Do you agree with Lowell Swortzell’s statement – “TIE has forgotten that it is theatre?
Totally disagree in fact I would say that TIE has forgotten it is about learning. A lot of work that goes into schools is in the format of a one hour play and workshop which serves a PSHE agenda but doesn’t seek to examine human behaviour, it just wants to be a teacher pleaser and transmit the right information in an exciting and physical way. This is a rant by the way. Theatre is about looking at ourselves, that’s what artists do – we create the experiences that we are going through, if your work doesn’t raise any questions that you are struggling with then it is superficial, cheap propaganda or pamphlet entertainment. Actually I now agree with the statement if it is in this format TIE has forgotten it is theatre when it fails to ask questions which are pertinent to the artists and the audience.
