The open circle: Peter Brook's theatre environments

by Andrew Todd, Jean-Guy Lecat

Peter Brook is perhaps contemporary theatre's greatest inventor and is one of the most influential directors that Britain has ever produced. For over 30 years he has held audiences spellbound with his critically acclaimed productions. Here, Brook provides extensive material as he and his designers present the story of those years in words and pictures, describing the gestation and completion of his many works through the spaces they occupied all over the world. From France to Africa, in New York, Glasgow and Japan, Brook and his collaborators show how the spaces have shaped the cultural and political meaning of his productions. Productions discussed in the book include: The Conference of the Birds; The Cherry Orchard; La Tragedie de Carmen; The Ik; The Mahabharata; The Tempest; Impressions de Pelleas; The Man Who; and The Tradegy of Hamlet.

262 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Dcw]

- Someone starts performing in a level public space.
- People start to notice and crowd around.
- More often that not, this crowd will (naturally) take the shape of... an open circle.

[Susan]

The most helpful resource for theatre people ever (quite possibly).

I read this book before actually working with Jean-Guy Lecart. Honestly the man is a genius though Way extremely difficult to understand. This man has been working his whole life towards making the actual theatre a part of the theatre and making the theatre itself support the story and welcome the audience to the performance. A concept that in it's simplicity sounds so simple. But in reality is extremely difficult and complex, as I found out when trying to put what he was telling us into practise.

This book has SO SO SO SO many gems in it that every theatre maker or theatre lover should have one in their own collection. It also holds a lot of information about Peter Brook from someone who has worked so closely with him for such a long time.

Jean-Guy come back to NZ and work with us again, we miss you!