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Perla Ghabbour

Grahame Renyk

DRAM100

11 April 2023

Performance Analysis Assignment – Qualitätskontrolle

SECTION ONE - Describe your initial reaction to the production.

Have you ever attended a lecture during which the instructor began theatricalizing

their lesson? A lecture that went beyond the typical formal style incorporating unique

elements such as dance-like movements, obstacle-course-like games, theatrical masks or

even asking a student to come up and gesticulate for the instructor? This is similar to

what Qualitätskontrolle did, and it was truly fascinating. What made this production so

intriguing was the theatricalized TED-Talk nature of it. By taking risks and incorporating

elements of theatre-of-the-real and post-dramatic theatre, Qualitätskontrolle created

something outside of the realm of typical dramatic theatre making it so much more

emotionally affecting for audiences. Great intro!

I found this production to be thoroughly enjoyable and intellectually stimulating.

Maria-Cristina's story captivated me, and the unconventional nature of the production

made it stand out among other works we explored in Dram100. I thought it was

fascinating how I watched an entire production in a language I don’t understand and still
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found myself crying about it. Her story was emotionally affecting for me, and it was so

inspiring seeing what she made out of her life given these tough conditions.

One particular aspect of the production that stood out to me was her use of Love the specific
examples here!
technology; Maria-Cristina's inability to physically move was overcome through

technology, allowing her to communicate with the audience through various mediums.

Using the Anatomy of Understanding to unpack my reaction to this production, I note

that I understood this production rationally, emotionally, and there was a moment that

triggered my visceral understanding as well. When Maria-Cristina was describing the

story of how she became paralyzed by diving head-first in a shallow pool in extreme

detail, I found myself cringing and having a visceral, gut response to how painful and

terrifying that experience sounded like. There were many moments that sparked my

intellectual curiosity and engagement, especially when seeing the various technological

devices used to help Maria-Cristina and the moments where she reflected on the meaning

of life.

Overall, Qualitätskontrolle is a unique production that delves into the themes of

identity, disability, and what it means to be human. Watching this production was an

incredibly eye-opening experience; Maria-Cristina's story was powerful and emotional,

and her ability to communicate her experiences in a way that was both engaging and

thought-provoking was impressive.

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SECTION TWO - Analyze the production choices and how they connect to your

experience.

Taking risks is what makes theatre the unique art form that it is, and

Qualitätskontrolle took several bold and artistic risks that stretched the limits of

conventional theatre. Despite its foreign language and unconventional nature, I found it

utterly captivating, and was unable to look away from the screen. Let's explore the

reasons behind my intrigue and delve into the depths of this unique production. In

analyzing the production choices in Qualitätskontrolle in an effort to try and explain my

initial reaction to it, several key concepts from Dram100 come to mind, including post-

dramatic theatre, scenography, liveness, and character vs role. Excellent job narrowing your focus!

The production embodies the principles of post-dramatic theatre, a term coined by

Hans-Thies Lehmann, a German theatre director, to describe a shift in theatre away from

traditional dramatic forms and towards a more fragmented, non-linear approach to

storytelling (Renyk). This approach is evident in Qualitätskontrolle, which blends

elements of personal narrative, documentary theatre, and non-traditional dramaturgy to

create a dynamic and immersive experience for the audience. By deconstructing the

conventional barriers between performer and audience, the production invites viewers to

participate in the storytelling process and engage with the themes and ideas presented in

the show. I think that because of this unique way of storytelling, I was able to connect

with the performer more and allow it to produce a more affective response from me. It

made me feel inspired and sparked ideas in my mind about myself possibly creating post-

dramatic theatre in the future. The upsurges of the real that this production incorporated
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created a sense of authenticity that really resonated with me as an audience member; I

didn’t have to suspend my disbelief, I just simply listened and watched Maria-Cristina as

she told us her story. Because I knew that this story was real and actually happened in the

real world, I was in my quotidian headspace when visualizing it and it induced a visceral

reaction within me.

Amazing work incorporating course concepts into your analysis!

Scenography is another key element of Qualitätskontrolle that played a role in my

reaction to it. The use of video projections, lighting, set design, and props all worked in

conjunction to create a rich and immersive environment for the audience and contributed

to the creation of a highly sensory and visually stunning experience. For example, the use

of projected images and video footage helped to reveal the themes of memory and

identity explored in the production, while the lighting design created a sense of intimacy

and intensity that draws the audience into the world of the play. All of these scenographic

features together blended seamlessly to enhance the overall impact of the performance,

amplifying its emotional resonance, artistic depth, and intellectual insight. One specific

scenographic choice made that I found extremely enticing was around 53 minutes into the

production when the projections were being displayed on Maria-Cristina to show

different costumes and have her portray different people in her life or herself at earlier

ages. I thought that this was a very unique way of using technology to change costumes.

