Award-winning Wellington theatre director Eleanor Bishop has been awarded a prestigious Fulbright scholarship to go and study at one of the top drama institutions in the United States. Eleanor will spend three years as a John Wells Fellow completing a Master of Fine Arts in Directing at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Eleanor specialises in the development of new theatre and her work is characterised by a playful and imaginative approach to investigating the contemporary world. Her practice will be challenged and honed by spending three years as one of only two students under the guidance of Marianne Weems, Obie award winning director of New York based theatre company The Builders Association. Marianne is acclaimed as “one of the most important theatrical innovators of our time”, particularly for her innovations in the use of new media and technology in theatre.
“Carnegie Mellon is known for being great at computer science and theatre. In both these fields, they push the boundaries,” Eleanor says. “They’re at the forefront of training directors to be visionaries– the programme is all about new technology, re-inventing theatre and collaborating across art-forms. I can’t wait to lift my practice to the next level and find better ways of making theatre that speak directly and urgently to the contemporary world.”
Eleanor is currently directing Auckland Theatre Company’s Like There’s No Tomorrow by the PlayGround Collective. The show is an immersive roaming theatre piece in which the audience are guests at an illicit high-school afterball. “The show is really asking how, as a community, we can challenge New Zealand’s drinking culture. It’s the perfect launch pad to begin my study in America – it combines my desire to ask tough questions, with innovative ways of telling stories. In this piece, you’re right in the heart of the party and a lucky few will end up participating.” Like There’s No Tomorrow runs 29 July – 10 August at the Basement Theatre in Auckland.
The Hollywood Reporter recently named Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama as number four out of the top twenty five drama schools in the world. Founded in 1914, it is the oldest conservatory training and the first degree-granting drama institution in the United States. The school’s alumni include Oscar Winner Holly Hunter (The Piano), Rob Marshall (Chicago) and John Wells (The West Wing).
Eleanor is an alumni of the Victoria University Theatre Programme, graduating in 2009 with a first class Honours degree. Whilst a student she was the recipient of many academic prizes including a Freemasons Scholarship, The Dronke Prize for Drama, and an Education NZ Study Abroad Award which saw her complete a semester at the University of London’s Royal Holloway College.
Since graduating she has built an impressive career directing for Wellington’s Circa, Downstage and BATS Theatres as well as creating her own company The PlayGround Collective with director Robin Kerr and writer Eli Kent. The PlayGround Collective’s productions, which include Eli Kent’s acclaimed The Intricate Art of Actually Caring, STAB Commission TINDERBOX and Chekhov in Hell, have been recipients of nine Chapman Tripp Awards. Eleanor won “Most Promising New Director” in the 2009 Chapman Tripp awards for her work on The Intricate Art of Actually Caring. Her work has been described as “genius” (Capital Times), “theatrically ingenious” (Theatreivew) and “exquisite” (Salient).
Eleanor is also the recipient of the John Wells Fellowship from Carnegie Mellon. John Wells is an American theatre, film and television producer, writer and director. An alumnus of Carnegie Mellon, he is the producer of ER, The West Wing and Shameless and the director of the film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning play August: Osage Country starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
Fulbright awards support a year of academic study in the United States for promising New Zealand graduate students. Selections are based on academic excellence, leadership potential and the ability of candidates to act as a cultural ambassador for New Zealand.
“It’s a thrill to get a Fulbright scholarship. The arts are so tough and Fulbright really get in there behind artists. I am looking forward to returning to grow New Zealand’s theatre industry, particularly supporting more female directors. My ultimate dream is that in our lifetime we will see a New Zealand national theatre.”
Media Release: Fulbright New Zealand