Physical theatre is an exciting and evolving theatre genre that focuses more on physicality than words – although words as well as gestures, physical characterization or stylisation of movement in part of all of a show can be seen in productions around the world. Theatre makers of today often create their own form of physical theatre expression and are sometimes influenced by one or more physical theatre or movement techniques. Several well known physical theatre and movement techniques studied and practiced that may influence physical theatre choices are Butoh, Laban, Lecoq, Mime, Suzuki and Viewpoints to name a few.
Here are five shows presented at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe that incorporate physical theatre and movement for you to use as a starting point when choosing shows to see:
Last Rites Ad Infinitum at Pleasance Courtyard.
Multi award-winning collaborators Ad Infinitum are known for their physical and visual storytelling through movement and sound. This show is about love and loss on a journey from the UK to India.
Panoptikum at Zoo Southside.
From Prague, Lenka Vagnerová & Company present their show about a surreal world of quirky people. No words are spoken and the ninety minute show is based on a collection of fascinating individuals who express themselves physically through exceptional skills.
Peregrinus at Summerhall Courtyard. (August 7th to 11th only)
An exciting free event is about to happen for five days only at 3.45pm outdoors! KTO Theatre from Poland perform a visual story about an everyman’s daily life. Wearing huge masks they express themselves through choreography and grotescue humour moving around the courtyard.
The Nature of Forgetting at Pleasance Courtyard.
Internationally acclaimed company Theatre Re creates original physical theatre productions and this one is a moving, poetic and joyous enquiry about how young onset dementia affects people. Expressed mainly through physical theatre, movement and sound.
Wild Thing! at Summerhall.
Tom Bailey from Mechanimal returns with their latest show about extinct species. This is a follow up to Mechanimal’s outstanding physical theatre show Vigil. Bailey takes on the shape and movement of any creature expertly but this time the obscure ones challenge him with wryly humourous results. Very impactful message.
I hope you also discover your own favourite physical theatre shows – there are many more to choose from at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. In fact, one of my favourite physical theatre shows from the 2024 Fringe was recommended to me by a friend towards the end of the fringe: A Brief Case of Crazy created and performed by a newly formed Skedaddle Theatre Company of three recent graduates from drama school – a Hidden Gem!
