The Third Space: Body, Voice, and Imagination
The Third Space serves a crucial need for contemporary performers by providing an interdisciplinary and physiovocal approach to training. It is a new take on body and voice integration designed to develop the holistic performer. It takes performers through a series of step-by-step practical physiovocal exercises that connects the actor’s centre to the outside world, which increases awareness of self and space. It also develops a deeper connection between spaces within the body and the environment by connecting sound, imagination, and movement.
Robert Lewis’s approach is a way of working that unlocks the imagination as well as connecting performers to self, space, and imagination, through voice and body. It conditions, controls, and engages performers by integrating various voice and movement practices.
The theories and practice are balanced throughout by:
- introducing the practical works theoretical underpinnings through research, related work, and case studies of performances;
- demonstrating a full program of exercises that helps performers get in touch with their centre, their space, and shape both within and outside the body; and
- exploring the performers physiovocal instrument and its connection with imagination, energies, and dynamics.
This book is the result of nearly 20 years of research and practice working with voice and movement practitioners across the globe to develop training that produces performers that are physiovocally ready to work in theatre, screen, and emergent technologies.
Crisis and Creativity in Performing Arts Training
Edited by Robert Lewis and Soseh Yekanians
This book comprises of key articles from the 2023 AusAct: The Australian Actor Training Conference that addresses innovative and fresh discussions post-COVID on how the Performing Arts can come out of these times of crisis and maintain their survival. Each chapter looks at a different aspect of the performing arts and discusses our programs and the unique and significant role acting and performance teachers have in our education sector, and their clear contribution to the international creative economies.
Books
Lewis, R 2021, Orbiter/Lander, Australian Plays.
Lewis, R 2019, Lines and Boxes, Australian Plays.
Lewis, R 2014, The Active Centre, Contemporary Arts Media, Melbourne [e-book].
Lewis, R 2007, Generate 06, Inveresk Play Series, Launceston. ISBN 1833-3362 (2007) [Edited Book].
Papers and Essays
Lewis, R 2021, Action/Reaction and everything in between in the Virtual Space: (dis)embodied learning through online performance practice. IJPBH Journal.
Lewis, R 2020, From ‘methods’ to ‘approaches’: Integrative practices and physiovocality in the digital landscape. Fusion Journal, 17, 61-78.
Lewis, R 2019, ‘Actor training for motion capture: filling the void with voice and body’, Theatre Dance and Performance Training Journal, 10, 2, p. 270 – 272 3 p., 2.
Lewis, R & Sweeney, D 2019, ‘Perform ‘The Space’, not ‘In The Space’: Incorporating Place, Environment and Imagination in Integrative Practices’, Fusion Journal. 15, p. 85-96 11 p.
Bird, ML & Lewis, R 2018, ‘Deep Muscles, Deeper Understanding’, Journal of Interdisciplinary Voice Studies. 4, 1, p. 71-84 13 p., 1.
Lewis, R 2017, ‘Homo Fuge: Developing the physio-vocal methods of Voice Theatre Lab’s early productions (2007 – 2011)’, International Journal of Practice Based Humanities, vol. 1. no. 1, pp. 1 – 17.
Lewis, R 2017, ‘Space, Shape and the Physio-Vocal Instrument’, Interdisciplinary Voice Studies Journal, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 57 – 66.
Lewis, R 2016, ‘’Two Houses’ Both Alike in Dignity: Reimaging the classics through site-specific performance’. [blog] PAUST (Performance Architecture Urbanism Space Theatre) Blog. Available at: https://paustgroup.wordpress.com/2016/01/30/two-houses-both-alike-in-dignity-reimagining-the-classics-through-site-specific-performance/.
Lewis, R 2015, ‘’Crisis’ revisited: Re-entering Dark Voices in Revolt’. [blog] Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Blog. Available at: http://theatredanceperformancetraining.org/2015/11/crisis-revisited-re-entering-dark-voices-in-revolt/#more-429.
Lewis, R 2015, ‘Space, Shape and the Physio-Vocal Instrument’, International Federation of Theatre Research Conference, University of Hyderabad, India.
Lewis, R 2014, ‘Self Discovery Through Voice and Body’, International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 4, no. 1 [Refereed Article].
Lewis, R 2013, ‘Dark Voices in Revolt’, Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Journal, vol. 4, issue 3 [Refereed Article].
Major Recorded Works
The Third Space, 2013, DVD. Distributed by Contemporary Arts Media, Melbourne. Directed by Robert Lewis.
Iam Nocte, 2010, DVD. Distributed by Contemporary Arts Media, Melbourne. Directed by Robert Lewis.
Robert Lewis 