Wednesday, December 2, 2009

The End!!

Thanks to everyone who participated in The Live-In!! Writers, readers, workshop facilitators, organizers, bakers, servers, actors, stage managers, audience members, participants...

It was a wonderful, crazy busy month. And finally our funding did come through, so a big thank-you to the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage who managed, despite bureaucratic hold-ups that were out of their control, to come through with some generous monetary support! Thanks NS Tourism, Culture and Heritage, for helping to develop and promote cultural resources for all Nova Scotians!









The month wrapped up with a successful two-week run of Christopher Hampton's play When Did You Last See My Mother? and Garry Williams, DaPoPo's Artistic Director, led a workshop for a dozen participants introducing the Theatre of the Oppressed, a contemporary theatre practice developed by Augusto Boal. Look him up, he's a really interesting and evocative person who promoted theatre as a tool of social and personal empowerment, in ways that are both socially as well as creatively resourceful.

So that's it for now, thanks again everyone, for following the blog, for coming to play-readings and workshops, for coming to the show, and here's to theatre! Chin chin!!

Friday, November 13, 2009

Coins, Bodies and Swords. F***ers and Circles...


The past week of the Live-In has been quite an eclectic run of events, for sure.

Pam Calabrese MacLean trekked up from her home in Antigonish on Sunday evening with three lovely actresses to share her new play Toss about a mother and daughter dealing with secret revelations of their family and the consequences that their actions, both past and present, may have on their future. Pam has been working on the piece for some time and shared with the audience some of her philosophy towards writing and writing plays in particular, and we had a very interactive audience feedback discussion afterwards.

Monday night saw The Living Room cleared out of furniture and filled with moving bodies as Kim Parkhill led a much appreciated physical theatre workshop. Drawing from recent study in Latvia with Sergey Ostrenko, Kim led a group of mostly local actors in a series of exercises and activities to develop body self-awareness and group dynamic, and explored the static medium of visual artworks by inhabiting their form and appropriating the gestures within.
Long-time DaPoPo associate Steve Cloutier brought his first draft of the first act of his new play They That Take The Sword to the Live-In Tuesday evening, with a lively reading and spirited discussion of dramatic form and contemporary Canadian politics afterwards.

Thursday evening was a double-bill of New Grudge From Ancient Mutiny by Ira Henderson, a hilarious satiric romp of four characters thrust together through circumstance, boredom and iambic pentameter. Although Ira could not attend (he's currently studying at film school in Vancouver) some thoughtful discussion afterwards of the intentions and form of the piece were noted and forwarded his way for further development.

Rounding off Thursday evening was a short glimpse at a new work by Andrea Dymond, a two-hander entitled Shannon/Joanna. Although only a preliminary draft of the first act, Andrea had the audience hooked with her sparse and sensitive portrayal of 4 characters slotted to be played by two actresses, and her innovative pursuit of a circular narrative form.
So that's what you may have missed this past week at the Live-In! There are still workshops and readings coming up, not to mention the fast-approaching opening of When Did You Last See My Mother? So come out and live it up at the Live-In!









UPCOMING EVENTS

!!TONIGHT!!
FRIDAY November 13th 6-10pm
Workshop Making Video Live: Constructing Play in Mediated Landscapes. Lead by Dustin Harvey (Artistic Director, Secret Theatre), the workshop will focus on a process of making performance with video. Participants will work collaboratively on a mini project based on the key ideas of public engagement, mediated space, and contemporary urban living.
SATURDAY November 14th 7pm
Play-reading Drinking Song by Amanda Jernigan. A poetic (re)creation of one stormbound night, and through it, of the shared history of a family of players joined and divided by wine and song.
MONDAY November 16th
Play-reading Paint On Windows by Kristi Anderson.Sunshine Cleaners laundromat and three eclectic characters; Keelin the wide-eyed country kid in the big city, Simon the painter who sees art through meth crystals, and Fiona the eccentric lady of the laundromat determined to solve all life's problems with stain remover.Paint on Windows is a rapid one-woman exhibition of character and physicality.
TUESDAY November 17th
Workshop Introduction to Mask and Neutral Mask led by Courtney Siebring. Shape has meaning, and in this workshop students learn just how our bodies are constantly telling stories. They will expand their physical vocabulary as they tune into their body's instincts, push past their own idiosyncrasies, and examine the actor's most basic tool. This workshop presents the art of mask performance from neutral mask to character mask. Students will learn the proper protocol for handling and donning a mask, the connection of the mask to the body, and the technical aspects of mask performance. Much is "unmasked" for the actor in this workshop such as an awareness of personal physical habits and inroads into character development.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Upcoming Events

Remember all Play-readings and Workshops are offered by donation, so come check some of this out!

