{"product_id":"a-beginners-guide-to-devising-theatre-practical-starter-guide","title":"A Beginner's Guide to Devising Theatre - Practical Starter Guide","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of A Beginner's Guide to Devising Theatre the bottom line is clear: this book is a practical, accessible manual for anyone starting to make original theatre without a script. Written by Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, it focuses on creative methods and a structured approach to find starting points, generate material and shape work into performance. Readers looking for a hands-on introduction to devising will appreciate the clear guidance and contemporary examples, while those seeking in-depth theory or exhaustive case studies may need supplementary texts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthorship:\u003c\/strong\u003e Written by practicing directors Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, the book brings direct experience from an award-winning young people's company to practical exercises.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eApproach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Offers a clear structure for the devising process so beginners can move from a stimulus to composed performance with confidence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStarting points:\u003c\/strong\u003e Provides methods for finding and testing contemporary stimuli so creators can generate original, relevant material from their own perspective.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGeneration techniques:\u003c\/strong\u003e Includes creative activities and prompts that help participants produce raw material suitable for composition and development.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposition and design:\u003c\/strong\u003e Talks through shaping material and integrating design ideas, helping practitioners consider form as well as content.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTarget audience:\u003c\/strong\u003e Geared to newcomers and developing practitioners, the tone and examples suit classroom and workshop environments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe strongest audience for this guide includes drama teachers, workshop leaders and early-career theatre makers who need a practical road map for devising original work. It works well for groups working with young people because the authors draw on experience with a young people's performance company and emphasise accessible starting points and creative exercises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose looking for dense academic theory or full-length case studies of major devised productions should look elsewhere; this book is focused on craft and technique rather than exhaustive historiography or scholarly analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear, usable structure that demystifies the devising process for beginners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReal-world perspective from practitioners, making exercises practical and workshop-friendly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGood balance between idea generation and advice on composition and design, helping shape material into performance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNot intended as a comprehensive academic text, so readers wanting deep theory may need additional resources.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLimited focus on long-form case studies or extensive production histories that some advanced practitioners might seek.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA Beginner's Guide to Devising Theatre\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJess Thorpe, Tashi Gore\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePractical devising methods and structure\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAward\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinner, 2021 Music \u0026amp; Drama Education Award for Outstanding Drama Education Resource\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginners, teachers, workshop leaders\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContent highlights\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStarting points, material generation, composition and design\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Beginner's Guide to Devising Theatre is a strong, practical companion for anyone teaching or starting out in devised theatre; it distils professional experience into clear exercises and a reliable structure. For the price it delivers focused, workshop-ready guidance and represents good value for educators and early-career makers who want a hands-on toolkit rather than dense theory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this book suitable for classroom use?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes; the exercises and structure are written with group work and young people in mind, making it well suited to lesson plans and workshops.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it include theoretical background on devising?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe emphasis is practical craft and technique; readers seeking extensive academic theory should combine it with more scholarly texts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho wrote the book and why does that matter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is written by Jess Thorpe and Tashi Gore, artistic directors with hands-on experience in young people's performance, which informs the book's practical, workshop-focused approach.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jess Thorpe, Tashi Gore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48201547350235,"sku":"1350099740","price":121.83,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/811ySdB-z5L._SL1500.jpg?v=1770355688","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/a-beginners-guide-to-devising-theatre-practical-starter-guide","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}