Theatre of Movement and Gesture - Foundational Lecoq Study

In this review of Theatre of Movement and Gesture, the reviewer finds a thoughtful, historically grounded book best suited to serious students and practitioners of physical theatre. Published in France in 1987, this volume represents Jacques Lecoq's first full statement of his philosophy of human movement and the expressive principles that underpin mime and physical performance. The book is valuable because it combines Lecoq's theoretical framework with interviews and complementary essays that place his ideas in a wider twentieth-century context, making it a key reference rather than a light how-to manual.

Key Features

• Foundational theory: Lecoq sets out a coherent philosophy of human movement that helps readers understand the principles driving expressive physical performance.
• Historical context: The text traces pantomime history and situates modern physical theatre developments within a broader timeline, which benefits researchers and teachers.
• Practical components: Lecoq defines components of mime and gesture in concrete terms that can inform rehearsal and classroom work.
• Interviews with practitioners: Conversations with Ariane Mnouchkine and Jean-Louis Barrault add first-hand perspectives that illuminate practical applications of Lecoq's ideas.
• Supplementary essays: Chapters by Jean Perret on Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau expand the historical and technical background for students of pantomime.
• Contemporary survey: A final section by Alain Gautre highlights the explosion of physical theatre practitioners in the 1980s, useful for understanding the movement's trajectory.

Who It's For

This book is ideal for theatre students, movement coaches, and professional actors who want a rigorous, historical and theoretical grounding in physical theatre. It will be especially useful in academic settings or as a reference alongside practical training at movement schools.

Readers seeking a beginner's step-by-step workbook or quick exercises to learn mime from scratch may find the tone more essayistic and discursive than hands-on; those readers should look for practice-focused manuals instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Comprehensive articulation of Lecoq's movement philosophy that informs long-term practice.
• Historical and interview material gives broader context and multiple practitioner viewpoints.
• Contributions by Perret and Gautre enrich the book with authoritative background on Decroux, Marceau, and 1980s physical theatre.

Cons

• The text is more theoretical than a practical exercise manual, so immediate classroom drills are limited.

Specifications

Title	Theatre of Movement and Gesture
Author(s)	Jacques Lecoq, Joel Anderson, D Bradby, Luke Kernaghan, DICK MCCAW
Publication country	France (original publication 1987)
Content focus	Philosophy of human movement, pantomime history, physical theatre
Included material	Interviews, historical chapters, practitioner survey
Notable contributors	Jean Perret, Alain Gautre

Our Verdict

Theatre of Movement and Gesture is a valuable, well-rounded resource for those pursuing serious study or teaching in physical theatre. Its mixture of Lecoq's theory, historical essays and practitioner interviews delivers strong context and lasting insight, making it worthwhile for professionals and students despite limited hands-on exercises.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book practical for classroom use?
The book provides theoretical frameworks and historical context that inform classroom practice, but it contains fewer step-by-step exercises than a dedicated workbook.

Does it cover the history of mime?
Yes; Lecoq traces pantomime history and the book includes chapters by Jean Perret on key figures like Etienne Decroux and Marcel Marceau.

Are interviews included?
Yes; interviews with Ariane Mnouchkine and Jean-Louis Barrault are part of the volume, adding practitioner perspectives.