I’ve been passionate about Shakespeare since before I attended high school… however, I know this isn’t the case for many students… or teachers. Recently I returned from the greatest few weeks working with the Globe Theatre in London, developing a deeper love for Shakespeare and a passion for engaging even younger kids with his works. I developed this teaching unit for use in middle and … Continue reading Teaching Shakespeare
To summarise my experience with the Teachers Go Global programme has been the hardest thing to write. To say the experience was life altering seems trite, but so true. For most of my life, I have never really felt “at home”. This has extended to frequent moves, an extended list of places I don’t want to live, and a need to be near a certain … Continue reading Performing on the Globe Theatre Stage
There are times in my life where I throw caution to the wind and live reckless. This is probably 100% of the time these days. On the first day in London we went to the Albert Memorial to stretch our legs, and there it was, the Royal Albert Hall. Then I fell in love with Prince Albert and how he wanted the people to have … Continue reading The BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall
It has been a crazy, crazy year. This year Theatre has become my priority and taken over so much of my life. I have had the best time, from directing, to writing, to creating, to performing. This has included working on original projects, working on my Masters in Creative Writing (scriptwriting), traveling to London to study and perform at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, devising, starting a … Continue reading Back on the Bandwagon
This year we participated in the Write for Rights event from Amnesty International. Our aim was to help highlight the issues surrounding illegal timber poaching in Madagascar and the wrongful imprisonment of Clovis. So we wrote and performed a play, loosely connected to Dr Seuss’s “The Lorax”, using elements of Brecht and Commedia in performance. Here is the play live: Continue reading Amnesty International – Write for Rights – I speak for the trees
It’s not often that I get to post about a thing on multiple blogs…. sadly. But today I do. And it’s a bonus of living in a thriving small town, with an awesome arts buzz. Now, Featherston hasn’t always been a thriving town. In fact when we moved here, it wasn’t. But the potential was there. In the last few years we have become a … Continue reading Featherston’s First Fridays
Obviously we all know that the tech crew are the unsung heroes of the theatre. They work long hours behind the scenes, thanklessly, often to be disregarded by the cast in the wings. However, it is these guys that are the heart and soul of a team. Actors have one job- to do their character well. The tech team always have the whole cast, and … Continue reading The importance of your Backstage Tech Crew
Every year Amnesty International holds a “Write for Rights” campaign. The aim is to encourage people to write to governments and officials to help improve the lives of those who are being treated unjustly. And this year, I’m involved. The campaign is running already, and as one element of it in the local area, I’ve been asked to put together a theatrical performance in the … Continue reading Amnesty International – Write for Rights
Last night I sat listening to the audience of a packed community theatre. People laughed at the jokes, but to themselves. Then we had the intermission, with tea and chocolate biscuits. This audience stood around chatting, and sharing a snack, becoming a community. In the second half the laughter was full force, out loud and happy. Why the change? Well, before the intermission, the audience … Continue reading Why Community Theatre Matters
Recently I started working towards my Masters in Creative Writing with Massey University. And I do mean working towards. I have completed one post-grad paper (yay), and now I am waiting to hear if I have been accepted into the programme. I did well in the post-grad paper, so I am hoping for acceptance. (I am putting this here– I write in NZ English, so … Continue reading Masters in Creative Writing
Beyond Theatre 