Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight
Presents the history and an analysis of the experimental theater works produced by Bodies in Flight.

Based in Bristol and Nottingham, the performance group Bodies in Flight makes works where flesh utters and words move, challenging and re-energizing the relationship between audiences and performers as well as audiences and place.

Drawing on rigorous interdisciplinary and collaborative methods, they use words and images, movement and stillness, and voices and bodies to engage audiences emotionally and spiritually.

Intended as an inspiration to emerging artists, the volume covers key themes for any maker of contemporary performance: the relationship of choreography and spoken word; the use of new technologies and multimedia; the role of original music and soundscapes; the differences between work presented in a theater, gallery, or sited in non-theatrical places; and the persistence of theater as an art form in an increasingly digital culture.

This highly illustrated volume includes selections of scripts and archival material from thirty years of making devised theater and performance in the UK and internationally. It also features texts by collaborators, arts professionals, and scholars exploring the company’s collaborative working method, contextualizing it in the wider performance ecology and culture.
 
1146296527
Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight
Presents the history and an analysis of the experimental theater works produced by Bodies in Flight.

Based in Bristol and Nottingham, the performance group Bodies in Flight makes works where flesh utters and words move, challenging and re-energizing the relationship between audiences and performers as well as audiences and place.

Drawing on rigorous interdisciplinary and collaborative methods, they use words and images, movement and stillness, and voices and bodies to engage audiences emotionally and spiritually.

Intended as an inspiration to emerging artists, the volume covers key themes for any maker of contemporary performance: the relationship of choreography and spoken word; the use of new technologies and multimedia; the role of original music and soundscapes; the differences between work presented in a theater, gallery, or sited in non-theatrical places; and the persistence of theater as an art form in an increasingly digital culture.

This highly illustrated volume includes selections of scripts and archival material from thirty years of making devised theater and performance in the UK and internationally. It also features texts by collaborators, arts professionals, and scholars exploring the company’s collaborative working method, contextualizing it in the wider performance ecology and culture.
 
49.95 In Stock
Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight

Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight

Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight

Flesh and Text: Devising Performance by Bodies in Flight

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Overview

Presents the history and an analysis of the experimental theater works produced by Bodies in Flight.

Based in Bristol and Nottingham, the performance group Bodies in Flight makes works where flesh utters and words move, challenging and re-energizing the relationship between audiences and performers as well as audiences and place.

Drawing on rigorous interdisciplinary and collaborative methods, they use words and images, movement and stillness, and voices and bodies to engage audiences emotionally and spiritually.

Intended as an inspiration to emerging artists, the volume covers key themes for any maker of contemporary performance: the relationship of choreography and spoken word; the use of new technologies and multimedia; the role of original music and soundscapes; the differences between work presented in a theater, gallery, or sited in non-theatrical places; and the persistence of theater as an art form in an increasingly digital culture.

This highly illustrated volume includes selections of scripts and archival material from thirty years of making devised theater and performance in the UK and internationally. It also features texts by collaborators, arts professionals, and scholars exploring the company’s collaborative working method, contextualizing it in the wider performance ecology and culture.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781835950906
Publisher: Intellect, Limited
Publication date: 06/12/2025
Series: Playtext
Pages: 424
Product dimensions: 6.69(w) x 9.61(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Simon Jones is a theater director and writer. Simon is director of Bodies in Flight and emeritus professor of performance at the University of Bristol, UK.


Sara Giddens was a choreographer and theater director. She was also a professor of choreographic practice at the University of Central Lancashire, UK.

