What is Fringe Theatre?
Fringe Theatre is performance work that is not of the mainstream. It is generally considered to be contemporary, edgy and experimental. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In London, the Fringe is the term given to small scale theatres, many of them located above pubs, and the equivalent to New York's Off-Off-Broadway theatres. In Australia, the Adelaide Fringe is perhaps the most popular festival.
Theatre Techniques associated with Fringe Theatre:
Examples of Fringe Theatre:
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The Ensemble Performance
In the Fringe, you will be working as an ensemble. This is an approach to acting that aims for a unified effect achieved by all members of a cast. Rather than working individually, you will be working together on behalf of the play. Rather than emphasising individual performances, you will be using a variety of performance techniques to emphasise chorus work.
The Task
Working in groups, you are to create your own Fringe Festival based on a given stimulus. Creating your own theatre company, you will be entirely responsible for the creation and presentation of your own show.
2014 Stimulus
You will be assessed throughout the process. You will need to satisfactorily complete a variety hurdle requirements.
2014 Hurdle Requirements.
Handy Hints
The Fringe theatre task will be challengeing and rewarding. Here is a list of handy hints to remember.
RESOURCES
1. Scriptwriting:
Free Scriptwriting Application
Handy Scriptwriting Hints
2. Rehearsal Techniques
See Play-making techniques video links page
3. Playing with Tension, Contrast and Climax.
See Dramatic Elements page.
4. Editing and Refining
Peer Assessment Sheet
4. Stagecraft
Design Requirements Checklist
The Task
Working in groups, you are to create your own Fringe Festival based on a given stimulus. Creating your own theatre company, you will be entirely responsible for the creation and presentation of your own show.
2014 Stimulus
You will be assessed throughout the process. You will need to satisfactorily complete a variety hurdle requirements.
2014 Hurdle Requirements.
Handy Hints
The Fringe theatre task will be challengeing and rewarding. Here is a list of handy hints to remember.
- Simple ideas work best
- Play to the strengths of the group.
- Plan a rehearsal schedule. This helps you to avoid rehearsing the same scenes over and over at the expense of less developed ones.
- Agree to support each other during the process. Try all ideas out initially and then start to edit and refine.
- Get up into the space as soon as possible. You won’t know whether an idea works until you try it!
- Don’t wait for motivation or a miraculously moment of inspiration to start rehearsing and performing. Just begin.
- Use rehearsal time appropriately: don’t waste each other’s time.
- Rehearse scene changes and transitions.
- Don’t leave stagecraft to the last minute.
RESOURCES
1. Scriptwriting:
Free Scriptwriting Application
Handy Scriptwriting Hints
2. Rehearsal Techniques
See Play-making techniques video links page
3. Playing with Tension, Contrast and Climax.
See Dramatic Elements page.
4. Editing and Refining
Peer Assessment Sheet
4. Stagecraft
Design Requirements Checklist