Collaborating Backstage: Breaking Barriers for the Creative Network

Collaboration is the most important facet of any theatrical company. From the performers on stage to the choreographers, designers and technicians working behind the scenes, this book considers all departments working on a production and instructs them on how to unify their individual skills towards a shared goal. From Vaudeville to classical opera, this book establishes the skills that each specialist brings to the production process before demonstrating how each individual contribution can be utilized in tandem with all other creative teams. With particular focus on enhancing interdepartmental communication, Collaborating Backstage examines all the challenges that may befall artistic companies and projects made up of many different parts. This book explains how to understand technical jargon within teams that speak a variety of languages and come from different cultural backgrounds; how to recognise and follow the ‘unwritten rules’ of theatre; and how best to achieve the ultimate creative potential of a team working completely in sync. Underpinned by incisive theories on performance, communication and creativity, Collaborating Backstage is full of helpful illustrations and innovative methods to achieve effective working relationships in the theatre.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1 Creativity backstage What this chapter is about Creative productions Skills and creativity The personal bag of experiences Improving personal creativity The production’s bag of experiences Improving team creativity Creativity and communication 2 The scenery of cooperation What this chapter is about Uniqueness Multiplying the impact Hierarchical and egalitarian structures Department line-ups Job profiles Team leaders The Responsibility Pyramid The Backstage Network Model Avenues of communication Shortcut communication? 3 Intercultural alignment What this chapter is about Recipes for cultures The family The melting Pot of the performing arts Regional and social cultures Cultural themes Working with culture shocks The roots of action Differences and similarities Perception of time Language Stage right” Establish a language, create a culture 4 Improving conditions What this chapter is about What we can learn from chickens The optimal team Positivity Keystones for commitment Physical shape Preparatory research Mind our own business Knowing ourselves Personal requirements Presenting ourselves Enabling access A punchline introduction The condition of our materials Names Body language Handshake quality Trust and fear Avoiding “No!” Reading routines Breaking routines Sense of humor Post-processing 5 The Creative exchange What this chapter is about Freedom through directions The T-I-M-O technique Task Intention Match Organize Why and when? Collaborating with the audience 6 Tools and tricks What this chapter is about Ideology Rehearsals and setup On the road 7 Summary Notes Bibliography Index