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Movement, Text, Performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2026

Paul Allain
Affiliation:
University of Kent

Summary

This Element argues that movement, overseen by a movement director, is vital for theatre-making. It can support actors with characterisation and playing others responsibly and ethically, for scripted and non-scripted tasks: from dances to fights, from parades to murders, or other human behaviour. Movement directing is an increasingly common role as it helps forge an ensemble and build 'worlds' on stage, and plays a crucial part in shaping how actors work with and in space. The Element's autoethnographic approach draws on the author's movement direction for ten productions in the UK, most with director Katie Mitchell, based on his research into and experience with Gardzienice Theatre Association, Poland, from 1989. The Element offers a perspective that is missing in accounts of Mitchell's oeuvre and much British movement scholarship by examining the influence of the Grotowskian lineage on British theatre and by discussing voice work and text delivery, something often overlooked.
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References

Primary Sources

11 July 2025. On Heart of a Dog with Al Dix (director) and Jem Wall (actor).Google Scholar

Secondary Sources

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Movement, Text, Performance
  • Paul Allain, University of Kent
  • Online ISBN: 9781009684279
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Movement, Text, Performance
  • Paul Allain, University of Kent
  • Online ISBN: 9781009684279
Available formats
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Save element to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Movement, Text, Performance
  • Paul Allain, University of Kent
  • Online ISBN: 9781009684279
Available formats
×