A special relationship: a broad survey of Japanese performance training methodologies’ influence on Brisbane actor training since the 1990s

For a small enclave of self-consciously avant-garde theatre-makers in Brisbane the 1990s, Japanese theatre was lodestar – an answer to what we saw as moribund strictures Australian naturalism. While other city-state-cultures this manifested postdramatic director’s or iconoclastic experimentation, desire escape past turned inward, bodies performers. actor training emphasised embodiment, presence, and intensive passionate training, particular through influential writing Tadashi Suzuki The Way Acting (1986 Suzuki, T. 1986. Acting: Theatre Writings Suzuki. Translated edited by J. Rimer. New York: Communications Group. [Google Scholar]). Suzuki’s method has left its traces on almost all academies city. It at time too that Hijikata’s dance darkness, butoh, started take root. In Brisbane, apocalyptic, image-based form physical expression became entangled with performative aesthetic life underground, later, main stages. culture had profound impact making processes distinctive repertory city Brisbane. This article explores unique performance history from different perspectives diverse ecology way understanding hold staying power these traditions.