Autocratic Montage in a Communal Theatre: Eugenio Barba

Montage is a tool giving form to everything and theatre is no exception. This essay seeks to examine collaboration in Odin theater, then answers a question regarding the existence of an autocratic montage in its performances. A collaborative theatre redefines the typical role of actors, directors, and other artists involved in the creation process. In this kind of theatre, everybody can tell their story and interpret it, and there are no forces to connect interpretations or materials the group provided. It is believed that Eugenio Barba's theatre is an example of collaboration. He encourages actors and other artists to participate in the creation process. He defines Actors' Dramaturgy and values their efforts in creating steps. However, the finding proves that in each phase of the creation process determined by Barba, actors do not have their voices. Even in their dramaturgy, they are restricted to Barba's plan enforced on them. This plan also forces audiences.In the present study, the data analysis was qualitative, and it was conducted based on literature, interviews, and theatres performed by Odin theater.There are some researches regarding montage in theatre, such as Montage as the Universal Creative Device: Interdisciplinary Approach by Liudmyla Korotkova and Form and Meaning in Avant-Garde Collage and Montage by Magda Dragu. Some essays about Eugenio Barba, including The Director's Folly: Eugenio Barba. The Creation of Performances by Elena Masoero, and Study of Actor’s Dramaturgy in Dynamic Post-Modern Theatre Based on Eugenio Barba Theory By Mohsen Hakimi and Hamid Reza Afshar.The newest aspect of my research is investigating the autocratic montage in a communal theatre, which is not researched in the above-mentioned essays. Montage also is an important concept in Robert Wilson and Romeo Castellcci's theatre. Investigating their approaches to montage is the suggestion for further research in this area.