Magic and Machine: Using the Repre Method of Theatrical Devising to Explore the Themes of Science, Spiritualism, and the Human Brain

This thesis explores the application of The Repre Method of theatrical devising (also know as the RSVP cycles) to the ensemble-devised creation, Brain Storm. The narrative of the play centers on 3 characters; one woman dealing with a brain injury and its emotional and cognitive fall-out, another who believes she can communicate with the deceased across barriers of time and space, and the famous Canadian neuro-surgeon Wilder Penfield, who used electrical stimulation to provoke sensory hallucinations in his patients. The Repre Method, which uses objects and stories as resources for the actors to engage with, is explored as a means to find compelling narrative and emotional connection within the devising process and workshop production.