Exeter

I talked with Phillip Zarilli about psycho-physical practice. Buddhism came up over and over, as did Polish theatre companies, Gardzienice, Odin, singing, the Dalai Lama, Kalachakra Initiations, Asian cultures, African, ancient Athenic military training.

I met with three Exeter PhD students. This is how they typically structure their programs:

- Before coming: Research Question. Decide specifically what you plan to explore. How you plan to do & document it. It can be any project(s), anywhere in the world, with anyone, as long as it is related to theatre, has a practice ("doing") component, and is justified in terms of your inquiry.
- 1st year: Foundation. Prepare, do background reading, learn methodologies, organize the projects and people, plan the trips.
- 2nd year: Research. Go do the projects. Document them, on DVD, a journal, photos.
- 3rd year: Write thesis. Put your findings in context, cite the main papers in the field, pass your exams, get your committee's approval.
- 4th year, if needed: Finish thesis.

That's a good structure for me. Consistently, however, I feel more at home in the companies than the schools.

I am about to begin the long unspooling of returning to each previously-visited city for a day or less -- which is how I was able to afford the trip.

I can't wait to get to Holstebro. Where there is a washing machine, a hard bed, good work, and silence.