014

Giannachi, G. and Stewart, N. (ed.), Performing Nature. Explorations in Ecology and the Arts, Peter Lang, Bern, 2005

Marranca, B., Ecologies of Theatre. Essays at the Century Turning, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1996

Morton, T., All Art is Ecological, Penguin, Dublin, 2018.

Morton, T., Hyperobjects. Philosophy and Ecology after the End of the World, Minnesota University Press, Minneapolis, 2013

Nobile, N., Making Theatre for Environmental Communication, University of Bologna, 2022

Pannek, W., Ecoperformance, in Id (ed.), in “Ecoperformance”, vol. 1, 2022

Pearson, M., Site-Specific Performance, New York, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010

Regi, E., Le parole per danzare il paesaggio – Il glossario di Bodyscape, Blog di Danza Urbana, 28 febbraio 2022

Schechner, R., 6 Axioms for Environmental Theatre, in “The Drama Review”, Spring, 12/3, pp. 41-64

Woynarski, L., Ecodramaturgies:Theatre, Performance and Climate Change, Palgrave Macmillan. New York, 2020

MagdaClan Circus Company, weLAND: A Journey to a new era, show project documents, 2021

Morandini, L. (with) and Sbaragli, E. (with) Regi, E. (chair), Testimonianze. Bodyscape-percorsi di ricerca coreografica nel paesaggio, in the framework of Dancescapes Academy, 10th September 2022. The full interview is available in Italian. I translated some parts into English for this paper.

Morandini, L., La möa. Danza per corpo e torrente, show projects documents, 2022

Poli, D., The Making of. Climate of Change. A contemporary circus project, documentary, 2022. (1st and 2nd part)

We World, Annex I.A: #ClimateofChange Campaing Description, official project document submitted to European Commission, 2020

Pubblicato

2023-08-08

Fascicolo

Sezione

5. Dwelling