Dear All
It’s a whole new year with whole new adventures. In January, I packed my rucksack, grabbed my hiking boots and set off exploring.
We started in London with a directing workshop at Shakespeare’s Globe. It doesn’t get much better than this when you are looking for some renewal and to reconnect with passion and practice. The truth is I have been on the Globe stage twice before – but both times I was chased of promptly by staff. This time I was allowed to stay and play in the magic.
Next up was Belfast to meet up with a friend and exciting artist to discuss the beginnings of what could be a thrilling international project (this one may take a few years so we are hush hush for now). I took the opportunity to get to know the Belfast scene a little and further my passion for connecting like-minded international companies. I had a great meeting with Rebecca Mairs who is leading the The Lyric Theatre’s new Literary Department, found myself discussing Canadian production models with executive director Niamh Flanagan of TheatreNI and was kindly shown around The Cresent Arts Centre
In February, I was on a Flixbus heading back to Germany. This time to Cologne to represent Artistic Director Kim Selody and The Presentation House Theatre (North Vancouver, CAN) at The Flausen Kongress. Flausen when translated mean fantastical or crazy idea. The Kongress was an opportunity to learn more about Theatre Wrede +’s unique development platform for new forms and voices; and the chance to learn more about the German theatre, its artists and practices. Between seminars, I was able to engage with the Free House artistic directors, independent directors and producers, dramaturges, actors and artists.
Now back in London this month to try and refill the coffers for the next adventure, I have been attending as many Young Vic directors’ Network events as possible including Audience Perspectives: The Life of Galileo with Joe Wright, The Role of the Dramaturge in UK Theatre, International Theatre: German Practice, and Diversity & Invisibility on Stage: Disabled Artists. This last one, led by Athena Stevens opened my eyes to an inequity I had never even considered and a very interesting discussion on root problems and potential solution in theatrical equity.
And finally, as I have always found the best way to engage with new talent and new artists is a boots on the ground approach, I will be directing a short play The Twilight Zone by Suzy Gill by for the Althea Theatre’s Rapid Write Response night at The Old Red Lion. If you are in London Sunday March 19, it would be great to see you there.
I hope your 2017 projects are going well and see you at the theatre!
Jack Paterson
Have Pen. Will Travel.
Creator, Director & Dramaturge for hire.
Shakespeare’s Globe: Directing Studio
January (London,UK)
Offered to just 12 professional directors, this was a series a series of masterclasses focused on approaches to preparing and rehearsing Shakespeare’s plays in the Globe Theatre. Masterclasses included original practice; Shakespeare’s text and an actor’s voice; use of actor’s body on a bare stage. Providing perspectives from rom actors to directors and voice coaches to original practice, the classes were lead by Rob Swain, Dickon Tyrell, Nick Hutchison, Sarah Case and Simone Coxall.
Flausen Kongress
February (Cologne, Germany)
Flausen is a
Residency platform for the development of new theatrical form developed by Theatre Wrede + and Winfried Wrede (Oldenburg, Germany) taking the German theatres by storm. The process driven
residencies are four to five dedicated weeks of research and experimentation open to artists of all disciplines intended to be a focused research based incubator for emerging Artist Ensembles to develop new ideas, new approaches and new voices through risk.
The Flausen Kongress was a gathering of German free house Artistic Directors and Producers, Academics, Funders, Dramaturgs, Independent Artists and Creators – some of whom had participated in the Residencies, and students. For me this became much more than learning about Flausen, but also a chance to understand the German system, its creation practices, its priorities, how and why the work is made, and learn more about the dramaturgical and playwright roles.
The Kongress’s primary focus was strengthening the network between the free houses participating in Flausen plus improving and developing the program nationwide. This would hardly however be the limit of discussion, presentations and seminars addressed over the three days in Cologone. Between the seminars Werkstatt Theater had arranged group lunches and dinners and conversations would carry on across multiple subjects.
A special thanks to Winfried Wrede of Theater Wrede + who extended the invitation, Andreas Lübbers of Hamburger Sprechwerk (Hamburg), Siegmar Schröder of Theater Labor (Bielefeild), Maike Tödter – a local producer and my translator who generously shared her knowledge and Dr. Gerhard Seidel of The Werkstatt Theaterwho took the day off on Friday to show me around Cologne.
The Young Vic Genesis Director’s Network
The Young Vic has been running the Directors Program for over ten years, offering directors a unique opportunity to exchange experiences with peers and be part of a network of talented directors, producers and designers working and living in the UK. As the only scheme of its kind, the Directors program provides proactive support for professional directors offering a range of opportunities to help directors develop their craft. These opportunities and activities include skills workshops, peer-led projects and paid assistant directing roles.
Rapid Write Response (London, UK)
Sun 19th of March at 7.30pm
Old Red Lion Theatre
418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ
TICKETS £10.00
Althea theatre presents a night of dynamic new writing for one night only, inspired by ‘One Last Thing (for now)’ which takes a universal look at the words of love against the wounds of war across different cultures and languages.
Althea Theatre is an international theatre company of British and non-British actors based in London that was founded in 2014. Through exploring international and local viewpoints, we seek to challenge issues prevalent to European society today.
British and International Writers were invited to attend the show in the opening week and write a 10-15min piece touching upon the theme and issues raised by the play. Selected pieces are then performed at a writers night a week later.
The rapid response writers night will take place 7.30pm Sunday 19th March at the Old Red Lion.