Contemporary Rehearsal Practice

Content

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Anthony Neilson: An Overview

Introducing the Narrative Rehearsals

Methodology

Book Structure

Part 1: Neilson's Authorial Process

Part Introduction

Chapter 1: Neilson's Authorial Process and the Actors' Input

Case Study 1: Neilson as Author, Blackmail and Murder, and the Authorial Trope of Sound to Portray Psychological Liminality

Case Study 2: The Actor's Indirect Input into Neilson's Convoluted Jigsaw

Case Study 3: Olly Rix, Shakespeare and Superheroes: The Actor's Direct Input

Conclusion

Chapter 2: 'The Footmouse Dance': The Actors' Input into Authorial Tropes and Neilson's Ad-Hoc Approach to Authorship

What's in a Name?: The Naming of Characters as an Authorial Trope in Neilson's Work

Zawe Ashton and the Cancelled Magazine Subscription: The Actor's Direct Input Reconsidered

"Footmouse! Brilliant!": Humiliation as an Authorial Trope in Neilson's Work

Chance and the Arbitrary: Neilson's 'Magpie' Approach to Authorship

Conclusion

Part 2: Neilson's Process and Improvisation

Part Introduction

Chapter 3: Improvisation and Characterisation

'Box Therapy': Uncertain Beginnings with Random Objects

Improvisation and Characterisation via Stanislavskian Principles

Instinct

Mask Work

The Relationship Between Actor and Director: Unproductive Aspects

The Relationship Between Actor and Director: Productive Aspects

Conclusion

Chapter 4: The 'Human Soundscape': Improvisation, Rules and Failure

Uncertain Beginnings with an Absence of Rules

Humour, Rules and Challenging Leadership

Corpsing

Failure as Failure

Play and Catharsis: Therapy for the 'Box Therapy'

Conclusion

Part 3: Directing Actors

Part Introduction

Chapter 5: Neilson the 'Unsafe' Director

Directing and Power: Neilson's Egalitarian Approach

Directing and Power: Neilson's Not Quite So Egalitarian Approach

Power and Communication

'Ask the Audience': The Suggestion of Audience Participation and its Rejection

'Ask the Audience': Not Neilson's Way or the High Way

'What Did You Expect': Neilson Directs the Ending

Conclusion

Chapter 6: Neilson and the Actor's Process

The Stanislavskian Actor's Process

Actors' Heterogeneity

Case Study 1: Neilson's Motivational Speech

The Actor's Process, Emotional Labour and the Reality of Working Conditions

Case Study 2: Press Night

The Importance of Timing for the Actor's Process

Actors' Coping Strategies

Conclusion

Book Conclusion

Index