Theatre With Teeth began working on The Machine back in September 2007, when Charlie and Dan simultaneously came up with the title. Both thought it sounded rather good, but couldn’t think of what it would be about, because there were so many interesting avenues to take it down. It was eventually decided that The Machine would become a piece of theatre devised by the project’s participants, which would take the pressure off of Dan and Charlie having to think too hard about content.

In October, Theatre With Teeth held auditions for the project and from those many varied and splendid candidates came the group of six that we have today. And with the project’s assistant director, Isolde, on board the team for The Machine was complete.

Throughout the first term, the company invited various workshop leaders into our rehearsals to share their skills with the team to help facilitate the devising process. Workshops included Improvisation, Scriptwriting, Biomechanics, Dance, Performance Art, and Music/Theatre. Aspects of all these sessions can be seen in the final product. Simultaneously, the company researched into the concept of ‘The Machine’; how it could be seen as a metaphor for societal and interpersonal relations, and how machines interact with humanity, delving into a wide range of topics from Education to Environmental Issues, Religious affairs to Industry.

In the Winter term, the group focused on generating new pieces of theatre using the skills and research gained from the sessions in the previous term. The process was long, but also rewarding, effective, and a lot of fun.