The Viewpoints are a set of names given to certain principles of movement through time and space--they constitute a language for talking about what happens on stage. Coupling this with Composition, which is the practice of selecting and arranging the separate components of theatrical language into a cohesive work of art, provides theatre artists with an important new tool for creating and understanding their art form. One of the goals of Viewpoints is to use accidents. This means that no matter what choice an actor makes, the ensemble should affirm that choice and incorporate it. For Viewpoints practitioners, there is no right or wrong. This belief opens up an actor’s range of choices, so performances become more dynamic. Bartow, Arthur. 2006. The Training of the American Actor. New York: Theatre Communications Group. ISBN 978-1-55936-268-9

It is a philosophy translated into a technique for training performers, building ensemble, and creating movement for the stage' Anne Bogart and Tina Landau Perucci, Tony (31 August 2021). "The Viewpoints and the Secret of the Original Anarchist: Mary Overlie and the Undercommons". Performance Research. 25 (8): 95–100 – via Tandfonline. Bogart, Anne & Landau, Tina. 2004. The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition. New York: Theatre Communications Group. ISBN 978-1-5593-6241-2It was first articulated by choreographer Mary Overlie, whose ideas have been expanded and developed by Anne Bogart and Tina Landau, adapting them for the use of actors. Over the last twenty years, Viewpoints has ignited the imaginations of actors, directors, designers, choreographers, dramaturgs and writers. Bogart, Anne; Landau, Tina (2004). The Viewpoints Book: A Practical Guide to Viewpoints and Composition. New York: Theatre Communications Group. pp.35–53. ISBN 978-1-5593-6241-2. Shape: The contour or outline of bodies in space; the shape of the body by itself, in relation to other bodies, or in relation to architecture; lines, curves, angles, arches all stationary or in motion. SITI Company performer and teaching artist Tina Mitchell echoes the idea that Viewpoints gives equal importance to all elements of a production, including each artist. When rehearsing, an ensemble using Viewpoints is likely to be more collaborative than a traditional cast in which performers and designers defer to the director’s vision.

A key principle of the Viewpoints practice is horizontalism, [4] a distinct focus on a non-hierarchical organisation of the performance elements, meaning shared engagement with elements like space, body, text, time, shape, and emotion. The practice subsequently constitutes a shared agency of creation amongst performers and creators in working through the individual body and its surrounding material environment as part of a collective ensemble. The Viewpoints thus encourages the performer to incorporate their own bodily impulses and personal experiences in the act of creation. [5] As a practice at large, The Six Viewpoints "is dedicated to reading the stage as a force of Nature". [1] Bogart's and Landau's Viewpoints [ edit ]Kinesthetic Response:How performers respond to movement from other people, objects, or design elements.

For Overlie, this shift in attention re-defines art and the role of the artist from a "creator/originator" mindset to what she called the "observer/participant," which centers on "witnessing, and interacting, ... working under the supposition that structure could be discerned rather than imposed". [7] Overlie observed this redefinition of the artist's endeavor to correspond with the artistic shift from modernism to post-modernism.

It is taught all over the world and used by countless theatre-makers in the rehearsal process to develop flexibility, articulation and strength in movement, and to enrich ensemble playing. An invaluable resource for theatre-makers, as well as for anyone with an interest in collaboration and the creative process, whether in art, business or daily life. 'Viewpoints is timeless - a system belonging to the natural principles of movement, time and space.