'It's a fun cocktail!': the Wooster Group's head-spinning blend of high and low art

The Wooster Group's unique blend of high and low art can be seen in their reimagining of Spalding Gray's "Nayatt School," a piece that first premiered in 1978. The group, founded by Gray and Elizabeth LeCompte, is known for combining disparate elements to create something new and unexpected.

The production features a mix of vaudeville-style radio skits, TS Eliot's postwar play "The Cocktail Party," and footage from the original show. This fusion of high and low art is reminiscent of the company's earlier work, such as their 2005 performance of Hamlet, which featured Scott Shepherd mimicking an archive recording of Richard Burton.

LeCompte compares her technique to frottage, a form of artistic expression pioneered by Max Ernst, where pencil rubbings are taken from rough surfaces to create something new. "The performers are material and I like to rub myself up against them," she says, adding that the effect can be discombobulating but also funny.

Shepherd notes that the high and low combination has a double benefit, taking the high thing down off its pedestal and allowing audiences to appreciate an earthier humanity encoded in it. Meanwhile, something sublime is exposed in the low thing.

The company's approach is not without challenge, as getting these combinations to work can be difficult. However, once LeCompte sets her course, she never abandons an idea. The precision of the actors and technicians is evident in their performances, even if they leave audiences bewildered.

LeCompte's enthusiasm for life and art remains unwavering, despite being 82 years young. Her sense of joy and wonder is infectious, making her a delight to watch.

"Nayatt School Redux" will be at Coronet theatre, London, from April 17-25, offering audiences the chance to experience this unique blend of high and low art once again.

omg just saw this rehearsal vid for "Nayatt School Redux" and im speechless! The Wooster Group is like geniuses or something... taking these old pieces and smashing them together with modern radio skits and TS Eliot's play - its like a dream come true I love how LeCompte talks about frottage, it makes total sense... rubbing up against the performers to create something new Scott Shepherd is just incredible too, I mean who else can make Hamlet funny? The high and low combo must be so confusing but in a good way, like you need to pay attention to get all the layers LeCompte's energy is everything, its infectious... cant wait for April 17-25!

This production sounds like it's gonna be some wild ride... who needs coherence when you can have a healthy dose of weirdness, right? I'm intrigued by Elizabeth LeCompte's technique - frottage, huh? Sounds like something I'd do in a drunken state. The way she describes the performers as "material" is quite... intimate? Also, I love how Scott Shepherd points out that high art can be made low-key (pun intended). It's all about balance, folks! Can't wait to see if LeCompte's enthusiasm translates to a entertaining experience. Hope I don't get too lost in the chaos...

The Wooster Group's approach is all about challenging our perceptions, right? I mean, who needs traditional theater when you can mash up some old-school vaudeville with TS Eliot and modern technology . Elizabeth LeCompte's technique is pure genius - using frottage as a metaphor for her artistic process is so cool . And Scott Shepherd's portrayal of Richard Burton in Hamlet? Genius, plain and simple .

It's also amazing how LeCompte stays true to herself at 82 . Her enthusiasm and joy are totally infectious. I mean, we should all strive to stay curious and open-minded like her . The fact that the production leaves audiences bewildered is actually a testament to its success - it's not for everyone, but that's what makes it so special .

man I just saw this thread about The Wooster Group's "Nayatt School Redux" and I gotta say it sounds super fascinating i love how they're mixing high and low art to create something new, like LeCompte's frottage thing it reminds me of when i used to do those art projects in school where you'd take pencil rubbings from weird textures and make this whole new piece out of it. anyway back to the Wooster Group, i think what really draws people in is their ability to take these "high" things like TS Eliot's play and turn them into something more accessible, you know? it's like they're taking the pedestal off those high art pieces and showing us that there's this whole other world of humanity encoded in them. LeCompte's enthusiasm is infectious, btw she sounds like a total firecracker at 82

The key to life is to face it with courage and creativity - Albert Schweitzer
I think what's really cool about The Wooster Group's approach is that they're not afraid to get a little weird and challenge people's expectations. I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a radio skit from the 70s alongside a post-war play? It sounds like a recipe for disaster, but somehow it actually works!

I'm so down for The Wooster Group's "Nayatt School Redux", it sounds like they're pushing boundaries in a cool way . I love how LeCompte is experimenting with different styles, like those radio skits - reminds me of our school's creative writing club . And using TS Eliot's play? That's like reading 11th grade English literature for the first time and it still being so thought-provoking... but in a good way . I'm not sure what to expect from it though, will be interesting to see how they blend all those different elements together .

