Advanced Actor’s Training in Physical and Devised Theatre by THE FEVER KINETIC (2025)
I underwent a 4 day theatre training in January 2025 facilitated by Tristen ZiJuin, focusing on devising and physicality techniques. This post will cover my biggest takeaway I’ve learnt as a stage performer from those 4 days. Thank you to THE FEVER KINETIC (2025).
Danniel’s personal lesson from THE FEVER KINETIC (2025)
During one of the four days, my partner and I were tasked with devising a physical movement piece. At the end of that piece, my partner pushes me and I added with jumping away. The below video demonstrates that.
My intentions were to put what I had to offer as an artist in to the work. To give my all. To not be lazy, essentially. However, these intentions were not translated, as later Tristen described my input as unnecessary. He then explains to me that as artists, we don’t need to add on things unnecessarily. The more you add, the more muddled your message becomes. What is bare already has a story to tell. I replaced my jump with instead an authentic response from the push from my partner. Here’s what that looked like.
I don’t know if it’s just me (since art is subjective), but for me, this version felt more depth in terms of storytelling. Everything else learned from that four day workshop was knowledge and practice. But this was my personal lesson; the bare already has a story to tell, adding unnecessarily, unintentionally, can muddy the message.
Everything else learned from THE FEVER KINETIC (2025)
There were a lot of things covered in those 4 days, so below are just some of the highlights taught by Tristen ZiJuin.
Ensemble training
As an ensemble, we’re taught to move as a single organism, as opposed to multiple organisms moving as one. To work towards this, we underwent a number of ensemble building activities together.
A clear Devise process
As an ensemble, we reflected on what ‘community’ meant to us. Using each of our individual iterations, we composed an entire physical piece based on those reflections. The process was clear. From what I gathered, it was giving input regarding the theme. Then, using those inputs to inspire physical movements. Lastly, sew those movements together to form a piece that represented our theme.
Introduction to the Suzuki Method
On the fourth day, Tristen introduced us to the main Suzuki stomp. He explained that there are several Suzuki stomps, and that the stomp was to give and receive energy from the floor. It wasn’t a glide or a slice forward, but rather a clear up and down energy transfer to and from the floor. This was a gruelling exercise not just for the legs, but the torso and core as well.
Non-verbal Communication
In theatre training, we normally learn that there’s a lot of non-verbal communication and that they’re normally with the eyes. In this workshop, Tristen took it one step further. It wasn’t just the eyes. It was also sensing and perceiving your ensemble mates. It’s not just seeing their body language. It’s also reading it. That encompasses understanding, interpreting, and anticipating them. We did a slew of exercises to practice this. And then with that information, we as stage performers adapt accordingly. One exercise we did was holding sticks as a group and trying to not drop them as we moved around the room.
How I’m feeling after THE FEVER KINETIC (2025)
This Advanced Actor’s Training in Physical and Devised Theatre was my first experience of it’s kind. It was an intensive 4 days and I’m feeling ready to take on more advanced courses such as this one from now on. At first I felt I wasn’t ready, but now I know I can do advanced stuff now.
Enjoyed reading what I learned? You can find more performing arts related learnt content on my blog here, do check it out and learn what I’ve learned too!