TONIGHT November 10th 7pm

Play-reading They That Take The Sword by Steve Cloutier. Four characters thrust together after being detained by airport security are forced to confront their deepest and most sacredly held beliefs as their darkest secrets are revealed.

THURSDAY November 12th 7pm !!DOUBLE-BILL!!

Play-reading New Grudge From Ancient Mutiny by Ira Henderson. Dramatis Personae. Leo: A Fucker; Mark: A Moderator; Tim: A Conservative; Clare: A Person on a Ledge. Hating everything. Moving on. and a fumble.

AND

Joanna/Shannon by Andrea Dymond. Two women's journeys as they struggle to recover from the traumatic loss of a key person in each of their lives, in one case, a best friend and the other, a daughter.

FRIDAY November 13th 6-10pm

Workshop Making Video Live: Constructing Play in Mediated Landscapes. Lead by Dustin Harvey (Artistic Director, Secret Theatre), the workshop will focus on a process of making performance with video. Participants will work collaboratively on a mini project based on the key ideas of public engagement, mediated space, and contemporary urban living.

SATURDAY November 14th 7pm

Play-reading Drinking Song by Amanda Jernigan. A poetic (re)creation of one stormbound night, and through it, of the shared history of a family of players joined and divided by wine and song.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Taxes, Electrical Theory, Writing and Not-So-Ancient Greek Myths

The Live-In's first skill-share workshop went off very smoothly Monday evening, with Sher Clain sharing some of her self-employment wisdom and experience from numerous self-employed business experiences with local theatre artists. Attendees learned what it means to be self-employed in the eyes of the government, and specifically what to do about that when tax season rolls around. Check back to this blog for a summary of tax tips for theatre artists from this workshop to be uploaded soon, as well as some links to useful tax advice websites.


Evan Brown spent Tuesday afternoon enlightening us to some of the seemingly mysterious aspects to technical theatre, providing a simple and effective approach to technical troubleshooting and problem solving. He also provided some much appreciated practical advice about how to most effectively work with other technicians, directors and producers while working on a project, all with his signature sense of humour - which made for an entertaining as well as educational skill-share.


Our play-reading series got off to a great start Tuesday evening with Emily Forrest's play Writing (a working title.). Kyle Gillis, Daniel Gervais, Ambyr Dunn and Steven Bourque read this piece, with direction by Jodey Reeves. Writing is about a troubled young woman Della who is simultaneously dealing with the death of her father and ex-lover, while trying to not screw things up with her new bartender (boy)friend. An interesting twist is introduced by the presence of the ghosts of her father and ex, who can see Della as she struggles with bouts of depression and alcoholism, but can only communicate to her via affecting the music played around her.


The play-readings continued Wednesday night, with a presentation of Hyperions' Wake by Steven Bourque. Mary Fay Coady, Asaf Rashid and Andrew Chandler (who graciously stepped in at the last minute to fill in for an actor came down with the flu) all performed this contemporary re-imagining of Friedrich Holderlin's classical piece of prose Hyperion with great sensitivity. A very useful contextual and audience feedback session ensued, and all seemed pleased with an entertaining and thought-provoking evening of critical peer evaluation discussion.


Stay tuned for more updates as The Live-In continues throughout November!

Opening Gala an Eclectic Success!

Our Sunday night Opening Gala was an excellent evening of eclectic entertainment, delicious foodstuffs and some killer Perseophone's Poms (that is to say, a giant pot of pomegranate seeds soaked in whiskey by one of the producers.)


For those of you who couldn't make it, here is the fun time you missed!


Courtney Siebring opened the evening with an energetic mask performance which managed to be both hilarious and touching in a shocking sort of way. She embodied a TV personality hosting a cooking show that taught us how to serve our frenemies allergy snacks. Pam Calabrese MacLean entertained us with some of her poetry, and despite her admonition that she doesn't have a sense of humour, had the entire room chuckling and even gaffawing. Then Keelin Jack, Andrew Chandler and Kim Parkhill presented an excerpted stage-reading from Drinking Song, a new play by Amanda Jernigan which is undergoing a workshop with DaPoPo artists as part of the Live-In this weekend. Drinking Song and will be presented as part of the play-reading series next Saturday, November 14th. Trevor Poole wrapped up the first set of performances with a typically mysterious and magical example of his amazing powers of mind-reading and dry wit.


