In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
30 June to 6 August 2017
Artists’ group The Theatre of Mistakes (1974-81) pioneered a structured performance art traversing architecture, choreography and poetry as well as visual art. They formed in London in the early 1970s from a series of open workshops at which instructional and games-based exercises were the focus. These came to inform The Street (1975), a performance with the residents and environment of Ascham Street in Kentish Town.
Fiona Templeton and Anthony Howell distilled the performance exercises into a publication, Elements of Performance Art (1976), arguably the first manifesto for performance art in the UK. A core group of six performers (Mickey Greenall, Glenys Johnson, Miranda Payne, Peter Stickland as well as Howell and Templeton) then agreed to produce contained and systematic works for a five-year duration. Later, ‘mistakes’ were explored through a series of trios, duets and solos and Julian Maynard Smith joined the core group.
The live element in this exhibition will commence on the opening night with a ‘Free Session’ by The Theatre of Mistakes, including early members, Lindsay Moran and Howard Tong. Throughout the exhibition, Anthony Howell will run performance workshops every afternoon, while each Friday and Saturday evening there will be performances of Going (1977). Directed by Fiona Templeton, a cast of five will play out mannerisms of departure in five tightly choreographed acts, whilst attempting to be each other.
The Theatre of Mistakes logged its working life, practice and processes in detail. The exhibition reveals this unique legacy of documentation and notation, and includes videos, photographs, a great variety of spatial and choreographic notations, as well as diary texts.
The exhibition is curated by Jason E. Bowman. For further booking information about Going and information about participation in the workshops, please see the Events listings on this page.
Exhibition supporters
Selected texts
Events
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 2-5pm, 30 June to 4 August 2017
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Workshop at Ting studio, London (1974)
Photographer unknown
Courtesy of The Theatre of Mistakes
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Free Session, performance by The Theatre of Mistakes, 29 June 2017
On the occasion of the exhibition In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes, Raven Row, 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
The Theatre of Mistakes
Going (1977), 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes,
A Waterfall 12, Hartley Witney Green (1977)
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Notes relating to the group’s organisation.
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Core Group Fantasy Piece, 1975 (Mike Owen)
Courtesy of The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Secrets Piece, 1976
Instruction piece by The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Getting Up and Going Out, 1975
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Rehearsals for The Street, 1975
Photographer unknown
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
The Theatre of Mistakes
The Street, 1975
Photographer unknown
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
The Theatre of Mistakes
The Street, 1975
Photographer unknown
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Chair Diagram, 1978 (left) and Maquette of Pel Chairs (undated after 1979) (right)
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Mutual Signatures, 1976 (18 of 24)
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Mutual Signatures, 1976 (18 of 24)
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Mutual Signatures, 1976 (18 of 24)
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
The Manifesto of Mutual Art, 1975-76
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Going Primary Scenes Diagram, Act 1 (1977). Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes.
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Time Diagrams for Scenes at a Table, 1976
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Ascent of the Stedelijk, 1976
Photograph by Glenys Johnson
Courtesy The Theatre of Mistakes
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Homage to Morandi (1980), 39 mins; and Table Move 1 (1981), 32 mins
Both documented at 'Performance - Another Dimension' at Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin (1981)
U-matic video transferred to digital, looped
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Retrospective publication of Homage to Morandi, 1980
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
Exhibition view
In Case There's a Reason: The Theatre of Mistakes
Photo by Marcus J. Leith
The Theatre of Mistakes
Free Session performance at Raven Row, 29 June 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photograph by Mark Blower
Anthony Howell during Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop at Raven Row, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Elements of Performance Art workshop, 21 July 2017
Photo by Mark Blower
Performance: Free Session, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session at Raven Row, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session , 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog
Performance: Free Session, 6 August 2017
Photo by Eva Herzog