Directing and Facilitation
I am passionate about Theatrical Direction and Applied Theatre Facilitation. Building aesthetically beautiful and creative shows, and meaningful workshop experiences are important to me, but the experience that the participants have while taking part is paramount. Employing a nurturing and supportive directorial style creates a culture in the rehearsal space that is safe and caring, and allows for cast-mates to become family. There is no experience quite like participating in a theatrical play or workshop, and I, at Sweet and Sauer Theatre would love to show you why!
I am available for consultations and as a freelance director or Applied Theatre event facilitator.
YT 2021
Youth Theatre 2021
After the success of the Youth Theatre 2018 project, I ran the project again during the summer of 2020, with two ensembles, grouped by age.
After the challenges of Covid-19, it was a pleasure to have two groups of enthusiastic theatre makers, eager to create original work. Although I was able to hold in-person workshops (10, 2.5 hour sessions), we were not able to invite an audience to watch our productions in person. Therefore, YT 2020 gave me the perfect opportunity to experiment with a genre of live, online performance called 'Cyberformance'.
The participants performed live in the studio space, and the performances were streamed live to our audience via zoom. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore the potential of digital performance post Covid-19.
'Peter Pan'
'Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up' by JM Barrie, John Caird, and Trevor Nunn
Performed in Hong Kong in December of 2019, this production is one that sought to re-create the magic of Never Neverland for it's audience. I am a very ambitious director whose style is all about the aesthetic, and creating beautiful theatre onstage. I love designing for the theatre, and enjoyed building the sound, designing the lighting, the stage, and experimenting with projecting student digital art for this show.
As an Educator, I seek to direct in a way that allows cast members to explore their role, and to make artistic choices. I seek to empower them, and to make the cast feel like a family. The cast for this show was very young, and definitely a family; each brother and sister looking out for each other, and working for the good of the production.
'PFTH'
'Playing From The Heart' by Charles Way
Performed in Hong Kong in May of 2018, 'Playing From The Heart' was a play I had been sitting on for almost ten years! I feel strongly that young people are often under-estimated as artists, and I love working with them in order to prove the opposite to be true!
Working with a young cast (grades 7-9), and using the Viewpoints improvisational movement structure, we devised rich movement to tell the story of Evelyn Glennie, the Scottish percussionist who lost her hearing as a child. The goal was for the cast to really feel ownership of the production, and devising 100% of the movement material of this simple, but beautiful production allowed just that to occur.
YT 2018
'Youth Theatre 2018'
My Master's thesis research focused on devising theatre with young people, and the Youth Theatre project grew out of my desire to continue this exploration. During the summer break of 2018, I launched a project entitled 'Youth Theatre 2018', where four students formed a collective ensemble and devised an original piece of work.
The group met for ten, 2.5h workshop sessions during which we explored the topic of their choosing; 'Universal Morality', and playfully experimented with the devising process. The outcome was a short play entitled 'Attribution' which was inspired by the philosophical thought experiment of The Trolley Problem, and the struggle to make difficult choices.
The joy of creating theatre as an ensemble lies in the freedom involved in the process. In contrast to traditional theatre, where the director makes all the choices, and the actors are told what to do, collectively creating work invites all ensemble members into the process, decision making, and revision process.
'Elf Jnr'
'Elf Jnr' by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin
Taking on such an ambitious project was quite a challenge, and I was so proud of the results. Performed in December of 2016, 'Elf' marked the largest musical project I had ever taken on. With the help of a wonderful vocal director, this cast of grade 7-12 students recreated some lovely Christmas magic.
Elf gave me the opportunity to model caring relationships as I worked closely with a cast of 45, and a student crew team of about the same number. I focussed on working professionally, and supporting one another. It was especially my pleasure to set many of the youngest actors who were performing for the first time, upon a journey to discover their love of theatre.