Minor to major and back again: The Physical Ensemble | Andrew Buckland | THE OPEN MOMENT

The Open Moment is a public showing of the exercises and improvisations explored over the course of the three-day workshop Minor to major and back again | The Physical Ensemble, led by the South African playwright, performer, theatre director, mime, and educator Andrew Buckland. The Open Moment was held at The Centre for the Less Good Idea on 16 July in The Other Space.

Forming part of a thread of modular unfoldings all centred around the body in motion and movement on stage, Buckland’s workshop employed a variety of exercises and improvisatory scenarios to explore the ability of the actor to transform instantly from ‘invisible’ chorus member to core storyteller, and back again, in order to best serve the narrative or the theatrical moment.

For The Open Moment, Buckland leads the workshop participants through these exercises and scenarios once more for a public showing that is made largely in the moment.

Exercises in handing over and accepting responsibility, negotiating presence and space through communication, and short physical narrations using the principle of major and minor were all shown to the audience. Throughout it all, Buckland unpacks and contextualises the exercises, often drawing on his personal history as a performer and educator, while always drawing back to the central exploration of the workshop.
Each exercise demonstrates the principles of minor and major, and of the role of the chorus in a performance. In one such exercise, Buckland delivers the story of a woman who is tasked with journeying across mountains and oceans to retrieve a rare medicine for the ailing people of her community. The performers begin to act out the scene, the chorus shifting and adapting. They become rocky mountain passes, tempestuous ocean currents and exuberant townsfolk, both to facilitate the journey of the central character and driving the narrative, simultaneously.

Concluding The Open Moment is a showing of the key exercise of holding and communicating the stories of fellow workshop participants. This exercise, explains Buckland, comes out of his experience of working on the play Truth in Translation, and having to grapple with and communicate the heavy and deeply personal stories that emerged from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

As an exercise on stage, the performers convey childhood memories – birthday parties, playground antics and adolescent rebellion – all in the short-form. Here, physicality, communication and trust emerge as the central components of the ensemble.

Finally, in a brief Q&A session following The Open Moment, Buckland shares more of his insights into improvisation, storytelling, and the vital, inimitable role played by the chorus worker on stage.

– David Mann
CREDITS:

FACILITATOR | Andrew Buckland

PARTICIPANTS | Thabo Rapoo, Phuti Chokwe, Philangwezi Nxumalo, Paballo Phiri, Obett Motaung, Soyiso Ndaba, Mlindeli Zondi, Kaldi Makutike, Campbell Meas, Buhle Mazibuko & Nwabisa Mbambo

PRODUCTION FOR THE CENTRE
ANIMATEUR | Phala O. Phala
DIRECTOR | Bronwyn Lace
MOMENTEUR FOR THE SO ACADEMY | Athena Mazarakis
DIRECTOR OF CINEMATOGRAPHY & EDITOR | Noah Cohen
SOUND DESIGNER & ENGINEER | Zain Vally
ADMINISTRATOR & STAGE MANAGER | Dimakatso Motholo
SPACE MANAGER AND COSTUMES & PROPS ASSISTANT | Gracious Dube
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS LIAISON | Hayleigh Evans
PHOTOGRAPHER | Zivanai Matangi
LIVESTREAM ENGINEER | Chris-Waldo de Wet
JUNIOR CINEMATOGRAPHER & EDITOR | Bukhosibakhe 'Pantsulatographer' Khoza
LIGHTING DESIGNER | Wesley France
LIGHTING ENGINEER | Matthews Phala
LIGHTING ASSISTANT | Bongani Mpofu
LIGHTING EQUIPMENT | Gearhouse Split Beam (Pty) Ltd
SOUND ENGINEERING | Soulfire Studios
FRONT OF HOUSE | POPArt Productions
PROCESS WRITER | David Mann
WEBSITE & UPLOADS MANAGER | Niamh Walsh-Vorster

Special thanks:
Linda Leibowitz
Natalie Dembo
Anne McIlleron
Anne Blom
Taryn Buccellato
Joy Woolcott
Chris-Waldo de Wet
Jacques van Staden
Joey Netshiombo
Diego Sillands
Thandi Mzizi Nkabinde

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