Following the Lab: Day 1

15th May, 2019
Day 1

Activities:

1. We began the day with a series of writing exercises. First, we were told to write for a period of five minutes and to begin each new sentence with the words “I remember.” We discussed the different memories each of us remembered and reflected on the act of looking back.
2. Then, we were given two minutes to list differences between humans and animals This was followed by a conversation on each of our observations.
3. After that, we were given one minute to list three observations that we had registered that morning before our session. Finally, we were asked to use one of our observations and write the synopsis of a story based on that.
4. Each participant read out their stories, after which everyone else took turns to respond to the story. The respondents were asked to judge whether the work presented was a story or whether it was not. If a respondent said it was a story, they were asked to elaborate on why and what insight they took away from it. These reflections resulted in conversations about a story’s characteristics and stories’ power to spur an audience’s remembrance of other memories.
5. Next, following our discussion on the multiple facets of a story, we mapped out the different dimensions of the idea that we will work on over the next six months. We wrote down the themes our respective plays will explore and considered the stances/perspectives these plays will take.
6. After that, we worked in pairs to refine these mind maps. Within each pair, participants read the other’s mind maps and helped the other identify those themes that are interconnected and can be studied/introduced in relation to one another. Participants produced a second, more concise draft of their mind maps.
7. Each participant delivered a short presentation on their lives, their journey in the world of theatre, and an introduction to the project they would work on in the lab. They spoke about their successes and failures in theatre and the things that they learned from those experiences.

Questions considered:

1. What distinguishes creative tools from creative processes? How do different creative processes relate to different theatrical traditions and cultures?
2. What is a story? What distinguishes a story from an incident? Should stories offer new insights into the world? Is a story less impactful without an insight? Is a story repetitive or boring if it confirms insights that other stories have offered before?
3. What is logic? How does logic relate to storytelling and theatre? What role does logic play in absurdist theatre?
4. How can a variety of themes interact productively in one play?