KneeHigh

Kneehigh theatre company was founded in Cornwall in 1980 by Mike Shephard, who has continued to be its Artistic Director until its dispansion in 2021. Kneehigh gained recognition for its unique theatrical style under Shepherd's leadership. There was a strong emphasis on physical theatre combining comedy and burlesque with dance and music, unusual sets (often outdoor), use of masks and puppetry, and deep culture and landscape of Cornwall, creating their own unique style.

The name refers to the supposed height of a child but Kneehigh's theatrical style is designed to appeal to both adults and children, without talking down to either.

Key Elements of Kneehigh's style:

1) Pre-Show

a way of 'softening up' the audience. It can involve the actors and musicians interacting with the audience members, giving them things or involving them in actions. This precursor to the show itself establishes a close connection with the audience, which is maintained throughout the main play.

2) Physical Theatre

Physical theatre, often a grotesque and comical kind, is a key element of the Kneehigh style.

This is closely linked to Antonin Artaud's ethos that the theatre should communicate with its own physical language. this might take the form of swordplay or actors wearing huge padded stomachs and bottoms to become sumo wrestlers.

3) Live Music

Music is often used at points throughout each play to set the mood or build tension, for example, and is often composed especially for the performance. Kneehigh favour folk music, frequently using accordion, drums and stringed instruments. Kneehigh musicians in most cases are also actors,and actors may also play instruments and sing. The two roles are interchangeable.

4) Dance

at least one big number involving all/most of the cast, sets the mood for that moment. often in the form of folk dance with plenty of stamping and heel-and-toeing, rather than being balletic. expressive dance may be used to indicate a central characters mood and personality.

5) Improvisation

usually involving elements of audience participation. Each show is therefore unique and different. shows are also often reinvented many times. the yare always new versions. nothing is aloud to be stale

6) Masks

Actors often wear masks in Kneehigh performances. this is closely linked to the company's focus on emphasis of on character types or archetypes, and the large gestures and clear movements to convey heightened emotional states often in outdoor settings.

7) Clowning

Humour is important in Kneehigh, physical clowning, falling about, trampolining on to the stage, and so on. it is a large part of the actors training, and is put to hilarious and breathtaking effect. Jon Oram, joined Kneehigh in 1980s trained with Marcel Marceau and passed on many skills from the mime artist to the company.

8) Costumes

Kneehigh costumes are often quirky, and sometimes willfully ugly, chosen to say something about a character type. Wigs, often outrageous in size and colour, are frequently used, as are masks. Dramatic or over-the-top costumes and make-up are necessary to communicate emotions, ideas and moods with the audience in Kneehigh's large, usually outdoor performance spaces.

9) Sets

Kneehigh sets have a pleasing way of knitting themes together through its design. A lot of their sets use scaffolding, ladders and platforms allowing for different heights and acting areas.