Generosity in performance

ABSTRACT

This paper is interested in positing a new performance analysis concept in support of both seeking and recognising performances that include generosity as a key component. The politics of distemper allow for insults and derogatory remarks to be shared widely by anonymous online trolls and via Twitter and press conferences by the current President of the United States. These feel like dangerous times. I seek to provide a counterbalance by turning to a performance analysis of plays and performances that feature the enactment of generosity as a key part of what was experienced by audiences.There are three kinds of generosity in performance that I wish to trace. These three types are:

1. Structural generosity

2. Improvisational generosity

3. Intimate generosity

KEYWORDS:

• Performance analysis
• generous performance
• improvised performance
• intimate performance
• theatre education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Dodge (2019), https://www.newsweek.com/greta-thunberg-tweet-anti-bullying-trump-1461110.

2. Wikipedia (2019), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Jo_Cox.

3. https://www.focusonvictoria.ca/profile/35-monica-prendergast/.

4. To view a video and see some of the interior stage design of the BIOBOXES: http://theatrereplacement.org/portfolio-item/bioboxes/.

5. For a video in which Abramović reflects on the project, Zec (n.d.), go here: https://vimeo.com/72711715.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monica Prendergast

Dr. Monica Prendergast, is Professor of Drama/Theatre Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Her research interests are varied and include drama-based curriculum and pedagogy, drama/theatre in community contexts, and arts-based qualitative research methods. Dr. Prendergast’s theatre and drama books include the award-winning Applied Theatre and Applied Drama (both with Juliana Saxton), Teaching Spectatorship, Staging the Not-yet, and Drama, Theatre and Performance Education in Canada. Monica’s most recent book is Portrayals of Teachers and Teaching on Stage and on Film: Dramatic Depictions (with Diane Conrad). Her CV includes over 50 peer reviewed journal contributions, over 25 chapters, plus numerous book reviews and professional contributions. Her latest research project, developing a new secondary level curriculum in performance studies, was the recipient of the 2019 Research Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Monica also reviews theatre for CBC Radio Canada and writes a column on theatre for Focus Magazine.