Steven Berkoff's theatrical adaptation of Franz Kafka's enigmatic novel, The Trial, tells the story of Joseph K, who has been arrested for a crime that is never mentioned. K spends his time navigating a surreal world, trying to clear his name. I have only watched recordings, but this is my favourite play (so far.) I recently rewatched it to conjure inspiration.
Steven Berkoff's style of theatre is called TOTAL Theatre. It is characterised by physicality, stylisation, and heightened dramatic expression. He blends elements of mime, physical theatre, and minimalistic set design to focus on the raw emotional intensity of the actors. Berkoff often uses a heightened language that mixes classical and modern influences. His work frequently explores dark, psychological themes, and they run very much like dreamscapes.
This is my favourite theatrical style because it is bold, daring, and darkly comic. To me, it is what theatre should be - it makes no attempt to compete with film and television, but rather creates its own medium of expression. It relies on the imagination of both the actors and the audience.
I first watched The Trial during my Drama A-Level. I instantly fell in love with the dystopian, surreal aesthetic. The world building and language created is unique, and (as I have written previously) anything long-lasting owes its life to the world of the piece.
I hoped that rewatching Steven Berkoff's 'The Trial' would rekindle my relationship with expressionist theatre. As I look ahead to potentially directing a play on my current degree, I desire to create an expressionistic piece. I took elements of this for The Forest of Nimrinor - but asserted my own auteurism. I have also been inspired to write a dream-like play.
Time will tell...
Steven Berkoff's The Trial is available to watch on Digital Theatre Plus.
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