Michael Devine has a PhD in Drama from the University of Toronto. As an actor he trained at LAMDA (England) and at Herbert Berghof Studio (New York City), as well as York University (Toronto). A two-time Artistic Director in the Canadian theatre as well as an accomplished playwright, dramaturg, and essayist, he has directed twelve productions in seven languages in eastern and central Europe, as well as creating five new plays. Michael has founded an actor training methodology called BoxWhatBox, which he has brought to Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Kosova, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
Presentation Overview
BoxWhatBox is a performance creation methodology which takes actors through work in Neutralisation/Demechanisation, Rhythm, and Non-Linear Text/Image Creation with the objective of building expressive 
vocabularies which act as alternatives to traditional text. Games and exercises are devised by the animateur specifically for each workshop and performance group, around a chosen theme which is then developed through targeted improvisation. The focus of BWB is upon the unlearning of inhibitive psychological and physical habits, and a re-learning of play.
Day 1 emphasises work in Neutralisation and Demechanisation. Neutralisation focuses on Alignment, breath and relaxation which opens the actor to a Creative State of Mind. The work in Demechanisation is made up of physical play which enables actors to alter their perspective.
Day 2 focuses on Rhythm and its inextricable connection to all levels of performance: actor-character, character-scene, scene-play. Vocal and percussive exercises and rhythm games assist the actor in discovering and controlling internal and external rhythms.
Day 3 concentrates on Non-Linear Text and Image Creation. Using games and exercises, the performers create a body of original material which can then be refined and used in performance. The process of “Theme-Frame-Post” scenario development is described and elaborated.
In a short 3 day workshop the emphasis will be upon training actors in the methodology for their future use, rather than in creating material for performance. All participants receive a BoxWhatBox workbook.
