Theatre Radically Reimagined: Exploring Artaud, Grotowski, and Boal
Created by Ruthie Tutterow
In this unit, students will learn about Antonin Artaud and how his ideas influenced avant-garde theatre in the 20th and 21st centuries. They will also learn how Jerzy Grotowski took Artaud’s theories into new directions. This is done through direct instruction. A culminating presentation will ask students to take common stories and reimagine them using some of these ideas. They will present a “pitch” of an avant-garde version of their story. In the second lesson, students learn about some of the ideas of Augusto Boal and try a session of Forum Theatre.
Standards Addressed
National Core Arts Standards
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - Grade 6
TH:Cr1.1.6.a - Identify possible solutions to staging challenges in a drama/theatre work.
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 6
Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 7
TH:Pr4.1.7.a - Consider various staging choices to enhance the story in a drama/theatre work.
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art - Grade 8
TH:Cn10.1.8.a - Examine a community issue through multiple perspectives in a drama/theatre work.
Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work - High School Accomplished
Perceive and analyze artistic work - Grade HS Advanced
Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art - Grade HS Advanced
Develop and refine artistic techniques and work for presentation - Grade 6
TH:Pr5.1.6.a - Recognize how acting exercises and techniques can be applied to a drama/theatre work.
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade 7
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished
Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work - Grade HS Accomplished
Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Advanced
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade HS Advanced
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 6
TH:Pr6.1.6.a - Adapt a drama/theatre work and present it informally for an audience.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade 6
TH:Re9.1.6.c - Identify a specific audience or purpose for a drama/theatre work.
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade 7
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8
Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8
TH:Pr6.1.8.a - Perform a rehearsed drama/theatre work for an audience.
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Proficient
Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work - Grade HS Proficient
Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural, and historical context to deepen understanding - Grade HS Accomplished
Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Advanced
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