Guide to the Keith Johnstone Papers SC1210

Daniel Hartwig

Department of Special Collections and University Archives

July 2014

Green Library

557 Escondido Mall

Stanford 94305-6064

specialcollections@stanford.edu

URL: http://library.stanford.edu/spc

Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: Department of Special Collections and University Archives

Title: Keith Johnstone papers

creator: Johnstone, Keith.

Identifier/Call Number: SC1210

Physical Description: 9 Linear Feet (6 cartons)

Date (inclusive): 1953-2007

Abstract: Original plays, writings, correspondence, theatrical materials, journals, and artwork..

Access to Collection

The materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.

Publication Rights

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94305-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/spc/using-collections/permission-publish.

Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Keith Johnstone Papers (SC1210). Dept. of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, Calif.

Biographical/Historical note

Keith Johnstone is a British and Canadian pioneer of improvisational theatre, best known for inventing the Impro System, part of which are the Theatresports. He is also an educator, playwright, actor and theatre director.

Keith's ideas about improvisation, behaviour and performance appeal to a wide variety of groups. From actors to psychotherapists, improvisation companies to theatre schools and companies, business and management training specialists and humanities research institutes, universities and film production companies have invited him to come to teach them about his ideas, and how they might apply them.

Born February, 1933, in Devon, England, Johnstone grew up hating school, finding that it blunted his imagination and made him feel self-conscious and shy. In the late 1950s, as a play-reader, director and drama teacher at the Royal Court Theatre in London, he chose to reverse all that his teachers had told him in an attempt to create more spontaneous actors. In the 1970s, Johnstone moved to Calgary, Alberta to teach at the University of Calgary.

He founded the Theatre Machine Improvisation group in England in the 1960's, touring Europe and North America. Johnstone co-founded the Loose Moose Theatre, and invented his system of training that has been influencing practice within and beyond the traditional theatre for over 50 years. His system include formats such as "Gorilla Theatre", "Micetro" or "Maestro", and "Life Game". The latter has been seen at the National Theatre courtesy of Improbable Theatre, and on U.S. cable television. He founded The International Theatresports™ Institute in 1998.

Johnston has written two books about his system; Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre (1979), and Impro For Storytellers (1999).

Scope and Contents

The materials consist of original plays, writings, correspondence, theatrical materials, journals, and artwork.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Comedy

Comedy sketches

Improvisation (Acting)

Theatre -- History

Close, Del -- Correspondence

Coyote, Peter. -- Correspondence

Beckett, Samuel -- Correspondence

Johnstone, Keith.

Pinter, Harold -- Correspondence

Plays

Plays

view online item

box 1, folder 1

Sketches 1993-1994

box 1, folder 2

"They Came by the Night" Original with Revisions

box 1, folder 3

The Best of Unzipped

box 1, folder 4

Unzipped Further

box 1, folder 5

Unzipped One 1995

box 1, folder 6

Unzipped (Rev. Prod. Copy) 1995

box 1, folder 7

Marg

box 1, folder 8

Damian

box 1, folder 9

Geronimo (English and Danish Versions)

box 1, folder 10

The Last Bird Circa 1979

box 1, folder 11

The Last Bird (With Revisions) 1972

box 1, folder 12

The Last Bird (Copy) 1972

box 1, folder 13

The Last Bird (Copy)

box 1, folder 14

The Last Bird

box 1, folder 15

The Last Bird (Rewrites after Production) 1971-1972

box 1, folder 16

The Last Bird (With Edits) 1972

box 1, folder 17

The Last Bird

box 1, folder 18

The Last Bird 1980

box 1, folder 19

The Last Bird (Incomplete Copy)

box 1, folder 20

Den Sidste Fugl

box 1, folder 21

Men and Angels (Short Story Based on The Last Bird)

box 1, folder 22

The Last Bird 2004 May

box 1, folder 23

Live Snakes and Ladders

box 1, folder 24

The Martian

box 1, folder 26

Mindswop Pre-Production Draft 1983 Mar

box 1, folder 25

Mindswop (Original)

box 1, folder 27

Mindswop (rough draft) 1983

box 1, folder 28

Moby Dick (2 Revisions from Previous Years)

