Encountering Ensemble

Encountering Ensemble, is a text for students, teachers, researchers and practitioners who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the history, conceptual foundations and practicalities of the world of ensemble theatre. It is the first book to draw together definitions and practitioner examples, making it a cutting edge work on the subject.

Encountering Ensemble combines historical and contemporary case studies with a wide range of approaches and perspectives. It is written collaboratively with practitioners and members from the academic community and is divided into three sections:
1. Introduction and an approach to training ensembles
2. Practitioner case studies and analysis of specific practical approaches to training ensembles (or individuals in an ensemble context)
3. Succinct perspectives from practitioners reflecting on a range of questions including: What is an ensemble?; the place of ensemble in the contemporary theatre landscape; and training issues.

John Britton is Artistic Director of DUENDE, an international performance group dedicated to ensemble-based, interdisciplinary new work. Between 2004 and 2011 he was Senior Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield, he retains a research affiliation. He is one of the only academic-practitioners in the UK with a specific research focus and practice in the training and directing of ensemble theatre. Britton has a continuing international practice as a trainer and director of ensembles. Recent workshops have taken place in Mexico, Slovenia, France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, China, Portugal, Australia as well as the UK. Britton has extensive experience as a director, performer and writer of physical, interdisciplinary and text-based work.