Physical Storytelling: Telling the richest of stories with the simplest of tools.

Using the body, voice and highly choreographed collective movement this workshop draws upon mime, heightened characterization, mimo-dymanics and vocal soundscapes to create a short original devised story.  Five actors are placed upon a small raised platform and, borrowing techniques from film-making such as quick-cuts, zoom outs, slow motion and split-screens, are charged with taking care of every aspect of the story at hand to create a hyper-theatrical experience.  The workshop also explores some of the central tenets of storytelling such as how the constraints of space provide narrative freedom, building a narrative arc, developing dramatic tension, alternating at lightning speed between differing archetypes and how sound completes the world of every story.  

This workshop is for performers, directors and teachers who want to gain a solid arsenal of tools at the service of creating visually told, non-script based stories, accessible to all audiences.  Richard Crawford develops a fun, warm and exacting classroom where everyone has a voice. By balancing clear instruction and demanding the total creative rigor, Richard strives to bring the best out of every student no matter their level of experience.  By the end of this week you will have surprised yourself, made an original piece of theater and be able to turn right around and teach the skills to your theater company or classroom!

• Hours: July 7th - 11th, 5 - 9 p.m.

• Location: Brooklyn College Campus