Need ideas for how to practice physical theatre in an age of physical distancing? Try this.

It seems every week brings new challenges for those trying to make theatre, be it in theatres or schools. Whilst local lockdown measures are becoming something we all have to be prepared for, the basic truth that live performance in all its complexities is a tough one to make possible under any of our current conditions. Physical theatre is perhaps the most exposed of all these performative disciplines, with its imperative for close collaboration, physicality and group working. What’s all the more frustrating for teachers is that it is a mode of creativity that so many students love - for all of the previously listed reasons. Damn.

However, here’s an alternative. Nicola Chambers is a theatre director with vast experience working with young people and in physical performance. She’s taught in education, led youth theatres and studied with Frantic Assembly, amongst others. Working with Prospero she’s honed the best of what’s she’s learnt to create an approach and workshop that is both physical and socially distanced. And its free to use on Prospero. Arts Council England’s emergency funding helped create this workshop for everyone to benefit from.

The workshop takes physical theatre techniques as a route into devising. It can help students find new ways of developing story, action and performance. Watch this video interview between Prospero’s Dr Paul Sutton and Nicola (itself socially distanced over Zoom) to get a feel for yourself.

The workshop is designed to be used either either with students in classrooms or as an individual, home learning experience, so whatever context and regulations you find yourself teaching under you should find it useful. You can find her workshop right here.

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