We took a well-deserved break to refresh our snack plates and wine glasses, before gearing up for the second round of performances, which began with a lovely and thoughtful poetry recitation by the aforementioned Amanda Jernigan. Amanda is a poet and writer who has a long association working with DaPoPo. Her partner, photographer John Haney, was kind enough to bring some of his photography to hang on the walls and give the space a true living-room feel. The room was then graced with a lecture by the learned and charming Professor Doctor Krepp, who was a little confused and thought he was attending a "Love-In" rather than The "Live-In" but who nevertheless guided us all in a very safe and non-explicit manner a little closer to our own, personal "sexual bliss." After that, Iain Soder and Sher Clain played a teaser scene from When Did You Last See My Mother? which opens on November 18th. The the evening was rounded off with a final poetry reading by long-time DaPoPo associate Dr. Steven Cloutier, who entertained and provoked thought with his poetry about Marxism, capital punishment and dancing naked.


All in all, a casually grand affair that was the perfect kick-off to The Live-In! Thanks to everyone who came out, and who helped contribute to the thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Monday, October 26, 2009

The Live-In Moves into the Living Room November 1st

Mark your calendar and tell all your friends - The Live-In kicks off Sunday, November 1st, at 7 p.m. in Theatre Nova Scotia’s The Living Room!

The opening gala is an evening of entertainment featuring theatrical performances, musical numbers and dramatic poetry and monologues - a veritable showcase of performing power!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Live-In Details


Join DaPoPo during the month of November for our Live-In at the TNS Living Room. During this month-long cultural event, we will be hosting an open play-reading series of new works by local established and emerging writers (DaPlay Readings), skill-share workshops for theatre artists and the public (DaWorkshops), and a fully staged production of Christopher Hampton’s play When Did You Last See My Mother? (DaPlay)

Click on each link above for more information on each of the activities during the month and keep checking the blog for updates on schedules!

In keeping with DaPoPo's philosophy of making theatre accessible, participation in The Live-In will be by suggested donation only. To find out how to support this endeavour through donations and sponsorship click here: Sponsor Us!

You can sign up for workshops or book tickets to Christopher Hampton's play When Did You Last See My Mother? (Novemeber 18th to 29th) by emailing us at DaPoPoLiveIn@gmail.com.

More information about DaPoPo Theatre: Click here

DaPlay

When Did You Last See My Mother?
by Christopher Hampton

Performances Wednesday through Sunday
November 18th - 22nd & 25th - 29th
at TNS Living Room, 2353 Agricola St.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. Curtain up at 8:00 pm
100 minutes, plus 15 minute intermission.

About the play:
Despite being written nearly 50 years ago, Hampton's When Did You Last See My Mother? deals sharply and smartly with the contemporary societal issues of sexual identity, economic oppression and the evolution of family roles and expectations.

The story centers around Ian, an intelligent and sardonic young man who is not-so-secretly in love with his roommate. When their friendship reaches a breaking point at a late-night party, a series of events ensues which leads to irrevocable changes in the roommates' relationship to themselves and to each other.

Directed by Steven Bourque, featuring Iain Soder, Sher Clain, Blake Prendergast and Ambyr Dunn as cast, and stage management by Jodey Reeves, this promises to be an innovative, entertaining and provocative show.

Admission: $10. Seating is limited so reserve by emailing DapopoLiveIn@gmail.com or try your luck at the door.

Please arrive early. Unclaimed reserved seats will be released 10 minutes prior to curtain for those waiting at the door.

DaPlay Readings

Several evenings during the month of November will be dedicated to public readings of previously unproduced and/or unpublished playscripts written by local playwrights. Be part of one of the first audiences to experience these new plays and works-in-progress and contribute your thoughts in a post-reading discussion with the authors and actors.

All of the showcased pieces are in early stages of development. Ranging from first drafts to polished edits, none of the featured plays have been professionally produced before.

Come early to enjoy music and refreshments and then settle in to share in a relaxed evening of theatre-in-creation.

Admission and refreshments by suggested donation. Doors open at 6:30 pm. Play readings start at 7:00 pm.


DaPlay Readings are:

November 3rd, 7pm

Writing by Emily Forrest
How near to you are your loved ones after they've passed away? While Della struggles with alcohol and getting her life back together, she discovers they are closer than she thought.



