February 23, 2009
Etiquette, Rotozaza
First in G&Ds (March 2009), later in the Playhouse
There's not much room in G&D's for acting, but if you're walking along the Cowley Road you'll see an interesting sight. In the window are two tables set out for an interactive theatrical experience called Etiquette. It's well worth stopping to watch, and even more intriguing to take part. You are unlikely to have done anything like this ever before.First in G&Ds (March 2009), later in the Playhouse
Anyone can be the star of this piece. Prospective actors find a partner and book a slot. They then receive all the instructions they need through their headphones, and the props are laid out ready. The table covering looks like it could act as a blackboard, and to go with it there's chalk, a little bottle of red dye, two tiny figures, a torch, and other exciting objects.
It's very difficult to describe what happens next. To explain would be to give too much away - the element of surprise is a key part! And partly it's just that to make sense of everything takes an in-depth exchange with one's co-actor, and a while longer to shake down all the elements. The story ranges from ghostly tale, through banter, a casual coffee shop flirtation and on to a bitesize chunk of Ibsen's A Doll's House.
The props are inventive and fun to use. The sets of instructions interlock, creating a whole play. Soon it's impossible to tell which of your co-performer's actions are spontaneously theirs, and which are their character's. It's not difficult, or embarrassing, but judging by the comments book, Etiquette is unlocking people's "inner actor" all over Europe.
In this portable play invented by Parisian group Rotozaza, where audience and actor are one and the same, Oxford Playhouse have found another work as surprising and delightful as the duet for digger and dancer. Etiquette is running till 1st March, with 24 slots at each of two tables every day. It's £3 for a half hour turn for two, which makes it the cheapest acting workshop / performance / journey to Paris I've ever met!
Afterwards leave a comment, or read what others made of the experience. In the words of an anonymous Etiquettee:
"My friend was not my friend. My thoughts were not my own. Wonderful."