Guilherme Mendonca

Summary

Supervisors:John Freeman & Gretchen Schiller

Research: The intersection of poetics and acting theory

The method of physical actions is one aspect of acting theory that deals with reading procedures. Since classical times a number of treatises have tried to explain the nature of drama – these are poetics of drama. His research looks at the intersection between acting theory and playwriting theory. It argues that, as a procedure for reading, the method of physical actions can be understood as inverted poetics of drama.

About: Born in Mozambique, Guilherme lived most of his life in Portugal, where he worked as an actor and as a director and later as a teacher. In the UK Guilherme participated in playwriting projects with WorkHorse Company and was one of the playwrights integrating the international residency at the Royal Court. In recent years Guilherme has also published poetry, a play, essays and is now preparing the publication of a book of short stories.