November 4th, 7pm

Hyperions Wake by Steven Bourque
A free adaptation of Friedrich Holderlin's 18th century text, Hyperion: or, The Hermit in Greece. Drawing inspiration from ancient Greek tragedy and mythology, this re-imagining focuses on a young man's journey to find himself amidst a world of both immense beauty and cruelty.

November 8th, 7pm

Toss by Pam Calabrese MacLean
What if your Mother has a secret? What if she can't remember? What if the rest of your life depends on the toss of a coin?


November 10th, 7pm

They That Take The Sword by Steven Cloutier
Four characters thrust together after being detained by airport security are forced to confront their deepest and most sacredly held beliefs as their darkest secrets are revealed.


November 12th, 7pm

New Grudge from Ancient Mutiny by Ira Henderson
Dramatis Personae: Leo: A Fucker; Mark: A Moderator; Tim: A Conservative; Clare: A Person on a Ledge. Hating everything. Moving on. And a fumble.
and
Joanne/Shannon by Andrea Dymond
Two woman's journey as they struggle to recover from the traumatic loss of a key person in each of their lives, in one case, a best friend, and the other, a daughter.



November 14th, 7pm
Drinking Song by Amanda Jernigan
Reading Actors: Andrew Chandler, Keelin Jack, Kim Parkhill & Hugo Dann
Dramaturgy/Direction: Garry Williams

A teacher lectures her way out of her grief, or deeper into it. A young man sings himself into his father's shoes. An actor struts and frets her way back into the household from which she's been banished. A dead man plays himself alive. Drinking Song is a poetic (re)creation of one stormbound night, and the shared history of a family of players joined and divided by wine and song. Revelry, revelations, Ravel ... Come enjoy, experience, and share your response to this work-in-progress.

Widely published as a poet and freelance writer, Amanda Jernigan has previously worked with DaPoPo as a co-creator of Four Actors in Search of a Nation and as a contributing writer for 13 Ways of Looking at a Madman. Amanda currently teaches in the English department at Mount Allison University. Drinking Song is one of her first full-length plays and is in the workshop stage of development.


November 16th, 7pm
Paint on Windows by Kristi Anderson
Sunshine Cleaners laundromat and three eclectic characters; Keelin the wide-eyed country kid in the big city, Simon the painter who sees art through meth crystals, and Fiona the eccentric lady of the laundromat determined to solve all life's problems with stain remover. Paint on Windows is a rapid one-woman exhibition of character and physicality.



DaWorkshops

Facilitated by professional actors, technicians, and other artists, the skill share workshops are an opportunity for artists and community members to come together and learn new skills while sharing artistic expression. Open to both public and theatre practitioners.

Pre-registration is required and workshop fees are a suggested donation. Space is limited so register early!

To register, contact us at DapopoLiveIn@gmail.com.


DaWorkshops are:

November 2nd, 7pm - 10pm
Taxes for the Self Employed Theatre Artists
Facilitator: Sher Clain
A practical look at the helpful practices self-employed artists can develop for personal financial record keeping to ensure the ability to efficiently file personal taxes.

Sher Clain has been working with DaPoPo as an actor, creator and writer since early 2007. She completed Neptune Theatre School's Pre-Professional Training Program in 2007 and has since been very active in the Hlaifax independent theatre community working with other established independent theatre groups as well as independently writing, producing and directing. Sher's other career is as a self employed business owner where she has learned first-hand the intricacies of the provincial and national taxation systems.


November 3rd, 3pm - 6pm
Technical Theatre: Big Issues, Small Show
Facilitator: Evan Brown
Drawing on years of doing it wrong, Evan Brown is going to explain how to do it right. Starting from the ground up this workshop will cover The Big Issues for The Small Show. From understanding your venue, safety, troubleshooting lights, sound and digital projection, a broad overview of a show's needs will be explained. While examples and discussions of larger shows will be a part of the class the emphesis of the material will be on doing a lot with a little.

Evan has been teching and troubleshooting theatre, video and film for the better part of the last decade. A majority of those years have been working under desperate conditions with desperate people... and it's a mystery how it's all worked out.


November 9th, 6pm - 10pm
emBODYing art
Facilitator: Kim Parkhill
Duration: 4 hours
Max number of participants: 10
Drawing on physical theatre practices compiled by Russian choreographer-director Sergey Ostrenko, participants will challenge habitual movement patterns, enhance awareness of self and partners in the performance space, and create a short performance piece by the end of the workshop. Participants should be able to move freely, have a willingness to abandon self-consciousness and an openness to touching/being touched.

