Duska Radosavljevic (Drama and Theatre Studies, U. of Kent, UK) has edited this collection of twenty-two interviews she conducted with makers of ensemble (collaborative) theatre. Interviews are
limited to British/Atlantic and Central/East European avant-garde or high-theatre ensembles. Pacific or Southern hemisphere artists, and popular ensembles (Bread and Puppet, UMO, New Pickle
Circus, Second City, etc.) are not included. There is a useful table of all the companies represented. Most rely on written scripts, and make artists take a single role as actor, director,
designer, etc.; this is ensemble for a non-ensemble theatre world. Each interview begins with a short helpful account of the date, place, and context of the interview(s), and the ensemble
experience of the interviewee. Part 1 focuses on redefinitions of ensemble, and includes interviews with figures from the Royal Shakespeare Company, Berliner Ensemble, Out of Joint, Wooster
Group, and others. Part 2 focuses on working processes, and includes interviews with makers from Derevo, Kneehigh Theatre, Song of the Goat, Pig Iron, Third Angel, and others. Part 3 is about
ensemble and the audience, and includes interviews with makers from the Neo-Futurists, Improbable Theatre, Shadow Casters, Ontroerend Goed, Richard Jordan Productions, and others. Most
interviews are with single high-profile individuals that non-ensemble theatre might imagine as auteur or director. A few break this mold; a freelance ensemble actor, partners or trios who are
interviewed together, a pair of writers on writing for ensemble. Though it is not a stand-alone text on ensemble theatre, the book is a valuable addition on a subject underrepresented in print.
Partnered with a book that has a broader geographic and social range, it is a good overview. The interview format is highly suited to the subject. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
(booknews.com)
