Current Projects

Wrestling With Barker  Residential School
3-6 September 2008   Exeter University

A four day residential Summer School led by Wrestling School practioners exploring the practice of preparing and presenting Howard Barker texts in performance.

Howard Barker and The Wrestling School now produce perhaps some of the most controversial theatre in the UK.  These exhilarating but challenging works inspire hatred in some but passionate devotion in countless others.   Why?  

What are the characteristics of this work? 
What are its guiding principles and governing aesthetics? 
Why does it inspire so much pleasure and devotion among performers? 
How is this work made to resonate so powerfully in performance? 
Is the creative process transformed by the writer as director?

This intensive practical four day residential school led by Wrestling School practioners will explore the practice, techniques and underlying theories of theatre that make up the Howard Barker/Wrestling School method of preparing and presenting Howard Barker texts in performance.

The School will be of interest to both the practioner (actor/director) who wants to gain a greater insight into approaches to presenting Howard Barker’s texts on stage and those who wish to take a more academic/analytical approach to the texts and gain greater understanding of Barker’s underlying theories of theatre and the highly individual and ground breaking aesthetic he has developed over the past 10 years.

• Masterclass  Howard Barker directing Wrestling School actors in scene work from more recent works.
• Individual and small group work directed by Wrestling School actors using a representative selection of texts from the last 25 years.
• Poetic text and the actor Examination of the technical demands and rewards of working with Barker texts.  To include preparatory voice work.
• Reading the text   A performer’s approach to the text on the page.
• Sounding the text Practical work in sensing that Barker’s texts are the gestural in sound; the excitation of the text into the palate and the mind is a somatic experience, which when fully articulated, renders a Barker text clear, exhilarating and real. 
• Talk by a writer/researcher on approaches to analysing Howard Barker’s texts and his theories of the Theatre of Catastrophe
• Theatre of Catastrophe  HB talks about some of the underlying theories in his approach to his writing
• The development of an aesthetic philosophy  Howard Barker reflects on the development of the company’s style.
• Howard Barker in a Q&A session with leading Wrestling School practioners.

It will include an opportunity to observe Howard Barker directing company members in the initial exploration of an as yet unpublished and unperformed new text.

There will be plenty of opportunity for individual group and practical work on Barker texts.  However these sessions are not compulsory if you would rather just observe.

Much of the sessions on the underlying theories will be focussed on Howard Barker’s latest theoretical book, Death, The One and The Art Of Theatre and participants are advised to have read this beforehand.

Leaders The Summer School will be led by experienced Wrestling School practitioners, including Melanie Jessop and Gerrard McArthur, with Howard Barker.  Leading writers on Barker will also contribute.

Location This residential school will take place amid the attractive surroundings of the campus of Exeter University, just 2 ½ hours by train from London and with good rail connections to all parts of the UK.  The venues are fully accessible.   Further information on Exeter University  

Accommodation:  Comfortable accommodation on campus is included along with three evening meals on campus.  The last night will conclude with an optional meal out in Exeter.

Fee £430   Includes 4 nights accommodation on campus, 3 evening meals, tea and coffee.

To book  Print and complete the Booking Form Send this with a cheque for the full fee.  
Book before 31 May and get an early bird discounted fee of £400.
If you later find you cannot attend and let us know before 1 August we will refund 90% of the fee.   
A full refund will be given in the event of cancellation of the School.