And we're back! The producers' course kicked into second term this past week. It was lovely to see every one again after a month off. We wasted no time jumping into the work. Two of our days brought us together with the other MA/MFA courses to guide us through the requirements and procedures for our research thesis. Course tutors and PhD candidates presented an assortment of research samples and methods. A great deal of our work on this group thesis project will take place during this term and the presentation of our results will take up the first week of third term. I did say group thesis, yes. It may seem a little odd but collaboration is a major part of working in the arts and entertainment industry so I understand why they ask us to work this way. We can choose our own group of students up to six and our own topic for research.
I have joined some classmates to explore questions about gender and character. We will look specifically at the character of Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories and compare television adaptations of the stories where Watson is maintained as a male character to productions where Watson's character has been changed to a female and how that effects the development and marketing of the work.
The world of Sherlock will be an education for me as I am aware of the stories but have never spent much time reading or viewing them. Field trips to the Sherlock Holmes museum will no doubt be on the agenda. As will, viewing parties to watch the various series that will feature in our research.
This topic will play nicely into our producing course as gender blind casting and the reworking of source materials continue to gain momentum in the industry. An obvious comparison is Shakespeare which is often cast with females playing male parts. In the six Shakespeare characters I played during my RSAMD course, only two were written as females. You can also find modern writers including a line or two in their text about the flexibility of gender in the case of certain characters. A smart move considering the available females actors most often outnumber the available male actors. With all this in mind, we aim to look at it from a producer's point of view and how it may effect the choices.
Tomorrow we dive head first into our placements (internships if you're American). I'm off to work with an organization that develops new musicals. I'll let you know how it goes.
In the meantime, it's cold outside, so it's the perfect time of year to go see some theatre. Check out what's on stage near you!
Take care!
-m
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Shakespeare Sunday: The Sequel
After last week's The Winter's Tale I had another chance to take in more of the Bard's canon this weekend. And again featuring some of the finest actors the craft has to offer. Today, I feel like I won the lottery with the ticket I scored.
Late Saturday evening I stumbled across some information about a production of Richard II produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC's Richard II was produced in 2013 and played in Stratford-Upon-Avon and London. I had heard wonderful things about this production and even saw photos from the show on posters in the tube stations. What I didn't realize is the RSC was presenting an encore of this production over the holiday season here in London. And today, Sunday, was the final performance. What made this production of Richard II even more interesting was David Tennant was reprising his role as Richard II. After spending so much time with Dr. Who this past month, I really wanted to see Tennant play Richard. But the last show, surely a ticket would be difficult to obtain at such late notice. As expected, the listing on the RSC website said "sold out". However, there was a glimmer of hope when I read that a few seats were to be released for sale the morning of the show. Sure enough, in the morning, I was able to book a second row seat. Thrilled!
In London, the RSC presents at the Barbican Centre. This is an arts complex that includes a concert hall, cinema, library, exhibits and the theatre. The Barbican was opened in 1982 by The Queen and is Europe's largest multi-arts venue. It is a prime example of Brutalist architecture that was popular from the 50's to mid-70s.
At 2pm the matinee began and I was transported to medieval England where trouble stirred in the court of Richard II. Richard II was King of England from 1377 to 1399 when he was deposed and his cousin, Henry IV, took his crown. Shakespeare's accounting of the how and why this happened may not be historically accurate according to many scholars. Shakespeare is known to use a bit of creative license in his history plays. If you are looking for facts, try elsewhere but if you want an exciting story, Shakespeare has it covered!
The production was nothing short of fantastic. The pace clipped along, the text was clear and the story easy to follow. All design elements were well executed and served the play and performers without distraction. The live music was a magical addition with trumpets announcing royal entrances and three female voices singing with a purity that was sunlight for the ears. And the company of actors, brilliant. The sense of ensemble was strong and all glided through their parts with clear understanding of their characters and comfort with the language. It was a special treat to see Julian Glover play John of Gaunt. Glover has had a long and distinguished career on both stage and screen and is regarded with much esteem in the world of theatre.
