tableau ada1o. tableau a tableau (plural: tableaux) can be described as a frozen moment in time it...
TRANSCRIPT
Tableau
ADA1O
Tableau
• A tableau (plural: tableaux) can be described as a frozen moment in time
• It is like a photograph or a statue, a snapshot of an event or a feeling
• Tableau can be ABSTRACT (actors as non-human objects/things/ideas) or CONCRETE (actors as people)
History
• Tableau was used often in Ancient Greek Theatre
• In this period, violent episodes (war, murder, etc.) were not allowed to be shown on stage– Instead, a platform on wheels was brought on
stage, and the results of these events were depicted through tableau
– Actors would show the horrors that the war and murder caused through frozen images
Elements of Tableau
• Stillness
• Focal Point
• Balance
• Levels
• Physical Expression
• Facial Expression
• Transitions
Stillness
• It is important to hold a pose completely motionless when doing tableau
• Any movement distracts the audience and draws inappropriate attention to yourself
Focal Point
• Each tableau should have a main focus, much like a photograph
• This focus should be appealing to the audience, and make them want to look there
• You can achieve this by playing with levels, balance, and expression
Balance
• Visual balance is very important in tableau– Think about symmetry and asymmetry– If there is the same number of people on both
sides of the picture, it is considered balanced
• There are times when you would want a balanced picture, and there are times when you would not want a balanced picture
Levels
• A variety of levels in a tableau makes it interesting to look at, and also can help create focus and power
• If you utilize the high, medium, and low, the tableau becomes far more dynamic
Physical Expression
• Your body should be actively engaged in whatever scene is occurring
• Exaggerate your position since you don’t have the luxury of voice and movement
• Use your arms, legs, and the rest of your body to tell the story
Facial Expression
• This should also be exaggerated
• Make the emotions you are trying to convey very clear on your face
• Once again, without movement and sound, all you have to rely on is your body, so go big or go home!
Transitions
• When telling some sort of story with more than one tableau, move between tableaux using slow-motion, neutral movements
• The character and emotion should not be evident during transitions.
Examples
• Using Tableaux to tell stories
Now let’s try some tableaux
• First, let’s get into groups
Try to make…
• A square where everyone’s face can be seen from the front (encourage different heights)
Try to make a…
• Wedding
• Funeral
• Campfire
• Fishing