Across the United States and around the world there are TYA companies and artists who are pushing the envelope by creating nontraditional TYA. These artists are breaking with tradition by creating work that is immersive, interactive, multi-sensory, and/or installation-style theatre. These artists and companies are challenging their audiences by exposing them to theatre that is innovative and nontraditional in form. But what makes something nontraditional? Is it simply a departure from the traditional Aristotelian form? Are we bound by linear plots that are driven by narrative action or can we venture to the land of non-linear storytelling?
In times past a majority of work produced for young audiences seemed to be inspired by fairy tales. Now book adaptations have replaced fairy tales as the new go-to material for young audiences. How can we create innovative and evocative work for youth when so many TYA companies shy away from creating new work? Is there a way to reimagine the way we stage book adaptations and fairy tales that will breathe new life into the stories and characters that are so popular with the communities we serve? Content aside, are we bound to the traditional theater space or is there a way to break free from the conventional idea that theatre must be produced in a theater? If not produced in a theater, where? The theater is a safe space with clear boundaries. How can we create safe boundaries when we endeavor to create theatre in nontraditional spaces? In this edition of The TYA Blog I hope to address the following questions:
Stay tuned! -Riley *This is a blog originally published on the TYA Blog. http://tyablog.com/2015/03/19/the-emancipation-of-tya-creating-nontraditional-theatre-for-young-audiences/
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W. Riley BraemThis is a blog of my thoughts and theatre projects. Archives
May 2015
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