In
Toronto, during the summer of 1997, the North American
Cultural Laboratory conducted a research and performance
project called "Common Salt." The
project brought together actors from various disciplines
and backgrounds, provinces and states, for a three
month period of actor training and theatre creation.
The focus of "Common Salt" was to investigate the collaborative
and creative processes in an in-depth, 12-week work period. After 9 intensive
rehearsal weeks, an original performance, "The Secret Storey," was
created by the six collaborating international actors and director, Brad
Krumholz, which was presented publicly in August.
During
this time, the group built the foundation of a common
daily physical, vocal, and psychological training based
on the combination of the individuals’ past training
experiences and their present interests and current lines
of artistic research.
From
this foundation of research and group training, the creation
of original performance material by the actors emerged
in the form of movement sequences, group or individual
improvisations, songs, and texts written or found by
the actors. The director then gave focus to the actors’ work
by slowly piecing together a visual, aural, and literary
narrative, "The Secret Storey," which
told the complex, multi-layered yet concise story of
a young girl who entered the previously undiscovered
attic of her house, and encountered the bizarre spirits
who dwelt within its walls.
The
seven participants created everything, from the set to
the costume design to the lighting apparatus to the physical,
vocal, and textual work of the performance to the PR
material, etc. Although the research period ended with
a public performance, the goal of "Common Salt" was
to explore the possibilities of short-term collaboration,
actor and director training, and theatrical creation
in a clearly defined work environment, very much like
the artistic version of a scientific laboratory.