box 1, folder 29

Moby Dick Circa 1967

box 1, folder 30

Mutiny on the Bounty

box 1, folder 31

The Nigger Hunt 1958 Oct 19

box 1, folder 32

Gloomy Go Round

box 1, folder 33

The Suit + The De-Programmer 1997 Jun

box 1, folder 34

Play Mor56 (Synopsis)

box 1, folder 35

Attempts at Plays (Several Unfinished Projects)

box 2, folder 1

The Beast with Five Fingers

box 2, folder 2

Brixham Regatta

box 2, folder 3

Brixham Regatta (2/6) Early Drafts

box 2, folder 4

Brixham Regatta (3/6)

box 2, folder 5

Brixham Regatta (4/6) Early Draft

box 2, folder 6

Brixham Regatta (5/6)

box 2, folder 7

Brixam Regatta (6/6) Early Drafts

box 2, folder 8

Loose Moose Children's Shows

box 2, folder 9

Clowning at RCT 1965

box 2, folder 10

The Cord (1/6)

box 2, folder 11

The Cord (2/6) 1969

box 2, folder 12

The Cord (3/6) 4 Revisions/Drafts

box 2, folder 13

The Cord (4/6) 1995

box 2, folder 14

The Cord (5/6) Revisions 1997

box 2, folder 15

The Cord (6/6) Swedish Translation 1991

box 2, folder 16

The Defeat of Grant Bignose

box 2, folder 17

Faust's Angel

box 2, folder 18

For Children - Earliest Draft 1958

box 2, folder 19

Frog Wife 1990-1992

box 2, folder 20

The Invitation (Includes Danish Version)

box 2, folder 21

Jeremy & The Timber Box 1997

box 2, folder 22

Performing Giants (1/2) Original Script

box 2, folder 23

Performing Giants (2/2) Incomplete Scripts and Drafts 1966

box 2, folder 24

Adaptations 1964

box 2, folder 25

Robinson Crusoe

box 2, folder 26

Robinson Crusoe (2 Scripts) 1969

box 2, folder 27

Robinson Crusoe (Version 1)

box 2, folder 28

Robinson Crusoe

box 2, folder 29

Robinson Crusoe

box 2, folder 30

Robinson Crusoe (Edits)

box 2, folder 31

Robinson Crusoe

box 2, folder 32

The Secret Life of Dr. Watson 1986

box 2, folder 33

The Secret Life of Dr. Watson (Original with edits and revisions)

box 2, folder 34

The Secret Life of Dr. Watson (Revision) 1997 Jun

box 2, folder 35

Shot by an Elk (Not Complete)

box 2, folder 36

Shot by an Elk

box 2, folder 37

Shot By an Elk (Danish Translation) 1975

box 2, folder 38

Sir and Perkins Plays (Moby Dick and They Came by the Night) 1996

box 2, folder 39

Sir & Perkins - Home

box 2, folder 40

Sir & Perkins

box 2, folder 41

Sir & Perkins (Plays, Drafts, etc.)

box 2, folder 42

Home (Sir & Perkins)

box 2, folder 43

The Time Marchine (Sir & Perkins)

box 2, folder 44

Sir & Perkins (Plays, drafts, etc.)

