Composition strategies for the creation of science-based interdisciplinary and collaborative music theatre

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This practice-based PhD will research strategies and compositional techniques that can be used to effectively deliver abstract ideas through music theatre and opera. Being audio-visual interdisciplinary art forms, they are excellent media to deliver knowledge and in an expressive format to a general audience.The project will investigate existing opera productions linking science and art and non-naturalistic and conceptual theatre and opera from 1950 onwards. I will apply conceptual art ideas used by John Cage and his followers in their music, the devising techniques developed by Robert LePage, and the most recent collaborative and mixed media ideas stated by Jennifer Walshe's "New Discipline" to composition, in order to create performances that present clear concepts onstage.The creative methodology of this project will consist of writing and producing a set of new small-scale operas about recent developments in science. This field is a constant generator of new ideas, abstract concepts that can benefit from a combination of all art forms to be delivered. This contrasts with the conservative nature of mainstream opera, which mainly presents naturalistic stories through singing. Thus, I will develop composition and devising strategies to transform and present the scientific abstract concepts in an engaging manner for the audience. The performances as well as the participation in the current debate of the link between science and arts will always include critical evaluation for the project.