A Conversation with leading theatre makers (+audio)
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In 2008 Christian Penny, Head of Directing and Associate Director - Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, interviewed leading theatre makers about their work, motivations and dreams and invited conversation from the audience.
If you missed Conversation at BATS Theatre, then read on to see links to the audio on The Big Idea. We hear from theatre practitioners Jo Randerson, Simon Ferry, James Ashcroft and Paul McLaughlin.In 2008 Christian Penny, Head of Directing and Associate Director - Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School, interviewed leading theatre makers about their work, motivations and dreams and invited conversation from the audience.
If you missed Conversation at BATS Theatre, then read on to see links to the audio on The Big Idea. We hear from theatre practitioners Jo Randerson, Simon Ferry, James Ashcroft and Paul McLaughlin.Conversation producer Briar Monro says the theatre sector is calling for better critical dialogue and thinking around the work.
"Our aim is to grow how we talk about our work, about why we make theatre, what we're exploring, what is essential to us and our audiences, what our role is, what is happening now in theatre and the implications of the changes," says Monro.
Conversation will return in 2009 as part of TBI 2.0.
Performer, writer, director and curator Jo Randerson talked about her journey through theatre to date and the role of comedy as social criticism.
"I think that's the role of art to subvert! To point the finger back at society. I'm interested in the live event. There's nothing more interesting than being in the room with people experiencing the work together and then gathering together afterwards to discuss it. I think we're turning back towards seeing the importance of this."
Randerson talks about her roots, the early shows of Barbarian Productions and the importance of difference and danger in artists and artistic process.
Listen to the Conversation with Jo Randerson
Jo Randerson is author of The Knot, The Spit Children and The Keys to Hell, has worked extensively in the comedy scene (short listed for the Billy T James Comedy Award 2005), as well as in pure literature (Robert Burns Fellow in 2001).
Her theatre work blends the populism of comedy and circus with the surreal world of absurdist theatre and poetry. Jo has received many awards for her work, including the Bruce Mason Playwrights Award in 1997, the Winston Churchill Fellowship 2003, and the Phoebe Maunsell Artists' Award, 2002.
Actor and director Simon Ferry talked about his time running Centrepoint Theatre and his journey from a rural background to the world of theatre and film.
Ferry says he had two goals when he took up the Associate Director role at Centrepoint. "I wanted it to be sought after. Both by audiences and practitioners. And I wanted the theatre to be self sustaining, to be able to more strongly determine our own direction and destiny."
Simon Ferry is a freelance actor and director. He was selected as artist in residence at Shakespeare's Globe Centre in London in 2004. His solo show Lullaby Jock premiered this year at Centrepoint Theatre in Palmerston North, where he was artistic director for the last five years. His film work includes Magic and Rose and Out of the Blue.
A Conversation with James Ashcroft, Tumuaki/Artistic Director of Taki Rua Productions and award winning performer and producer.
Ashcroft talked about how he challenges and surprises himself by selecting 'who' he works with, rather than 'how or what'. "I know that I'm going to get challenged and have the right to challenge. So there's a safe risk environment."
James Ashcroft said when he first graduated, from Victoria University Theatre and Film and Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School, his work was about the buzz of the stage and feeding his desire to perform. Now he has the same fulfilment and drive towards workshops, a group production meeting or a research topic - an element he didn't appreciate when he was studying, unless he was truly passionate about the topic.
Now it is about the 'play' and group dynamic.
"Ideally for myself I want to have the muscles inside me to learn how to play with anyone, but I don't have those yet. But what I have discovered is, who it is very easy to play with. So there's a reason why people start working together again and again."
The fourth Conversation at BATS Theatre was with actor, director and producer Paul McLaughlin.
Paul is a graduate of Otago University (B.A) and completed post-graduate papers in Community Theatre, Directing and Playwrighting. After a year in Gisborne as a QE2 Arts Council Artist in Residence - (directing/producing two site-specific Shakespeares amongst other works) he then spent two years at Toi Whakaari/The NZ Drama School, graduating in 1996 (Dip. Professional Drama [Acting]).
For the last 11 years he has been working continuously, mainly as a highly sought-after stage actor. Paul has appeared in over 30 theatre productions, in locations such as Dunedin, Brisbane, Christchurch, Ruatoria, Nelson, Gisborne and Wellington.
Conversation aims to increase the level of dialogue amongst arts practitioners and increase access and reflection between artists and audiences.
Conversation producer Briar Monro says it is about creating an environment to share frankly and personally about our art and what it means to us. "A context in which we can begin to publicly challenge some of our thinking about our work, its value, our motivations and our effectiveness. Beginning with, but not limited to, theatre."
This forum sits alongside other industry capacity building initiatives such as Wellington's BSide Forum and the Auckland Theatre Forum (Read and contribute to these on The Big Idea forum).
Conversation aims to strengthen links between practitioners, audiences and the social purpose and place of the arts in the 21st century.
Current audience development thinking [see Diane Ragsdale's keynote speech delivered at the CNZ sponsored 21st Century Arts conference] argues that audiences no longer want just a ticket and a show. They want a dialogue with the work.
Conversation is a step in this direction.
For more details contact Briar on briarmonro@clear.net.nz
December 2008