Incubation 2
The Brief
PW tells itself to dramatize and concretise.
For further information:
N1 – on the editing of ‘The Configurations’ by Sim Edwards in interim period since previous Incubation
N2 – Incubation 2 invite
Character Sheets
PW are each given a crib sheet with word information and also a modified DND character sheet.
PW convert lexical, etymological data into character biography.
Fig A – Crib Sheet for Serre
Fig B – Crib Sheet for piecemeal, with etymological data
Fig C – Character sheet for Serre (by Tanith Mab)
For further information:
Examples of crib sheets and character sheets (see left).
Hypothesizing Dynamics
PW acknowledge that their characters aren’t lone entities but exist in sets. PW attempt to blend biographical information and hypothesize connections between their characters.
For further information:
The Orphans of Water are put into age order (see left).
Role Play
First, PW ‘establish the setting’ by putting out a selection of objects, and giving each object an imaginary label which links it to a part of the world of ‘Fiber Functor Farm.’
PW are then split into narrators and performers. Narrators are prompted with a set of character-specific pre-prepared questions ‘eg What does Serre’s yoga routine look like?’ and their answers are used as instructions for the performers.
For further information:
The wig is labelled ‘dead guinea pig’, corresponding to a guinea pig that is being mourned at the ‘mystery motive’ in the ‘field of k.’
N3 – ‘Farm-Master / Facilitator’s Prompt-Script’
Improvisation
PW’s improv becomes less formatted.
For further information:
Footage of improvised dramatic reconstruction of The Introduction of Fiber Functor into the Field of K.
N4 – the end of the plan
Notes
N1
The editing of ‘The Configurations’ :
‘In the interim period between Incubations Is went through the notes taken during each of PW’s presentations in Inc 1 with the aim of bundling together the material adapted from the 10 Grothendieck paragraphs into 5 distinct set-pieces, which I called ‘configurations.’ Each of these set-pieces was designed to function as a distinct dramatic piece in an interconnected mythographic whole. There was also a kind of vague chronology running through the 5 configurations.
This was probably the most far-reaching, and possibly overbearing, editorial move in the whole process. It was done to facilitate the making of a piece of theatre, I thought it would be a good idea to split up the material so different parts could be worked on by different members of PW. It didn’t happen like this at all.
It can only be left to imagine what kinds of connections would have been made had the material not been split up in this way.’
-Sim Edwards (Artistic Director)
N2
Incubation 2 Invite
N3
page 2 of ‘Farm-Master’ / Facilitator’s Prompt Script :
N4
the end of the plan
‘Up to this point [the improvisation of fiber functor in the field of k] the Incubation process had been unfolding in general accordance with a plan I’d sketched out in a notebook before the beginning of the residency. The general outline of this plan went as follows : (1) adapt paragraphs of text using disassembly method (2) convert ideas into realizable dynamics and situations (3) split PW into groups each dedicated to exploring particular dynamics using improvisatory games (4) present performances of these games back to rest of PW (5) select best, or most potential-filled, moments from these performances to properly develop and rehearse and fit together into a theatrical narrative.
We’d reached about stage 3 of this plan but with ‘the improvised dramatic reconstruction of The Introduction of Fiber Functor into the Field of K’ (see footage) it became obvious that we could no longer proceed as planned. Watch the footage, I’ll leave you to contemplate the particular character of this impossibility. From this point on the process began to truly take a course of its own and of its PW members.
I find it curious and wonderful that it was during the Introduction of Fiber Functor into the Field of K that this happened, seeing as in Inc 1 ‘fiber functor’ was ascribed the narrative property of disrupting the field of K, lending it ‘Too much intuition, too motivated.’ Harry even said in Inc 1 ‘All of this new stuff comes from the introduction of the ‘fiber functors’ which bring in ‘intuition’, this new actant.’ ‘
– Sim Edwards (Artistic Director)