An example of a ppt project_ courtesy of a student enrolled in THEA330 in 2009. All rights belong to him.

1. Simon McBurney Complicité

2. Simon McBurney is an English actor , writer and director. He is considered to be one of the most innovative artists in theatre today. In 1983, he founded a theatre company called “Theatre de Complicité” with Annabel Arden and Marcello Magni. Their idea of theatre included the notion of collaboration rather than a specific method of acting or directing. The work aims at integrating text, music, image and action to create surprising, disruptive theatre. Complicité is referred to as a ‘state of mind’ expanding the usual expectations of a traditional theatre company. http://i.thisislondon.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/43a_27_Simon-McBu_243x243.jpg

3. This is a scene of “The Elephant Vanishes” where a Tokyo housewife forces herself into a state of insomnia. The character was represented by four different actors moving in a constant short-cycled blur.* * http://radiomovies.wordpress.com/2009/02/

4. “ Measure for Measure” showcases Complicité’s extraordinary visual work combined with a remarkable sense of space and lighting design. We can see the use of video backdrops and how they affect the mood created on stage. http://www.mesmer.co.uk/projects/Measure_For_Measure/

5. This is the beginning of “ A Disappearing Number”. What you see is extremely deceptive. The play will gradually evolve into a mesmerising experience of stunning visual effects, of sounds and movements that elicit different emotional states from the audience. http://www.flickr.com/photos/81571058@N00/1559596941

6. A photo taken during the rehearsals of ‘’A Disappearing Number”. Simon McBurney includes everyone in a creative process that he often describes as ‘chaotic’. There seems to be a ‘spiritual element’ in the making of his plays where the boundaries of imagination and creativity are constantly stretched while at the same time providing a notion of clarity and obviousness. The actors work together in what could be called ‘an organic approach to performance.’ They explore many possibilities without inhibitions to keep the creative momentum going. http://www.complicite.org/photos/

7. In McBurney’s conception of theatre, images are created as part of a whole and not as a simple gimmick to impress audiences. We can see that Complicité uses video screens as a form of storytelling and demonstrates that everything on the stage represents theatre language. http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Arts/Arts_/Pictures/2008/10/20/number460.jpg

8. All the numbers in the background seem to be floating around like millions of thoughts, supporting the actors in their desire to provide us with the most profound theatrical experience. There are so many beautiful moments in the play, which mix aesthetic perfection and swirls of emotions. This is how we see actors become one endeavouring to serve the play and create an unforgettable experience. http://www.mesmer.co.uk/projects/A_Disappearing_Number/

9. Here is another example of Complicité’s style where the actor blends into other elements such as the numbers on the screen. There is a sense of fusion, of constant relationship between people, objects and technology. feed://findingmoonshine.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default

10. Here is another moment in “A Disappearing Number” where we see GH Hardy and Ramanujan. The video backdrop enhances the idea of a cold winter in Cambridge compared to India’s weather. It also works as a metaphor to show that Ramanujan arrives in a world so different from his own, where proof has more value than intuition. In the end, what these two men have in common is their profound love of numbers and possibilities. http://www.mesmer.co.uk/projects/A_Disappearing_Number/

11. What we see in the foreground is projected in the background. Hardy and Ramanujan work constantly to explore mathematical patterns. They are reaching out to one another through their passion which transcends all differences. At the end of his life, Hardy talked about their collaboration as "the one romantic incident in my life.” * * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._H._Hardy http://plus.maths.org/issue49/features/complicite/

12. McBurney’s sense of aesthetics is all the more apparent on this photo. He enjoys creating strong visual moments using lights and music to convey an emotion without the use of words. http://www.complicite.org/photos/

13. Theatre and cinema seem to come together in A Disappearing Number lifting the play to new heights. The poetic and lyrical direction of McBurney and the actors fantastic ability to move and work as one show that Complicité’s philosophy is closer to a state of mind than just a technical trick. The attention to detail and the commitment of every single person involved in the production intensifies the audience’s experience and redefines usual expectations of a performance. http://www.complicite.org/photos/