Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Mime artist who founded a school of mime and has toured the world performing the visual art of mime.
Eight records
The eight records for this collection haven’t been catalogued yet.
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
A few years ago you formed a school of mime. Does it still operate?
Well, uh it's rather difficult now because I'm touring … I am on a world tour, but we had approximately eighty pupils coming from all over the world, especially Americans … also South Americans, French, of course, Italians, Germans … And we had seven teachers, because for the mime art we have also to exercise with classic dance … Modern dance, jazz, of course, uh fencing … Acrobacy and of course the mime technique.
Presenter asks
How close is mime to [dance]?
It's a different technique, but of course it's it is a visual art. It involves the complete body. We have a complete technique by our own … But I would say that dance is the art of movement and you leap in the air to lose weight and to freedom your body through jumping in the air … And the mime is more attached to the floor. It's a slower technique. It's the art of attitude … And in this aspect it can be also more dramatic. But both arts have many things in common … specially [modern] dance today … many movements on the floor you see when you look at Bejar or the modern even [Martha] Graham … and Robbins … But um … Mime involves also to be an actor … You have to play situations and to act … and to express it with body movements.
“It's a different technique, but of course it's it is a visual art. It involves the complete body.”
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Marcel Marceau
This done.
Presenter
Uh
Marcel Marceau
is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs, the presenter was Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Monsieur Marceau
Presenter
A few years ago you formed a school of mime. Does it still operate?
Marcel Marceau
Well, uh it's rather difficult now because I'm touring
Marcel Marceau
I am on a world tour, but we had approximately eighty pupils coming from all over the world, especially Americans.
Presenter
Special
Marcel Marceau
also South Americans, French, of course, Italians, Germans.
Marcel Marceau
And we had seven teachers, because for the mime art we have also to exercise with classic dance.
Marcel Marceau
Modern dance, jazz, of course, uh fencing.
Marcel Marceau
Acrobacy and of course the mime technique.
Presenter
How close is mime to Touballe?
Marcel Marceau
It's a different technique, but of course it's it is a visual art. It involves the complete body. We have a complete technique by our own.
Marcel Marceau
But I would say that dance is the art of movement and you leap in the air to lose weight and to freedom your body through
Marcel Marceau
Jumping in the air.
Marcel Marceau
And the mime is more attached to the floor. It's a slower technique. It's the art of attitude.
Marcel Marceau
And in this aspect it can be also more dramatic. But both arts have many things in common.
Marcel Marceau
specially madendance to day.
Marcel Marceau
many movements on the floor you see when you look at Bejar or
Marcel Marceau
the modern even Mata Graham.
Marcel Marceau
and robins.
Marcel Marceau
But um
Marcel Marceau
Mime involves also to be an actor.
Marcel Marceau
You have to play situations and to act.
Marcel Marceau
and to express it with body movements.
“the mime is more attached to the floor. It's a slower technique. It's the art of attitude.”
“Mime involves also to be an actor. You have to play situations and to act … and to express it with body movements.”