Declamation is the art of musical speech, and in no performance-genre is the relationship between musical and textual expression more pronounced than in that of melodrama. The melodrama, or ‘dual art’, combines spoken texts with musical accompaniments. It makes special demands on the speaker to pitch and organize their speech rhythmically in relationship to a predetermined musical score. Although the genre was very popular up until the 1920s, it has currently fallen out of favour and its associated manner of declaiming has fallen into disuse. This lecture explores the potential for melodrama to revitalize our public speaking today.

This lecture is also meant to prepare the audience for the theatre performances of Pygmalion and Proserpina later the same evening in the Leidse Schouwburg.

In English.

Alexander Cromer is a storyteller, researcher, and spoken word artist pursuing his doctorate through the Academy of Creative and Performing arts, Leiden University. Alexander’s focus revolves around Afrofuturism, Black Ontology, and ecological issues. Using his storytelling practice (which includes spoken word, poetry, music, and performance art), he translates theoretical research to produce and design meaningful experiences. In the past, he has worked with the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, the British Film Institute, XL Recordings, WeTransfer, the Istanbul Design Biennale, the annual Conference of Youth, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Cromer will perform a one-man show, and also will curate Sunday’s 6 poets in 60 Minutes event in de Leidse Schouwburg.

In English.

Artistic Research is the speciality of the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, Leiden University. Artistic research places great value on trying things out, experiencing them physically and emotionally, and then drawing conclusions from the resulting proprioception. This workshop, led by experienced historical actor Kat Carson, gives the audience an opportunity to better understand what they are seeing and hearing during Overacting by experimenting with it themselves. How does historical acting, through postures, gestures and facial expression, activate the body and emotions of people today? Try it and find out!

Workshop in English.