Launch of Performance/Technologies - a User’s Guide

"Lepage has talked of the ‘third form’ just around the corner – a meeting of screen and stage where neither are quite themselves and where something new emerges. Perhaps the corner has now been turned." Forma director David Metcalfe

visions was pleased to host the launch of the latest in the popular User’s Guide performance studies publications at the University of Brighton in October.

Performance/Technologies - a User’s Guide draws from the symposium held as part of visions 2002 and is published together with King Alfred’s College, Winchester and Total Theatre Network. The guide explores the changing role of technologies in contemporary performance practices. It includes contributions from Robert Ayres, Andy Lavender, Ross Brown, Jasmine Fitter, David Metcalfe, Alex Hoare and Mervyn Miller.

The busy launch was attended many artists, academics, funders and promoters, who watched a short performative paper by visual artist and scenographer Alex Hoare using digital imagery, sound and ‘live’ performance. The publication was introduced by Dorothy Max Prior (editor of Total Theatre Magazine and associate editor of the User’s Guides) and Professor Anthony Dean (Head of, School, Community and Performing Arts, King Alfred’s, Winchester and series editor of the User’s Guides).
The User’s Guide Series seeks to provide a critical ‘snapshot’ of current thinking about, attitudes towards and experience of current and emerging issues within contemporary performance practice. In doing so, they seek to draw from a range of expert perspectives. The underlying principle and purpose of the User’s Guide series is the creation of dynamic and critical meeting ground between practitioners, providers of Higher Education and training, critical commentators and the organisations and individuals that promote contemporary performance practice.

The series is now published by King Alfred’s Winchester in collaboration with Total Theatre Network (and other occasional partners).