Phakama: Making Participatory Performance

Description

An international arts organisation and network engaging with music, dance, theatre and visual art, Phakama creates adventurous, site-responsive performances with large groups of people from diverse backgrounds. With contributions from participants, artists, academics and cultural commentators from India, Ireland, South Africa, the UK and USA, this book features case studies, interviews and articles covering two decades of practice. At the heart of the book is a selection of carefully explained and beautifully illustrated exercises which will enable Phakama's methodology to be used by organisations and practitioners working with young people internationally. Phakama is a Xhosa and Zulu word for stand up, arise, empower yourself. With a focus on collaborative, non-hierarchical performance making, Phakama invites cultural sharing and critical engagement with the world we live in. As well as engaging with political and critical concerns about contemporary theatre and performance, the book offers unique approaches to devising theatre, applied and social theatre, intercultural performance practices and pedagogic models of collaboration and cultural leadership. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Contents List of Figures Contributors Foreword Acknowledgements Introduction A Phakama Book – Why This One? Phakama Projects (1996–2016) Methodological Challenges The Structure of the Book References Part One: Preparing the Ground Introduction Hosting Introduction Phakama Practice: Cultural Tours The Practical Politics of Care References Case Study The Child I Curry (Lesotho, 2003) Introduction Beginnings Phakama Lesotho The Sites of The Child I Curry Reflections References Give and Gain Introduction Phakama Practice: Give and Gain Principles of Give and Gain Cultural Contexts References Case Study Bulang Dikgoro/Open the Gates (Benoni, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1996) Facilitators Coming Together Emerging Methodology Workshopping Give and Gain Wheel Working with the Young People Performance Map Applying the Methodology Reference Interview with Mildrett Stevens, Tracey-Lee Gates and Sharon Waverley Cultural Sharing Introduction Working Together Phakama Practice: Mapping the World Difficult Cooperation References Case Study Be Yourself (Phakama South Africa and Phakama UK, Tricycle Theatre, London, 1999) Cultural Sharing: The Background Cultural Sharing: Be Yourself Cultural Sharing: An Audience Cultural Sharing: A Long-term Process References Interview with Maylene Catchpole Partnerships When Time Is Not (2008): Artistic Exchange between Project Phakama UK and the Creative Arts Team (New York City) Introduction Company Exchanges Conclusion References Part Two: Making the Performance Introduction Layered Co-authorship Phakama Practice: Four Corners Phakama Practice: Poetry Cuts Phakama Practice: Drawing the Body Working with Site and Found Materials Audience References Interview with James Hadley, Phakama Relationship Manager, Arts Council England (2008–2014) Catalytic conversations: The aesthetic weave and social weft of Phakama’s creative practice Sara Matchett Geographical and Psycho-emotional Landscapes Memory–Story–Performance Community Mainstream Performers and Audience: Embodied Conversations The Reverberation of Phakama’s Creative Practice Conclusion References Case Study The Phakama Way (Pune, India, 2002) Beginnings The Phakama Way – Facilitator Training and Devising Process Disruption – Reflections on My Experience of Phakama The Street Is My Backyard (Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1996) Part Three: Celebration Introduction References Connecting Introduction Reference Case Study The Edible Garden (UK, 2012–16) Becoming Introduction Alive to the Music of What Happens Met’n Sak Onner die Blad/With a Suitcase in My Hand (Cape Town, July 1998) Solemn and Exuberant A Creative Spiral ‘Coming from Gratitude’: Message in a Bottle (London, 2012) ‘Honoring our Pain for the World’: Strange Familiars (London, 2003) ‘Seeing with New Eyes’: Tripwires (London, 2011) and Spotlight (London, 2013–15) ‘Going Forth’: The Trashcatchers’ Carnival (Tooting, London, 2010) Energizing Capacity for Action References Stepping Up Stepping Up: An Act of Celebration References Performing Risk Introduction Voluntary Learning The Reach of Participatory Theatre: Phakama and Public Works The Critical ‘So What?’ Question References Epilogue Reference Index