I'm loving The Wooster Group's reimagining of "Nayatt School" but I gotta say, it's a bit too 'out there' for me . Combining Spalding Gray's experimental style with TS Eliot's postwar play and footage from the original show is definitely bold, but can they really make it work? Their approach reminds me of the old art-house movies where you're not quite sure what to expect, and sometimes that doesn't always pay off .

That being said, LeCompte's energy and enthusiasm are infectious , and I love how she's still pushing boundaries at 82! The way she talks about frottage and rubbing herself against the performers is a bit weird, but in a good way . Scott Shepherd's comment about taking high art down from its pedestal is spot on, though – there's definitely something to be said for appreciating the 'low things' .

I'm still not sure if I'd pay £25 to see this performance, but hey, that's just me . If you're a fan of experimental theatre or just want to experience something new, go for it! It might just blow your mind .

omg i just saw that The Wooster Group's "Nayatt School Redux" is coming to london in april and i'm SO down for it!!! they're all about mashups and fusing different art forms, which is literally my jam i love how Elizabeth LeCompte compares her technique to frottage, it's like she's pushing boundaries and creating something entirely new what's also really cool is how Scott Shepherd's performance in Hamlet shows that even high art can be earthy and humanizing can't wait to see this production and experience the magic for myself!

I mean, can you believe how far the Wooster Group's style has come since Spalding Gray's "Nayatt School" first came out in '78? They're all about mashups now, blending art forms like no one's business! TS Eliot's stuff with vaudeville radio skits... it's wild. I'm kinda surprised they'd go for something so experimental, but hey, that's what makes it interesting, right? The way LeCompte describes her technique, frottage and all, is actually pretty cool – just like taking a scratchy pencil rubbing from a rough surface to create something new. And Scott Shepherd's Hamlet vibes in '05 were kinda genius if you ask me... anyway, this latest production is gonna be crazy to see. Will they get the combo right? Only time (and some laughs) will tell

I'm loving how The Wooster Group brings together art forms like radio skits and TS Eliot's "The Cocktail Party". It's like they're giving old art a fresh spin . LeCompte's technique is so cool, kinda like frottage, but with performers instead of rough surfaces . I can see how this blend of high and low art can be both discombobulating and funny . The precision of the actors and technicians is insane, it's like they're performing a beautifully crafted puzzle piece by piece . Can't wait to check out "Nayatt School Redux" at Coronet theatre in April, hopefully I'll understand what all the fuss is about .

I'm not sure if I love or hate the Wooster Group's latest reimagining of "Nayatt School". Like, what even is that? They're taking old stuff and trying to mix it with new things... or are they just throwing a bunch of random stuff together? Either way, it sounds kinda weird.

But at the same time, I think that's kinda what makes me want to see it again - it's like an adventure for my brain. LeCompte's technique is super interesting, even if it does sound a little... intense? Frottage and all that jazz.

And can we talk about how old Elizabeth LeCompte is?! 82 years young and still bringing the energy? I'm like totally here for it. She's got this infectious enthusiasm that's just impossible to resist.

But, ugh, what if it's too confusing? What if I don't get it? That's always my thing - overthinking it till I get a headache.

I think what really gets me about The Wooster Group's style is how they're not afraid to mess with the traditional notions of what's 'high' or 'low'. It's like they're taking all these fancy art pieces and vaudeville skits and just rubbing them together in a way that's both chaotic and beautiful . I mean, who needs some serious artistic control when you can have Elizabeth LeCompte's enthusiasm and energy? It's like she's saying "Hey, let's take this thing and smash it up!" – and somehow it works. The way they balance all these different elements is a real art form in itself. I'm intrigued to see how the audience will react to "Nayatt School Redux" – will they be bewildered or won over?

The Wooster Group's latest production has got me thinking... how can you mash up a bunch of different styles like that? It's not for everyone, I get it. But there's something about Elizabeth LeCompte's energy that just draws you in and makes you want to see what she's working with.

I love how they're taking this old play from 1978 and giving it a whole new vibe. The fact that they're incorporating vaudeville-style radio skits is genius , it's like they're speaking different languages but somehow making them work together. And Scott Shepherd's performance? Mind blown

It's also interesting how LeCompte compares her technique to frottage, which is a pretty weird art form, even if it sounds cool. But hey, it's all about pushing boundaries and challenging the audience.