Table of Contents

ABOUT BODIES IN FLIGHT

SIMON JONES

 

MARKING THE TIMES: EXPERIENCING BODIES IN FLIGHT

FOREWORD BY ANDREW QUICK

 

UNCONCEALING THIS MAKER’S VOICE

SARA GIDDENS

 

1989-1995: THE FIRST SERIES: PERFORMANCE AS ENERGY, IDEAS AND PROVOCATION

DEADPLAY (1989)

 

PLAYING DEAD … BECOMING PROFESSIONAL

RACHEL FEUCHTWANG

 

EXHIBIT (1990)

 

CONTROLLED CHAOS

BARNABY POWER

 

LOVE IS NATURAL AND REAL BUT NOT FOR YOU MY LOVE (1990)

 

MY (OTHER) OTHER COLLABORATOR: PHILOSOPHY ALONGSIDE PRACTICE

SIMON JONES

 

iwannabewolfman(1991-92)

 

WORKING ALONGSIDE

SARA GIDDENS

 

ROUGH (1992-93)

 

FROM FAN-BOY TO PROGRAMMER – MEMORIES OF A RELATIONSHIP WITH BODIES IN FLIGHT

RICHARD DUFTY

 

AS IF FOR THE FIRST TIME

GRAEME ROSE

 

SPEAKING IN TEXTS: WRITING BEYOND MEANING

SIMON JONES

 

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS (1994)

 

HEARING BODIES IN FLIGHT

DARREN BOURNE

 

LITTLUNS WAKE (1995)

 

1996-2009: THE SECOND SERIES: PERFORMANCE AS (NON-)COLLABORATION ACROSS MEDIA

DO THE WILD THING! (1996)

 

THE MAGNIFICENT MINUTIAE

SARA GIDDENS

 

CONSTANTS (1998)

 

SET-UP AND SITUATION – DRAMATURGY AS TRANSFORMATION

SIMON JONES

 

DELIVERUS (1999-2000)

 

A DIALOGUE AT THE GLOBE THEATRE (LONDON)

POLLY FRAME in conversation with SIMON JONES

 

DIALOGUES & DUETS

JOSEPHINE MACHON

 

DOUBLE HAPPINESS (2000)

 

BEAUTIFUL LOSERS RE-WORKED

KAYLENE TAN

 

FLESH & TEXT, a document (2001)

 

SKINWORKS (2002-3)

 

BEING IN-BETWEEN: COLLABORATION AS NON-COLLABORATION

SIMON JONES

 

WHO BY FIRE (2004-5)

 

WHO BY FIRE: VERY SLOW DECAY

SLEEPDOGS: TANUJA AMARASURIYA and TIM X ATACK in conversation

 

TRIPTYCH (2005)

 

THE TRANSMEDIATED IMAGE

TONY JUDGE

 

THE SECRECY OF SAINTS (2006)

 

MODEL LOVE (2008-11)

 

RENDERING VISIBLE

PAUL GEARY

 

FINDING SUSPENSION

SARA GIDDENS

 

PERFORMANCE/ PHOTOGRAPHY/ PHOTGRAPHY/ PERFORMANCE [AND ON/ AND ON]

EDWARD DIMSDALE

 

HYMN (2009)

 

2009-PRESENT: THE THIRD SERIES: OPENING OUT TOWARDS CO-CREATING THE PORTFOLIO WORK

DREAM-WORK/ DREAM-WALK (2009-16)

 

GYMNAST (2011-13)

 

A PLACE THAT IS INTELLIGENT, A LITTLE BIT PUNK EVEN … BUT ALWAYS HUMAN

SUZANNAH BEDFORD

 

MAYFEST AND MAYK: FROM FESTIVAL TO CO-CREATION

MATTHEW AUSTIN in conversation with SIMON JONES

 

DO THE WILD THING! REDUX (2012)

 

STILL MOVING: MOVING STILL (2012-18)

 

DEVELOPING A PORTFOLIO

SARA GIDDENS

 

LIFE CLASS (2019-22)

 

MAKING AND BREAKING, FAILING AND FAKING

MORVEN MACBETH

 

THE DARE OF OTHER VOICES – FROM VERBATIM TO CO-CREATION

SIMON JONES

 

UNBOX ME! (2023)

 

AFTERWORD

PAUL RUSS

 

POSTSCRIPT

SIMON JONES

INDEX

 

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