Part One, Done!

I am thrilled to say that part one of my thesis project is in and done. The thesis set up for us called a sustained independent project (SIP) and for the MFAs on our course, this must take the form of two case studies. So, my first case study has been submitted. What is a case study? It is what it says on the tin, an in-depth study of a particular case. Usually, there is some kind of question or hypothesis that is to be proved through the case study. My case study examined the career of Max Stafford-Clark and looked to see how he exemplifies a producer.

Max Stafford-Clark is a director and an artistic director. He has been associated with an assortment of organizations throughout his 50+ year career. Sometimes there is a question about if artistic directors are considered producers. And it can get confusing, especially if there is someone called 'producer' on staff at the theatre company. For my part, and as supported in my case study, I say artistic directors are a type of producer. If they work for a larger organization, there may be marketing staff, fundraising staff and so on but there are still many details that fall to the artistic director that are also very often duties that a producer would handle. The one big difference is that a producer may be freelance and not necessarily a staff member of a theatre company whereas an artistic director would be a permanent member of staff.

So why Max Stafford-Clark? Well, his has been a career that centers on new plays and playwrights. He has formed two companies in his lifetime that service new writing and play development. He was also the longest-serving artistic director at the Royal Court Theatre which is one of London's key houses for new writing. Max Stafford-Clark is still at work as artistic director at Out of Joint, one of the companies he founded. Over the last five decades, Max Stafford-Clark has conceived and refined his now esteemed method of dramaturgical workshops. This is a research and exploration phase utilizing actors to help the playwright craft the script. After some weeks of workshopping, the playwright then takes all he has gathered and goes away to write the script. He returns some months later and the company begins a more traditional rehearsal period that leads to the premiere presentation of the play. Max Stafford-Clark's work is very much akin to the kind of work I would like to do. Hence, he made an excellent subject for me to study.

And that is what I have been working on for the last few months. We have another case study due in May and in the coming weeks I will need to decide on my topic. But for now, I am relaxing and enjoying the work I have completed.

That's the report from London. Until next week...
Take care!
-m