I'm not sure I'd call it a traditional theatre experience, but that's kinda the point, right? It's like they're taking the high-brow stuff and bringing it down to earth . And you know what? It works. The precision of the actors and technicians is insane

So yeah, "Nayatt School Redux" is definitely one to check out if you're feeling adventurous. Just don't say I didn't warn you

I went to see "Nayatt School Redux" last week and I gotta say, it was wild ! The Wooster Group's ability to mash up different styles is like a fever dream – you're never sure what's gonna happen next . Elizabeth LeCompte's technique is genius, kinda like taking a bunch of disparate art movements and smashing them all together like a Picasso painting .

I was totally taken aback by the performance at first, but as it went on, I started to appreciate the weird beauty of it all . It's like they're saying, "Hey, we can take these high-brow things and make 'em fun and silly too!" . And LeCompte's energy is just infectious – she's like a human sparkler ! Can't wait to see what they come up with next .

I'm so stoked about The Wooster Group's new show "Nayatt School Redux" ! They're like total masters at mashup-ing high art with low-key cool stuff . I mean, who wouldn't want to watch a radio skit-meets-TS Eliot action? It's like they took all the boring bits of art school and turned them into something totally wild and fun . Elizabeth LeCompte's energy is just infectious – she's 82 years young and still bouncy as ever ! And Scott Shepherd's improvisational skills are on point , even if some people might get all confused . I love how the high art gets brought down to earth and we can see something super human beneath it . Can't wait to catch this show in London at Coronet theatre from April 17-25

omg i just watched a vid about the wooster group online and i'm like totally lost lol they're combining old radio skits with TS Eliot's play and footage from an old show it sounds kinda weird but also really interesting? is elizabeth lecompte still around? she seems so energetic and fun to watch

omg i'm so down for this production ! The Wooster Group is like my fave experimental theatre company, always pushing boundaries & blending art forms - I mean, who needs traditional script when you can mash up TS Eliot with vaudeville radio skits? They're like the avant-garde equivalent of a crazy aunt at a family reunion - you never know what's gonna happen!

stats alert: The Wooster Group has been around since 1972, and over the years they've worked on some groundbreaking stuff, including the 2005 Hamlet production that featured Scott Shepherd mimicking Richard Burton's recordings. That was like 14 yrs ago!

Did you know that Spalding Gray's "Nayatt School" has been reimagined countless times since its premiere in 1978? It's crazy how art can evolve & take on new forms - just like Elizabeth LeCompte's technique, which is all about frottage!

anyway, I'm low-key excited for this production to come to Coronet theatre in London from April 17-25. We need more experimental theatre in our lives!

I'm not sure about this new production by The Wooster Group... I mean, don't get me wrong, it sounds interesting and all that jazz . But have you seen some of their previous stuff? Like, remember when they did Hamlet with Scott Shepherd mimicking Richard Burton's archive recording? That was weird, but in a good way, I guess .

And what's up with Elizabeth LeCompte's technique? I mean, frottage, huh? Sounds like she's just rubbing herself all over the performers . And "discombobulating" is not even a real word, right?

I get that they're trying to mix high and low art, but can't it be done without being so... confusing? Like, I'll admit, some of their stuff can be funny, but when you don't know what's going on, it just ends up frustrating .

Still, LeCompte seems like a total firecracker at 82 . She's got this enthusiasm for life and art that's kinda inspiring. And I guess if you're into that sort of thing, the production might be okay .

But for me, it's just too much to handle . Give me something straightforward any day, you know?

The Wooster Group's "Nayatt School Redux" is like a train wreck that you can't look away from - it's gonna be mesmerizing! Elizabeth LeCompte's fusion of vaudeville, TS Eliot's poetry, and Spalding Gray's original piece is like nothing I've ever seen before. The way she combines high art with lowbrow humor is genius . It's like getting a high-five from the absurdity of life.

I love how LeCompte compares her technique to frottage - that's some wild artistic expression right there . And Scott Shepherd's comments about taking high things down and exposing humanity encoded in them are so true . The actors' precision and LeCompte's infectious enthusiasm make this production a wild ride .

Even if it leaves audiences bewildered, I'm all for it - sometimes we need to be shaken out of our comfort zones . Can't wait to see "Nayatt School Redux" live at Coronet theatre in London!