Devised Initiative

Rules

The Devised Initiative accepts group or solo projects, and for time reasons we can only accept the first five applications. Applications will open 12/1/2025 and remain open until 2/16/2026.

The 2026 Prompt:

This year, in addition to responding to the image and music prompts below, we would like to add some compositional parameters that we would like each piece to include. The four compositional parameters are:

• Have at least four minutes of no dialog. There does not need to be any dialog in your piece at all, but if you do have dialog be sure to have at least four minutes (all at once or spread throughout the piece) where there is no dialog.

• Have a moment or moments where some part of what has happened repeats in reverse.

• The ensemble (or solo artist) must find at least one moment of unified breath (or solo breath) that initiates a change in tone, pace, or structure.

• A key set piece or structure must be assembled live during the performance.

I. Please use one or more of the following images as a starting point for you work (you can draw inspiration from the colors, shapes, compositions, implied narratives/themes, etc):

II. Please use one or more of the following songs as a starting point for your work (either the lyrics or the music or both if there is both):

Myths on Rotting Ships by Warm Ghost: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW2AI3yKbj4&list=RDFW2AI3yKbj4&start_radio=1

In Ruins by Fol Chen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u8FqrVK_rI&list=RD4u8FqrVK_rI&start_radio=1

Mental Boy by Thomas Newman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re0m0zGG3v8

Surfboard by Juan Garcia Esquivel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NglD0H-cps

• The Process:

  • The Process 

    Working alone, or as part of an ensemble, devise a 10 to 20-minute performance that incorporates the compositional parameters above and uses the images/songs as a prompted starting point. There are as many ways to devise as people who are devising. We would expect that each piece is created with a unique performance vocabulary. This vocabulary should include some combination of movement, voice, text, performance images, sonic landscapes and scenic environments. 

    NOTE: If you want to be part of a group, but do not have a group at your home institution we will be assembling one on-site group to work during the festival and present their piece alongside the others. 

    Logistic/Parameters 

    • Pieces will be performed live (there can be video recorded elements of the live performance, if you have projection equipment and provide it)

    • Time limit: 10-20 minutes. This time limit must include your set-up, performance, and strike. Set-up and strike could be creatively included as part of the performance

    • You can expect a 16x16 performance space 

    • Contributions of an ensemble are expected to be balanced and evenly distributed

    • Not every member of an ensemble must perform, but all must be involved in some significant way (design, choreography, etc)

    • Faculty advisors may provide outside-eye feedback, but students should drive the work

    • No live flame

    • No smoking

    • No functional weapons

    • Each showing will be given a short response from a regional devising guest artist. Each artist will be expected to speak articulately about their work, displaying rigor of process and responsibility for form and content.

    • Remember that devising is not an aesthetic or performance product, it is a process and method. There are as many ways to do this as there are people devising. It is inclusive of multiple aesthetics, production value spectrums and performance styles

    • Region 6 will only be able to provide space and time for performance. Participants are responsible for providing everything else (costumes, sets, lights, sound, projection equipment, props, etc.) 

Helpful Links and Contact For Help/Questions

Articles on Devising:
∙ “What is Devised Theatre?” Posted by Martine Kei Green-Rogers, THEATRE
TIMES, https://thetheatretimes.com/what-is-devised-theatre/
∙ “Devised theatre: Ten Tips for a Truly Creative Collaboration” Posted by John Walton,
THE GUARDIAN, https://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-
network/2014/dec/16/devised-theatre-ten-tips-collaboration