Peter Brook: The Tightrope

Peter Brook is one of the world’s most respected and revolutionary directors of contemporary theatre. To help his actors achieve extraordinary performances, he has a special exercise called The Tightrope, which evolved over decades of experimentation and practice into a process of transformation that makes theatre real and new for actor and audience alike. In this quietly eloquent and unique film, director Simon Brook – Peter’s son – reveals how The Tightrope works its dramatic alchemy.

Filmed in total immersion with five hidden cameras, The Tightrope plunges us into the intimate aspects of Brook working with his troupe of actors and musicians. Without disturbing the truth of the moment, the film reveals the magic inherent to the creative process, taking us beyond the intimacy of a workshop and into a philosophical and soulful experience.

firstrunfeatures.com/tightrope

• Director — Simon Brook
• Writer — Peter Brook, Simon Brook
• Production — Italy
• Year — 2013
• Cinematography — Alexis Kavyrchine
• Music — Toshi Tsuchitori, Franck Krawczyk
• Sound — Philippe Avril, Cecile Coutelier, Romain Drogoul
• Editing — Josie Miljevic, Barbara Bossuet
• Artistic collaboration — Marie-Hélène Estienne
• Cast — Hayley Carmichael, Jos Houben, Gauderic Kaiser, Micha Lescot, Marcello Magni, Khalifa Natour, Yoshi Oida, Adbou Ouologuem, César Sarachu, Shantala Shivalingappa, Emily Wilson, Lydia Wilson
• Production — Brook Productions
• Producers — Simon Brook, Jean-Pierre Eklou Attisso, Ermanno Olmi, Luigi Musini
• Co-production — Cinemaundici (Italy) & ARTE France (France) in association with International Centre for Theatre Research (CIRT)