Writing Space

“写作空间”将基于在温彻斯特大学的两个周末（3天）的共享对话和实际工作。我的意图（见“主要目标”）是促进一项以大学为基础的写作倡议，该倡议包括多种形式的戏剧和表演写作，不分层，由概念和正式调查驱动。随后，我将讨论和分析这一过程及其结果，作为新兴戏剧实践的一个例子。7位作家和我将各自贡献自己的想法，在第一个周末专门讨论关于21世纪戏剧叙事的概念性问题。什么样的故事是可能的？叙事是个问题吗？目前存在哪些有趣的方法，可以设想哪些方法？包括人物、情境和对话在内的戏剧表现惯例中固有的困难或可能性是什么？选择这个主题是为了回应近年来在新作品中观察到的对叙事结构和故事制作过程的迷恋。作家们将被鼓励超越自己眼前的项目，以带来影响、刺激、轶事和表演实践与他人分享。作家可以带来一部文学作品（不一定是戏剧作品）、一个研讨会、一部电影、一个讨论问题或其他一些发人深省的贡献。每个人都将进行一次短时间的训练，每次大约一小时。我们将邀请两名专业戏剧演员来观察这个周末，以考虑它对戏剧实践的潜在影响。但是，希望包括我在内的所有参加活动的人，首先以作家的身份参与进来，共同进行挑衅和创作。”因此，应邀出席的剧作家之所以被选中，一定程度上是因为他们也有自己的艺术实践。在第一个周末结束时，每个参与者将被邀请写一篇简短的表演文本，以回应各种讨论和刺激。他们将被鼓励尝试新的想法并承担风险，而不是试图写一些必须“成功”和完整的东西。合作是可能的。积极鼓励实验方法。这些文本将由温彻斯特大学“戏剧”模块的学生进行分析和上演，在作家希望的地方，有可能与学生一起创作或修改文本。学生将被鼓励去思考一篇文章所提供的信息，并在他们的舞台上做出创造性的回应。换句话说，与学生之间会有一种流畅的交流感，而不是期望演员在那里为编剧服务。作家们将在一天内再次会面，观看这些文本的表演。然后将讨论产生的工作和想法，然后单独讨论项目和“写作空间”的潜在发展。成果和传播本项目有两组成果。如前所述，我自己的主要目标是分析这个过程，检查它对新写作发展的实际和潜在贡献。但是，作为项目的结果，还将编写8份实验性的、正在进行中的文本，并将成为其文件的一部分。该项目的研究结果将在“Writernet”网站和“字与字之间的空间”网站、文学经理人论坛会议和“字与字之间的空间”组织于2008年举办的会议上以报告的形式公布。一篇文章也将提交给同行评议的期刊。包括照片在内的书面文件将分发给所有参与该项目的人员。

'Writing Space' will be based around two weekends (3 days) of shared dialogue and practical work at the University of Winchester. My intention (see 'main objectives') is to facilitate a university-based writing initiative which embraces diverse forms of theatre and performance writing, is non-hierarchical and is driven by conceptual and formal enquiry. I will subsequently discuss and analyse the process and its outcomes as an example of emerging dramaturgical practice.OutlineSeven writers and myself will each contribute ideas towards an initial weekend devoted to discussing conceptual questions surrounding narrative in the 21st century theatre. What kinds of stories are possible? Is narrative a problem? What interesting approaches currently exist and what might be conceived? What are the difficulties or possibilities inherent in theatrical conventions of representation, including character, situation and dialogue? The subject has been chosen in response to an observed fascination with narrative structures and the process of story production in new work of recent years. Writers will be encouraged to look beyond their own immediate projects in order to bring influences, stimuli, anecdotes and performance practices to share with others. A writer may bring a literary work (not necessarily dramatic), a workshop, a film, a question for discussion or some other thought-provoking contribution. Each will run a short session - about one hour each. Two professional dramaturgs will be invited to observe the weekend, in order to consider its potential for informing dramaturgical practice. However, it is hoped that all those attending, including myself, will participate as writers in the first instance, engaged in offering provocations and creating work together. For this reason, the dramaturgs invited to attend will be selected partly because they also have their own artistic practice.At the end of the first weekend, participants will each be invited to write a short performance text in response to the various discussions and stimuli. They will be encouraged to try out new ideas and to take risks, rather than to try to write something that is necessarily 'successful' and complete. Collaborations are possible. Experimental approaches will be positively encouraged.These texts will be analysed and staged by students on the 'Dramaturgy' module at the University of Winchester and where writers desire, there is the possibility of working together with students to generate or revise text. Students will be encouraged to think about the offers that a text makes and to make creative responses in their staging. In other words, there will be a sense of fluid exchange with students, rather than an expectation that the performers are there to serve the writers.The writers will meet again for one day, to view the performances of these texts. There will then be a discussion of the work and ideas that arise, followed by a separate discussion of the project and the potential development of 'Writing Space'.Outcomes and disseminationThe project has two sets of outcomes. My own principle objective, as outlined previously, is to analyse the process, examining its actual and potential contribution to the development of new writing. However, eight experimental, work-in-progress texts will also be produced as a result of the project and will form part of its documentation.The project findings will be disseminated via a report on the 'Writernet' website and the 'Space Between Words' website, at a conference for the Literary Managers' Forum, and at a conference held by Space Between Words, also in 2008. An article will also be submitted to a peer reviewed journal. Written documentation, including photographs, will be distributed to all those involved in the project.