Other Writings

Other writings

view online item

box 3, folder 1

Artwork 1980

box 3, folder 2

Artwork and Comics

box 3, folder 3

Faculty Meeting Doodles 1979-1994

box 3, folder 4

Misc. Photos

box 3, folder 5

Theatresports Book 1996 July

box 3, folder 6

Theatresports Book 1996 Jul

box 3, folder 7

Theatresports Book 1996 Jul

box 3, folder 8

Masks

box 3, folder 9

Fast food Stanislavsky Lists

box 3, folder 10

Connections 1981-2004

box 3, folder 11

Photos - Live Snakes & Ladders, Proof Sheets, Negatives

box 3, folder 12

Other Productions Circa 1994

box 3, folder 13

Other Productions - Reviews 1973-1987

box 3, folder 14

Misc. Personal Docs 1964-1966

box 3, folder 15

Godot 1998

box 3, folder 16

Cinema 1960

box 3, folder 17

Articles About Keith 1998

box 3, folder 18

Articles Which Inspired Keith's Teaching

box 3, folder 19

Pedagogy

box 3, folder 20

Published Writings 1965-1996

box 3, folder 21

Rehearsal Notes

box 3, folder 22

Royal Court 1963-1966

box 3, folder 23

Teaching Internationally 1993-2007

box 3, folder 24

Theatre Machine

box 3, folder 25

Misc. Teaching 1965-2007

box 3, folder 26

The Tempest

box 3, folder 27

University of Calgary Correspondence (Teaching) Circa 1988

box 3, folder 28

University of Calgary and Sabbatical Applications 1986

box 3, folder 29

Misc Teaching 1971

box 3, folder 30

Teaching Student Material 1984-1985

box 4, folder 17

The Stain

box 4, folder 18

Man on the Beach

box 4, folder 19

The Monastery (Original) 1953

box 4, folder 20

The Cord

box 4, folder 21

The Monastery 1954

box 4, folder 22

This is War (Essay)

box 4, folder 23

Drafts of Newsletters, etc. (News Three)

box 4, folder 24

Drafts of Newletters, etc (Being There)

box 4, folder 25

Drafts of Newsletters, etc. (Journey Without Maps)

box 4, folder 26

Drafts of Newsletters, etc. (Book of the Moses)

box 4, folder 27

Misc. Writing

box 4, folder 28

Theatre Design

box 4, folder 29

Poetry

box 4, folder 30

Writings on MASKS

box 4, folder 31

Notes (Impro)

box 4, folder 32

Early Drafts of Impro Sections

box 4, folder 33

Status 1973 Jul

box 4, folder 34

Pilot (Colour)

box 4, folder 35

"Spontaneity" & "Narrative Skills" Chapters of IMPRO

box 4, folder 36

Status Essay (Rough Copy)

box 4, folder 37

Account of Student at Summer School who he mentions in IMPRO in section "A Psychotic Girl"

box 4, folder 38

"Trance & Masks" Chapter in IMPRO (Original Copy)

box 5, folder 1

Loose Moose Materials 1983-1999

box 5, folder 2

Loose Moose Materials

box 5, folder 3

Loose Moose Materials Circa 1984

box 5, folder 4

Moose Art Original

box 5, folder 5

International Festival 1984

box 5, folder 6

Loose Moose Drawings

box 5, folder 7

Lifegame

box 5, folder 8

Vancouver, Theatersports, League - Legal Correspondence

box 5, folder 9

Newsletters - Theatreports & Lifegames 1987-1988

box 5, folder 10

Performance Advances 1994 Dec

box 5, folder 11

Theatresports 1981

box 5, folder 12

Other Theatresports Companies 1985-1999

box 5, folder 13

Loose Moose - Misc. 1999

box 5, folder 14

Theatresports - Misc. 1982-1995

box 5, folder 15

Loose Moose Publicity

box 5, folder 16

Loose Moose Newspaper Clippings 1980s

box 6, folder 1

The Knack - Programs & Posters

box 6, folder 2

Misc. RCT Docs

box 6, folder 3

Theatre Machine 1966-1971

box 6, folder 4

"Day of the Prince" by Frank Hilton RCT 1963

box 6, folder 5

End Game

box 6, folder 6

The Performing Giant 1966

box 6, folder 7

Misc.

box 6, folder 8

Misc. Docs

box 6, folder 9

Short Story "The Return" 1962

box 6, folder 10

Short Stories & early "Brixham Regatta" 1954-1955

box 6, folder 11

Short Stories 1955-1963

box 6, folder 12

Wallet and clippings

box 6, folder 13

Wallet and clippings

box 6, folder 14

Wallet and clippings

Correspondence

Correspondence

view online item

box 4, folder 1

Academia 1982-1993

box 4, folder 2

Former Students 1982-1986

box 4, folder 3

to Critics 1982-2001

box 4, folder 4

Important Connections 1981-1987

box 4, folder 5

Inquires & Misc.

box 4, folder 6

Invitations, Thank yous

box 4, folder 7

Contracts 1983-2004

box 4, folder 8

Loose Moose 1979-1997

box 4, folder 9

Mentors (Stirling, Bell, etc.)

box 4, folder 10

Misc. Professional 1978-1995

box 4, folder 11

RCT Personal 1960-2006

box 4, folder 12

RCT

box 4, folder 13

Theatre Machine 1976-2000

box 4, folder 14

Theatresports + Concepts 1984-1999

box 4, folder 15

Personal 1969-1983

box 4, folder 16

Letters 1960-1999