Practitioner focus: Forced Entertainment

Forced Entertainment (FE) have been described by the Guardian as having produced ‘some of the most exciting and challenging theatre of the past few decades. They were founded in 1984 by Robin Arthur, Tim Etchells (Artistic Director), Richard Lowdon (Designer), Claire Marshall, Cathy Naden and Terry O’Connor, and are based in Sheffield. They tour their work nationally and internationally, crossing boundaries between theatre, installations, digital media, the internet and photographic projects.

In the foreword to Etchells’ book Certain Fragments, inevitable comparisons are made to The Wooster Group and other artists affiliated with the avant-garde. Aspects of FE's work could be accompanied with commonly taught-in-school practitioners like Artaud; particularly considering how they like to challenge and provoke their audience. However, the long-term collaboration between the same individuals, for over 30 years, has been a key factor in enabling them to develop what FE describe as a ‘shared language’ and a rehearsal repertoire centred on improvisation.