Flood Drummers Piece example essay topic

Flood drummers was a production by the French Company Theatre du Soleil. The director Ariane Mnouchkine combines the most recent French and European theatrical approaches with the customs of Kabuki, Banraku Puppetry and Chinese Opera. It drew inspiration from the 1998 floods that ravaged China. This catastrophe served as a vehicle for a legend which, though doused in convention, presents a modern controversy about the dishonesty of man, stupidity and greediness. The production, Flood Drummers reflects contemporary issues.

The groups themes typify power and truth of politics. They vary from environmental deprivation to state fraud at the uppermost point. The piece has deep issues, for example, the floods are due to the human manipulation of the earth, a note that should not be lost in a world of exploiters. The company are committed social and political activists. Theatre du Soleil have an aspiration to raise social and political awareness through shared ritual and exotic play. The Flood Drummers performance is unique and involves the use of many skills from the whole cast.

The thirteen drummers draw the audience's attention not only because of their talent but also because the musicians are being controlled by two puppeteers high above the backdrop. The musical score is a vital element to the Flood Drummers piece. In the tradition of Asian puppet theatre, it is played by a master who has an assistant passing him instruments and mopping his brow when he sweats. The Flood Drummers piece is performed entirely by "human marionettes".

The characters are each accompanied by darkly dressed, masked manipulators who practically carry he or she along seemingly controlling higher every move. The success of the flood Drummers is due to the use of combining current forms of entertainment with a social note. The use of puppets, played by actors and controlled by actors adds a totally new dimension to theatre. What made this interesting was that the actors did not let this restrict them. They explored their possibilities and used it to their advantage.

Music is blended throughout the whole drama and sustains the audience's attention. The company has used their imagination and utilised peoples talents and artistry to portray their feelings on several topics that affect our society. The French company Theatre du Soleil have toured Flood Drummers all over the world. They performed at Australia's Sydney Festival at the Royal Hall of Industries, Fox studios. Their stage is an open rectangular performance arena and the main platform floats on water. The company use their musical ability to attract the audience.

Starting with a loud strike from one of their timbale's to attract the audience they stagger their entries, increasing in speed and in thickness. This increases in intensity and tension willing the audience to watch on. The use of each actor dressed as a Banraku puppet and controlled by another actor is innovative. It is especially astonishing when within the first few moments of the production, when what seems like a life size puppet starts to speak. Even before the production begins though, the audience are free to roam the space and observe the actors making their careful arrangements as they sit at small wooden dressing tables cluttered with make-up, wigs and other various items. The success of the company is due to the passion of the ensemble.

Theatre du Soleil perform as one, no one stands out over another and they work as a team passionate about presenting and moving the audience with ideological concerns of the present. The group has used ancient styles of theatre and intertwined present concerns so the viewers can relate to the piece of theatre. The company have made anything possible and use everything available to them. This allows their piece to reach amazing heights.

The use of "human marionettes", for example, where the actors are lifted and manipulated by other actors throughout the whole piece. The company of twenty eight people with the help of Ariane Mnouchkine, the artistic director, and writer, Helene Cixous spread their beliefs worldwide. They achieve this through their talent and commitment as a group.