Sydney Cramer

Dr. Lars Tatom

Theatre History II

23 February 2020

Frissignment #6

Peter Brooks describes the world-building ability of The Immediate Theatre. He

describes a type of story telling that serves as both a “magnifying glass” as well as a “reducing

lens.” We can hone in on one particular story in great detail, or we can cast a generalized view

upon groups of people based on a history backed only in unsubstantiated claims. All of these

different view points allow for a certain generic response within the rehearsal process and the

audience once it comes time for a performance. Immediate theatre is all about in-the-moment

reaction, so each performance can offer a slightly different way of telling the story. The audience

is different for every show, and within these audiences separate types of people exist. This mixed

with the fleeting emotions of actors and moments within the text, offer a chance for responses

varying with every word spoken or each gasp taken. Brooks says that the “aim is always visible,

not too far away” in Immediate theatre. I think he was trying to say that each story can be

different and each beat can concoct varying reactions, but the goal is to always tell a story no

matter what reaction(s) it amasses. I find great truth in this because when you play a part or

create a technical element, you always want it to help in telling a cohesive story. You cannot

control how the audience will respond emotionally, but you can control the facts and mood they

are met with in said story. The elements you can control mixed with unpredictable audience
reaction help to create those genuine reactions and emotional responses that are the basis of

Immediate Theatre.