in person
with John Markland
October 15th – December 3rd
In the dark, we trust our eyes less and heighten our trust in other senses, the most important of which is our gut sense – our intuition and instinct. When the sun goes down, the moon comes out, the door closes behind us, the hairs on our neck stand up, our pulse quickens, we are ALIVE, present and all inner noise quiets… this is the version of you that moves without regard, without\ needing to please, without censorship… this version is primal… raw.
This class will explore the dark hoping we each find our own light. The four areas of focus will be. Psychological Horror: Plays that delve into the darker aspects of the human mind and emotions. Trauma and Memory: Plays that examine how past events and memories haunt characters and their present lives. Surrealism and Dystopia: Plays presenting dreamlike or bleak futuristic societies. Atmospheric Horror: Plays using setting, mood, and supernatural elements to create a sense of fear and dread.
We’ll be diving into such works as 4.48 Psychosis, The Nether, The Weir, Dark Rituals, Feathers and Teeth, The Ferryman, Déjà vu, Blackbird, Pillowman and a few more. The haunting inner landscapes of these characters offer an actor deep emotional and behavior material to build from. Often, the fragility or innocence at the heart of these people has been broken, scarred, or forced into a dark protection… becoming monsters, outcasts, and vampires.
This is a scene class but there will be quite a bit of resource material offered as well as some personal research. We will also explore some of the ritualistic work surrounding these playwrights and theater companies who have had some dark and unique approaches to the work.
Sign up soon… will have to be a small group.