The Performance Workshop
The Performance Workshop is a unique approach to performer training and group collaboration that was developed by director, educator, theorist, and editor Richard Schechner (b. 1934). This innovative method has its roots in the 1950s and has evolved through his work with two notable New York Theatre companies, The Performance Group and East Coast Artists. The extensive catalog of exercises associated with this approach has been shared with members of East Coast Artists and others, who have since taught, refined, and applied the techniques internationally since the late 1990s.
In its traditional 3-4 week intensive format, the Performance Workshop encompasses several key components, including:
- Yoga
- Vocal Training and Exercises
- Explorations of 'Self' and identity
- Crossings
- Rasaboxes
- Solo & Group Performance Composition
These elements collectively enhance the training experience for performers.
Rasaboxes
Rasaboxes—a featured set of exercises developed in various contexts, including devised theatre, clowning, acting for the camera, drama therapy, and K-12 education—offers an interdisciplinary approach to training emotional expressivity. This is achieved through the integration of breath, body, voice, movement, and sensation. It combines: the concept of rasa from classical Indian performance theory and practice, research on emotion derived from neuroscience and psychology, experimental and experiential performance practices, as well as theories of ritual, play, and performance.
