Praecox-blueprint

Theatrical Mindfulness

Comparing 20 Beans with other more prominent groups and artists, Stephen Lam wrote in his article on Economic Journal (and RTHK's web - where you may find the radio programme where Jessica and I talked about the Cattle Depot theatre season) that my approach of adopting Buddhist thoughts in theatre is more intellectual rather than actualizing, unlike U-Theatre. Ultimately, I want both. If I merely want to "talk" about the philosophical concepts to the audience, what I need the best is a good script before I engaged performers. But so far the process of devising with the artists was definitely crucial for the process too. It's true however that we just talked, not meditated. And, a short period like months of preparation for a performance is merely not enough, for anything really significant. Perhaps the real question is if I want the audience to understand relevant concepts just from the show, for once. If so, I have to "sacrifice" something aesthetical, which I could not yet... (so the problem is if I am through myself!)

There was a period when I tried to introduce some meditation-like methods at 20 Beans' workshops, like counting beans from a mug with chopsticks to help concentration, or various breathing exercises. Practice is important for Buddhism but meditation is not more important than understanding the dharma mindfully, e.g. how karma actually works.

In fact I was not 100% certain how I would treat the subjects when I conceived the long-term project. I wanted to put what I thought important in my life together, because they are already connected in my living experience... Call it an attempt, or a reflection on the 12 (or 1) concepts, and about people. Not just concepts, like the old 20 Beans, I hope.

Maybe I should not use any more the term "integration" (of theatre and Buddhism). If I have the chance, or a group like U, perhaps I would pay more attention to the kind of training of the artists (performers). I answered interviewers usually that I have to jump in connecting the philosophical idea(s) and the form (story, visuals, characters, etc.) right before the performance, though it seemed smoother in "Tree K" than in "Lightless Ring". This will be the starting point for the next, the third piece on consciousness.

posted at 10:51 PM | View by Post