The Writing Experiment by Hazel Smith

Tongues, talk and technologies 213

The degree to which any piece takes on the challenges of performance will
vary enormously. For example, at one extreme, the term performance poetry
may simply be used to describe forceful and effective communication of a
page-based poem. At the other extreme, it may mean a poem which only
exists in an oral form. In addition, the concept of performance is becoming
more and more enmeshed with technology. Some of the strategies in this
chapter combine a performance and technological approach, and can be
used in studio-based work or writing for radio.
This chapter is accompanied by examples on The Writing Experiment
website at http://www.allenandunwin.com/writingexp. You will gain most if you
listen to them in conjunction with reading the chapter. These works are
referred to within the chapter and listed at the end of it.

exercises

1. Create a performance text which is:
   a) a speech-based poem
   b) a sonic poem.


2. Construct a performance text which has a mixed media or
   intermedia aspect.


3. Create an improvised text.


4. Create:
   a) a performance ‘score’ which has to be completed by
   performers, or
   b) a piece which requires audience participation.


5. Create a text which explores the relationship between
   performance and gender and/or performance and ethnicity.


6. Create a piece which experiments with different uses of the
   microphone.

ANGLES ON PERFORMANCE

There are many different ways of approaching writing for performance.
These are some general issues and alternatives which you will need to
explore as you begin to create performance texts:

• You can perform your own texts, or they can be performed by others.
  If you perform the texts yourself you can directly communicate with
  your audience. Also your physical presence, and such factors as your