Social Networking

Recently I have been trying to use all my social networking sites more, and keep in the loop with things happening in the sector through these means.

On the Twitter site I follow many different creative companies which is a good way for me to find out about opportunities in the sector. Some of these at Arts Jobs, Arts National, Voluntary Arts, Arts Opportunities and Arts Jobster. They all make regular updates about things happening in the arts sector, so its really useful to have access to these via such sites. 

Another good resources I follow on Facebook is ArtReach, this is a site dedicated to giving people access to plays, scripts, musicals and packages for children, teenagers, touring projects, schools and teachers. These aren't free to download, but this may be a useful source in the future if I was to be looking for stimulus to take to a group. 

I am also still getting regular updates from all the sites and resources I blogged about at the very beginning of this MA, and those organisations sometimes have very useful opportunities and events on so it is important for me that I remember to check these as often as I can. 

I have had both Twitter and Facebook for sometime now, but it is not until  embarking on the MA and hearing talks from people such as Janine and Grant that I have realised the full potential of social networking, and also the importance of posting the right kind of things on these pages. I had posted my survey link on both Twitter and Facebook, and this is a way that I collected many of my responses.

Another site I have been making full use of is LinkedIn, I have made several new contacts on this site over the time I have been using it, and joined many groups, some of the discussions going on are really insightful and useful. I also posted my survey and a discussion topic about Community on there and it returned a few responses which was really helpful, as its just getting that wider view from people who would be out of reach if it wasn't for the social networking sites. 

CRB

My CRB check has now come through and I have the full disclosure. My work-placement have a copy of this now to which has made them happier. I am relieved as it only took just over two weeks to come through, and some can take over six weeks, so Ive been really lucky that the process has gone smoothly.

ATCSoutheast

Have come across some interesting videos online, and once you get past the slightly annoying American accent, they are worth watching and provide some great insight to Applied Theatre. 

ATCSouthEast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjSbNnmi3Mo&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfyfLe5aENM&feature=related

Community Theatre Handbook

 

I have been reading as much as I can to try and reinforce my growing knowledge base with as much relevant information as I can. I blogged before about the book by Petra Kuppers 'Community Performance: an introduction, which had reflective exercises throughout which were really useful. I have just finished another really useful book, 'The Community Theater Handbook' by Gary P.Cohen.


This book gives a step by step guide for everything you would need to know if you were considering setting up your own theatre company, and I would say it is an essential read. 


The book gives breakdowns in each chapter of: 

• The Theatre Building- giving examples of different types of buildings and stages, as well as theatre terminology and other areas which you may need to know about in the theatre.
• Personnel- a breakdown of the different roles which could be needing within the theatre company setting, such as creative staff, crew, board members and office staff.
• Securing the Rights- how to go about the legalities of putting on shows.
• Planning the season (term)- planning what you will aim to do for that specific term, how you will advertise and get people to the theatre.
• Auditions and Rehearsals- how you will generate interest, publicise your company, and how to handle planning of rehearsals, length etc. 
• Technical Aspects- lights, costume, props, set design. 
• The role of the Director- how to direct, how to lead a group, dealing with obstacles.
• Essentials- any other thing you would need to know. 

Craft Design Month

Whilst I was at work placement this morning, I was browsing in the theatre foyer at all the posters and booklets for things they have doing on, apart from having an extensive theatre programme until the end of the year, they have many arts, crafts and design exhibitions to. 

I picked up a postcard which read, Craft and Design Month, May 2012, as I thought it might be of interest to people on the MA. 

During May through August the New Vic has many other exciting exhibitions going on at the theatre. 

30th April- 26th May

Frances Nagg- painting exhibition celebrating the way we look at landscapes and images.

28th June- 23rd June

David Evans- works in watercolour, pen, and ink on paper.

25th June-21st July

Ages and Stages- an exhibition into the memories of theatre employees, volunteers, audience members and people that have been involved with the theatre during the past 50 years.

