My viewpoint for the ensemble and experimental theaters has significantly changed after reading Brook’s The Empty Space and Grotowski’s Towards a Poor Theater. Previously I thought that an ensemble theater is where a new theater is devised by giving the actors equal opportunities to play roles with no preference for the most talented ones. It involved the actors spending time together to practice plays in an environment where they are allowed free movement and collaboration for the success of all. On the other hand, I thought that an experimental theater is a way of developing plays by making changes to the traditional forms and guidelines. It seemed like a radical way of creating plays to match the needs of the audience.
However, these impressions have slightly changed after reading the two chapters by Brook and Grotowski. An ensemble theater means a theatrical creation where all the actors have trained and rehearsed enough to produce top performances. The actors intensely train such that they can take on any of the roles and perform well. An ensemble is created over a long time as actors use the time to play different roles and enhance their skills. The impression of experimental theater also changed a little. Experimental theater is where the producer, playwrights, and actors try out new ways of doing things by deviating from the traditional styles, guidelines, and backgrounds. It involves the application of historical, mythical, religious, scientific, and psychological aspects to the contemporary issues.
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When reading about ensemble theaters, Jason Gray Platt’s name often appears. Gray is known for using ensemble-based works that have been produced by different playgroups. Apart from Gray, a play that uses the ensemble-based theater is the Dance of the Holy Ghosts by the Ubuntu Theater Projects. Similarly, reading Grotowski’s experimental theater, The Octoroon and Mnemonic plays stand out.
