Experiments in Language and Form

In this class, we will focus on writing “experimental theatre”—that is, we will experiment with theatrical forms that extend beyond traditional portrayals of time, three-dimensional space, language, character, and dramatic structure—and discover the impact that different types of onstage presentations might have on audiences. We are not interested in imitating the style of experimental playwrights but, rather, using their texts as influence, stimulus, and encouragement as we attempt our own experiments. We will also style experimental texts to ascertain the types of environments—political, spiritual, mental, social—that influenced such texts to be generated; that is, created. Our aim, first and foremost, is to investigate and explore ways to genuinely give theatrical expression to our personal-political-spiritual interior lives, values, observations, and beliefs. We will then strive to examine the most effective manner of communicating our theatrical experiments to an audience. Our experimental writing may include a multimedia presentation as part of the scripted, onstage play or performance. This class meets once a week.