Workshops
A variety of workshops aimed at inspiring debate and information sharing relating to this year's conference theme: Youth: the future for our younger members
Please note that these are outlines of the workshops and seminars and are subject to change
Pre-coffee workshops (select one)
A fun Improv workshop for actors and directors. Actors will have fun performing light-hearted but useful exercises, and learn a few simple ‘rules’ to find help you ‘be in the moment’, liberate your creativity, and build more confidence for auditioning and performing. Directors will explore how to use improvisation to help actors build characters, relationships, and fully understand the role of their characters in scenes, particularly when they are still script in hand. Oh and do try to catch The Slack Captains improvise a play on Friday evening!
9. Writing for the stage and radio
2. The Three Professors: Sustainability, Equity and Inclusion – Get Moving!
The young members of our theatres are more than any previous generation concerned about equality of opportunities, diversity and inclusion as well as climate change, recycling and economical use of finite resources. This seminar led by three professors - Helen Nicholson, Anne-marie Greene and Liz Schafer will present latest thoughts and findings about how we can improve our offer to members and non-members of our theatres as well as turning our buildings into places for the future.
The young members of our theatres are more than any previous generation concerned about equality of opportunities, diversity and inclusion as well as climate change, recycling and economical use of finite resources. This seminar led by three professors - Helen Nicholson, Anne-marie Greene and Liz Schafer will present latest thoughts and findings about how we can improve our offer to members and non-members of our theatres as well as turning our buildings into places for the future.
3. Puppetry
Shaan
Latif- Shaik, member of The Questors, learned the art of puppet-making
and characterisation at The Little Angel Theatre and has since made and
animated numerous puppets for Questors shows. His passion and technical
ability has led him to be employed on Frozen. Shaan will bring along
some puppets and you will learn to instil character in them and bring
them to life.4. & 8. & 11. Archives with John Dobson
How important are archives in your theatre? Join the Questors’ Archivist in the Library
for a relaxed discussion about creating and maintaining
an archive for your organisation.
Pre-lunch workshops (select one)
Can I develop stronger community links through Reminiscence Theatre? Hear how The Questors Reminiscence Theatre Group Playback was developed, how reminiscene plays were created and how the PlayBack Roadshows take memories back into the community on a regular basis. Learn about our most recent production Home Is in which Questors members born overseass have found their home in Ealing.
Scenes in plays that require actors to touch, embrace, kiss and generally have physical contact have long been a source of angst for director and actors, sometimes being unpleasant for the participants. Elodie Foray, from The Archway Theatre will spend time introducing ways in which any theatre can improve the initmacy practice whether there is access to an intimacy director or not.
7. Running a New Writing Festival
In 2022, The Questors staged a New Writing Festival over a week. Learn with Becky Hartnup how the festival was developed and presented. She will be joined by Andrew Sharpe will compare and contrast our experiences with those at The Criterion theatre, Coventry who have run the Springboard New Writing Festvial. And we hope to include a third presenter. You will hear about the lessons that were learned and how you can host your own festival.
8. Archives (see above)
Post-lunch workshops (select one)
In 2022, The Questors staged a New Writing Festival over a week. Learn with Becky Hartnup how the festival was developed and presented. She will be joined by Andrew Sharpe will compare and contrast our experiences with those at The Criterion theatre, Coventry who have run the Springboard New Writing Festvial. And we hope to include a third presenter. You will hear about the lessons that were learned and how you can host your own festival.
8. Archives (see above)
Post-lunch workshops (select one)
9. Writing for the stage and radio
This workshop
is designed for both first time and aspiring writers on all elements of
playwriting and delivery; from initial idea to style, form and approach to both
current trends and lasting substance. Participants will receive information and
instruction on what to do and where to go and be given assistance in indicating
their own further development. Tasks will include textual analysis and the preparation of
simple briefs when applying for playwriting submissions.
David Erdos is
a professional actor, writer, Director and teacher with over 30 years experience. He has written and directed over 200
plays and is a widely published poet, Essayist and
critic. David is the literary editor for Mu magazine, series editor for
Bitesize Books and writes weekly for the international times and his YouTube
channel which has over 300 entries.
He has worked closely with many leading
cultural figures including Alan Moore, Iain Sinclair and Heathcote Williams and
a host of emergent artists across the creative fields David is the current head
of QExtra and is leading his own new writing festival at Questors in July 2023.
10. Stage design
Concentrating on stage design, in this session Alex Marker will talk about working short-handed - translating text and writer’s demands into a practical yet imaginative design – guiding you in using your imaginations to come up with innovative designs that serve the text properly and that all the allied departments are content with!
11. Archives (see above)
Concentrating on stage design, in this session Alex Marker will talk about working short-handed - translating text and writer’s demands into a practical yet imaginative design – guiding you in using your imaginations to come up with innovative designs that serve the text properly and that all the allied departments are content with!
11. Archives (see above)