This added to my intellectual curiosity about this production because of how it took these

never-before-seen risks in making this show stand out amongst other theatrical

productions, it made me inquisitive on what else we can play around with in the theatre,

and it blurs that definition just a little bit more.

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Dramaturgy also played a critical role in shaping my experience of

Qualitätskontrolle. The production utilized a non-linear narrative structure, with Maria-

Cristina's story being told through fragmented and episodic scenes. This dramaturgical

choice added to the emotional impact of the production, as it reflected Maria-Cristina's

own fragmented memories and experiences. The audience was forced to actively engage

in the non-linear structure in order to piece together the narrative, which increased their

sense of involvement and investment in Maria-Cristina's story. I really enjoyed being

given the space to be involved in a piece of theatre; it is true that people love to be

intellectually stimulated and have our brain reward system go off when we feel like we

figured out something on our own. Additionally, the use of recurring motifs and symbols,

such as the imagery of water and diving, added depth and complexity to the dramaturgy,

creating a rich subtext that enriched my overall experience of the production.

Acting, particularly Maria-Cristina's portrayal of herself, was another significant

aspect that shaped my experience of the production. I'm not sure whether this falls within

the criteria of "acting" because of the post-dramatic style of this production, but for the

purposes of this analysis, let's assume that it was. Looking at her “acting” from the

Dram100 lens of character and role, Maria-Cristina was not necessarily playing a

“character” during this production, but rather she was telling her story as herself. Maria-

Cristina was the actor and the character. Her role was communicated to us, the audience,

through various mediums. Maria-Cristina's role was multi-dimensional, combining

elements of movement, vocalization, and facial expressions, despite her physical

limitations. I found it particularly interesting how she had her nurses gesticulate for her;
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this was a clever approach of using role but with someone else’s body to convey a

character. Her use of nonverbal communication gave her character depth and

authenticity, enabling her to communicate emotions and establish a true connection with

the audience. Her character was also heightened by the vulnerability and authenticity she

brought to the stage, sharing her personal story in a raw and unfiltered manner. Her

ability to convey her experiences through acting was a testament to the power of theater

as a medium for storytelling and human connection.

Finally, the liveness of this production impacts and affects the audience way more

than watching it through a screen. I, unfortunately, was only able to experience

Qualitätskontrolle through a screen, but even then, the liveness of the performance was

palpable. Despite not being physically present in the same space or time, I was still able

to sense the energy and passion of Maria-Cristina's performance; I could only imagine the

added intensity and emotion that would come with actually sharing a live space with her.

The liveness of the production also extended to the interactions between Maria-Cristina

and the audience, as she directly addressed them and invited them to participate in her

story. This sense of shared experience and connection created a unique bond between the

performer and the audience, and it made me realize the power of live theatre as a

communal art form integral to human nature that can evoke strong affective responses

with feelings of empathy and understanding.

Ultimately, the artistic choices made in Qualitätskontrolle demonstrate a

willingness to take risks and experiment with new forms and techniques in theatre. By

embodying the principles of post-dramatic theatre, utilizing scenography to create an

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immersive environment, and incorporating elements of dramaturgy, acting, and liveness,

the production creates a powerful affecting experience for audiences. As such, it stands as

an indication of the enduring power of theatre to move and inspire us, and to push the

boundaries of what is possible in the art form. This is some incredibly strong analysis!

SECTION THREE - State your argument.

Upon reflection on my previous analysis, a fascinating insight into post-dramatic

theatre came to mind. The power that post-dramatic theatre has to engage and affect

audiences in ways that traditional, dramatic theatre might not be able to has the potential

to redefine theatre as we know it in the near future.

Something that really stood out to me from this performance and interestingly

several performances I’ve recently seen is the use of technology. There is no denying that

technology has been advancing at rapid rates these past few years and, inevitably, these

technological advancements have made their way into theatre as well. Technology serves

as a powerful tool for enhancing storytelling and creating immersive experiences for

audiences. In Qualitätskontrolle, it was used to portray costumes as projections, display

interactive games on the stage floor, and used as various communication mediums to

adapt to Maria-Cristina's physical disability. I have seen technology used recently for

many accessibility purposes so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy theatre. For

example, more shows at Queen’s have started incorporating closed captioning as a

projection for those hard-of-hearing or to just simply read along as you watch. I think that

using technology to make theatre more accessible is truly groundbreaking. There is so

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much potential, so much room for growth and innovation in the field of post-dramatic

theatre with technology and I am excited to watch the future of theatre.

WOW! This is an incredibly well-written paper. You followed the instructions excellently, and went above and beyond in
yoru analysis and insights. I don't have much feedback to offer on this paper, you've truly done a wonderful job.
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Works Cited

Qualitätskontrolle. Module 19 - Theories (The Dramatic and The Postdramatic)

Renyk, Grahame. "Postdramatic Theatre." Theories (The Dramatic and The

Postdramatic).