ABSTRACT
How do companies start with an idea, rather than a fully developed script, and develop a full production? How do they devise work in the room with the actors and designers? What methods do leading companies employ to generate material? Based on interviews with members from Tectonic Theater, Lucky Plush Productions, PigPen Theatre, Teatro Línea de Sombra, and others, the chapter outlines stages of the devising process. The Spark: theatres look for a hunch or germ of an idea to drive discovery. Generating material: from Tectonic’s Moment Work to Lucky Plush’s writing a dance in real time, every company has its own methods to create. Rehearsing and Refining: after generating material, companies must discern theatrical threads and create a rough draft. Audience Feedback: companies that devise often present multiple rounds of informal showings to gather information and lead revisions. The chapter also offers ideas to directors who work with established scripts, encouraging flexibility, collaboration, and play.
