FRANTIC: Long Beach Study Guide THEA 113 | Spring 2024 CSULB
What is Frantic Assembly? Frantic Assembly is a world-renowned UK-based theater company. The company was founded in 1994 by Scott Graham, Steven Hoggett, and Vicki Middleton. Since its start, Frantic Assembly has committed to creating brave and bold theater that centers collaboration and leans on the physical to tell stories that we may not often see represented on stage. This method has made Frantic a world-renowned leader in devised, collaborative theater. Frantic Assembly’s work is best demonstrated through productions such as I Think We Are Alone, The Unreturning, Fatherland, Things I Know To Be True, Othello, Beautiful Burnout, Lovesong, Stockholm, and The Believers.
“We began with little more than a fierce work ethic and a desire to do something different and to do it differently.” Scott Graham, Founder Frantic Assembly Frantic tours across the UK and in over 40 countries where they collaborate with world renowned artists to create work that is inspired by their unique creative process. They are hosted by professional companies all over the globe including here at Cal State Long Beach!
What is Devised Theater? Although the founders of Frantic Assembly may not align with the label of physical theater it is important to understand to get a better sense of the work you are about to see! Physical theater is a genre of performance that leans on physical motion to tell a story rather than text. Most of the theater you may have been exposed to relies on words to convey plot, character development and emotion. In contrast, physical theater performers communicate through body movement and their interactions in the space. Frantic Assembly - in addition to relying on movement as a way of storytelling - provides performers with the unique experience of participating in devised theater. Devised theater is a collaborative process of making theater that does not necessarily begin with a pre-existing script but rather uses improvisation between everyone involved in the art making process to create and build a piece. A devised piece of theater can start from anything… or nothing at all…
What is The Frantic Method? Frantic Assembly is known widely for their process of making art which they call “The Frantic Method.” The Frantic Method of devising approaches the work as a series of tasks that create the framework for artistic discovery. By asking performers to strip down to the basic building blocks they are able to build the confidence needed to make complex discoveries in their art. The starting point of The Frantic Method is diverse. However, it all begins with a process of Research and Development that may be physically led or could be based on text. “We initially create the kernel of the idea and test this to see if it is interesting enough to us and if 'it has got legs' - whether it will stand up to scrutiny and be interesting to anyone else. This 'testing' is pretty much talking about the idea, letting it sit for a while and then returning to it with a wiser head to see if it still excites us” Scott Graham, Founder Frantic Assembly
Once in the rehearsal space, the devising begins! Under the Frantic Method devising is broken down into bite sized steps that create the building blocks for the production. Step by step questions are answered, truths are uncovered and a show is formed! The relationship between performer and director become a precious piece in this process where collaboration is key to accessing full imagination and creativity.
What is The Frantic Method? Check out these videos from Frantic Assembly to get a sense for the rehearsal process and Frantic Method in general.
FRANTIC: Long Beach Over the past three weeks students at Cal State Long Beach have worked with Frantic Assembly practitioners to create a devised work to be performed here at CalRep. This piece engages with all of the above methods and processes to create a unique show for our community.