Kim Parkhill is a Halifax-based performer and theatre-maker. She has performed, created and produced extensively for DaPoPo Theatre and is an Associate Director of the company. She has trained in Halifax, New York and, most recently, Latvia where she participated with an ensemble of multi-national performers in a physical theatre training intensive. She has since shared aspects of this training with the DaPoPo Youth Ensemble, for the ensemble creation of the HRM Ferry Boat Tales, and now through the Live-In workshop.


November 13th, 6pm - 10pm
Making Video Live: Constructing Play in Mediated Landscapes
Facilitator: Dustin Harvey
Lead by Dustin Scott Harvey (Artistic Director, Secret Theatre), the workshop will focus on a process of making performance with video. Participants will work collaboratively on a mini project based on the key ideas of public engagement, mediated space, and contemporary urban living.

Halifax-based collaborator, writer, performer, and director Dustin Scott Harvey has created (We) Are Here, Another City Another Life, Whomever You Meet Are The Right People, Cowboy Show, and Winding Up Godot for Secret Theatre, productions that have been seen in Halifax,Toronto, Calgary, and St.John’s.


November 17th, 7pm - 10pm
Introduction to Neutral Mask and Mask
Facilitator: Courtney Siebring
Shape has meaning, and in this workshop students learn just how our bodies are constantly telling stories. They will expand their physical vocabulary as they tune into their body's instincts, push past their own idiosyncrasies, and examine the actor's most basic tool. This workshop presents the art of mask performance from neutral mask to character mask. Students will learn the proper protocol for handling and donning a mask, the connection of the mask to the body, and the technical aspects of mask performance. Much is "unmasked" for the actor in this workshop such as an awareness of personal physical habits and inroads into character development.


November 23rd, 7pm - 10pm
Voice work for actors and non-actors
Facilitated by: Steven Bourque
Duration: 3 hours
Max number of participants: 10
Each person has their own unique voice but we can all always work towards discovering wider expression of ourselves through that voice. This workshop will focus on advanced vocal development and speech techniques based on the work of Kristin Linklater, renowned British voice coach. Participants are asked to wear warm, comfortable clothing as full-body exercises requiring periods of movement and repose will make up most of the workshop. No experience necessary.

Steven Bourque trained under Jo Jo Rideout, a voice coach who has worked for years in theatres and schools across Canada. Steven combines this strong grounding in voice with his own personalized study of Linklater technique in this skill-share, offering a relaxed workshop that is welcoming to experienced performers and beginners alike.


November 30th, 6pm - 10pm
Introduction to Theatre of the Oppressed
Facilitator: Garry Williams
Rooted in social activism, Theatre of the Oppressed techniques straddle theme-focused exploration around issues such as power, class, prejudice and sex; as well as public performance to effect change. This workshop will be an introduction to TO theory, practice and application. Participants should expect to move, make noise, challenge themselves and (re)enact instances of oppression they have experienced.

Garry Williams is Artistic Director and founding member of DaPoPo Theatre. He works as a singer, actor, writer and director. He was introduced to Theatre for the Oppressed techniques in 1990 in Berlin. He has since trained with Augusto Boal and Julian Boal at the Brecht Forum in New York, and co-facilitated a Theatre of the Oppressed workshop at Poverty Justice Camp '09 in Halifax.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Sponsor Us!

DaPoPo Theatre recognizes the support of the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. Thank you!










For a complete sponsorship package, please contact us at dapopolivein@gmail.com or call Sher Clain, Co-Producer at 430-7347.


The Live-In will bring the knowledge of experienced theatre professionals to emerging artists and members of the public through skill-share workshops and play readings. The Live-In will be open to artists of all backgrounds, interested people of the community, and members of the public who would otherwise not be exposed to these aspects of theatre.

You can support this venture with monetary or in-kind donations.

Monetary donations can be designated as follows: Script ($15); Space rental for one day ($20); Playwright($40); Workshop Facilitator ($100); Actor or Director ($300).
Through our partnership with Theatre Nova Scotia, monetary donations of $10 or more are eligible for a tax creditable receipt.

We also welcome in-kind donations, such as food, beverages, production material (paint, clothes, gas cards, etc.), and services (printing, etc.).

Recognition will be given to all donors; benefits vary according to level of sponsorship.

Your support of the Live-In will help promote local cultural development in a growing community and allow us to cover actual costs in producing this important event.