23rd July- 18th August 

Carmel Dennison, Portrait of the Potteries- works showing the area in it's post industrial state, declin and derelict, and  its potential to be reclaimed by nature. 

Craft Fairs for the craft and design month are on the 5th and 12th of May, 11.00am until 4.00pm. 

Take a look at New Vic Theatre website for more information. 

InterACT Part 2

Last week in a blog I mentioned how I had been invited to volunteer on a project called InterACT in Stafford, by someone who I had worked with on the undergraduate drama modules before Christmas, and had seen again at the Creative Minds Festival interview day. 

I have done two sessions so far with the group, and have been able to get a lift into Stafford with one of the guys who does Stage Management at the University, which has been really helpful otherwise I was concerned I would not be able to make it to Stafford for the time I need to be there. The sessions have been really interesting so far and the group is really starting to gel with one another.

We have been working with a group of vulnerable adults aged mostly 19+ and over the last two weeks we have just been mainly working on games and exercises to build the confidence of the group, and so that everyone can get to know each other, as some of the group know each other quite well, yet they don't know us yet and we need to build up that trust with them.  We have also made a team agreement with rules that the group came up with themselves so must follow, a drama contract similar to this is something I have done in the past with groups which works well if they come up with the rules, then it is a good reminder that they should follow them. 

We are working towards a performance at the end of the 12 week period, which is something that the group will devise themselves on a issue they want to discuss. 

The Stafford Gatehouse Theatre have been really accommodating of the group and we have a great studio to work in. I feel this project is going to be a brilliant experience for all involved. 

     

 Possible design for T-Shirt for the group. 

Augusto Boal

Augusto Boal is someone that I first mentioned when I began this project, and is someone that I have come across in the past when working on Applied Theatre. He is a famous practitioner in the world of community theatre and his methods are used worldwide in the development of this kind of theatre. I am really intrigued by his work (and the fact we share the same birthday), and throughout this researching period in my project I have been turning to his books out of interest and for guidance into some of the areas I am researching.

Throughout his life, up until his death in 2009, Boal worked relentlessly hard to try and evoke theatre as a tool for change, to give power and arts to the common person, and make theatre more widely available to the masses. He believed that theatre could be used to empower people that were seen to be oppressed by society, and wanted theatre to be an 'active relationship' between everyone involved. Using games and exercises to get anyone involved, whether that be a trained actor or 'common citzen' as he saw it, his methods inspired a lot of the early work in the areas of applied theatre, community theatre and drama therapy. 

One of Boal's movements/methods which I find most interesting is 'Theatre of the Oppressed' which in its simplest form is about Boal wanting to restore theatre to what he sees as its proper place, as a form of communication and expression, which is something I have been focusing on in my project.  Boal's book 'Theater of the Oppressed' draws on his influences and theories of Aristotle and Machiavelli to discuss how theatre has come to be ruled by class, and has not been available to the masses, and how Boal wishes to challenge and change this through his theories. This book takes a bit of hard work to get through, but what I have taken from the book and learnt means its well worth reading if you can get your head around it. 

           
Above is an image of the 'Tree of the Theatre of the Opressed' which links all the methods and forms of theatre Boal was using during his movement. 

Newspaper Theatre-  an early form of documentary theatre, a technique which allows people to make theatre from actual and local stories

 

Image Theatre-  using images and physical theatre to express feelings and emotions

Forum Theatre- where the spectator becomes a 'spect-actor', watching and taking action

Legislative Theatre- an extension of forum theatre which uses theatrical techniques for social/political impact

Invisible Theatre- an idea that theatre can pop up anywhere, in any situation  

Another point of the Tree of the Theatre of the Oppressed is the 'Rainbow of Desire' which uses techniques from image and forum theatre to investigate internal oppression, and ways to change this oppression. This technique is more closely linked to using theatre as therapy.  Again Boal has a interesting book on this subject. 

The last book which is an essential Boal read is his book entitled 'Games for actors and non-actors'. This book provides and insight into his methods and exercises he uses with groups to develop his methods.