But what about Tennant Melanie?! Well, the rumors are all true. He was nothing short of extraordinary. Richard II is not really considered a good guy. Many of his actions are questionable if not deplorable. Tennant found a complex truth to Richard with multiple, well developed dimensions that honored his regality while still rendering him an utterly, tragically, flawed human being. My heart broke for Tennant's Richard and I was very sad to see him go. I wanted him to stay right there on that throne and rule happily ever after, even if he was a jerk sometimes. Alas, 'twas not to be. *sigh*
Seeing Richard II today was an absolute inspiration and will provide a nice wind in my sails to kick off the week. The winter break is over and it is back to class and classmates tomorrow morning at ye ole Central School. I adored every second of my holiday and feel very much refreshed. But, my excitement over my upcoming placements and projects spurs me on and I look forward to getting started.
I will keep you posted! In the meantime, check out some Shakespeare, either on stage or on your screen!
Take care!
-m
Late Saturday evening I stumbled across some information about a production of Richard II produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC's Richard II was produced in 2013 and played in Stratford-Upon-Avon and London. I had heard wonderful things about this production and even saw photos from the show on posters in the tube stations. What I didn't realize is the RSC was presenting an encore of this production over the holiday season here in London. And today, Sunday, was the final performance. What made this production of Richard II even more interesting was David Tennant was reprising his role as Richard II. After spending so much time with Dr. Who this past month, I really wanted to see Tennant play Richard. But the last show, surely a ticket would be difficult to obtain at such late notice. As expected, the listing on the RSC website said "sold out". However, there was a glimmer of hope when I read that a few seats were to be released for sale the morning of the show. Sure enough, in the morning, I was able to book a second row seat. Thrilled!
In London, the RSC presents at the Barbican Centre. This is an arts complex that includes a concert hall, cinema, library, exhibits and the theatre. The Barbican was opened in 1982 by The Queen and is Europe's largest multi-arts venue. It is a prime example of Brutalist architecture that was popular from the 50's to mid-70s.
At 2pm the matinee began and I was transported to medieval England where trouble stirred in the court of Richard II. Richard II was King of England from 1377 to 1399 when he was deposed and his cousin, Henry IV, took his crown. Shakespeare's accounting of the how and why this happened may not be historically accurate according to many scholars. Shakespeare is known to use a bit of creative license in his history plays. If you are looking for facts, try elsewhere but if you want an exciting story, Shakespeare has it covered!
The production was nothing short of fantastic. The pace clipped along, the text was clear and the story easy to follow. All design elements were well executed and served the play and performers without distraction. The live music was a magical addition with trumpets announcing royal entrances and three female voices singing with a purity that was sunlight for the ears. And the company of actors, brilliant. The sense of ensemble was strong and all glided through their parts with clear understanding of their characters and comfort with the language. It was a special treat to see Julian Glover play John of Gaunt. Glover has had a long and distinguished career on both stage and screen and is regarded with much esteem in the world of theatre.
But what about Tennant Melanie?! Well, the rumors are all true. He was nothing short of extraordinary. Richard II is not really considered a good guy. Many of his actions are questionable if not deplorable. Tennant found a complex truth to Richard with multiple, well developed dimensions that honored his regality while still rendering him an utterly, tragically, flawed human being. My heart broke for Tennant's Richard and I was very sad to see him go. I wanted him to stay right there on that throne and rule happily ever after, even if he was a jerk sometimes. Alas, 'twas not to be. *sigh*
Seeing Richard II today was an absolute inspiration and will provide a nice wind in my sails to kick off the week. The winter break is over and it is back to class and classmates tomorrow morning at ye ole Central School. I adored every second of my holiday and feel very much refreshed. But, my excitement over my upcoming placements and projects spurs me on and I look forward to getting started.
I will keep you posted! In the meantime, check out some Shakespeare, either on stage or on your screen!
Take care!
-m
David Tennant in Richard II at the RSC
photo from http://www.theguardian.com
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Live Theatre...sort of...
Technology. Without it you wouldn't be reading these words and I wouldn't be writing them. It's a wonder. And oh how technology has changed the possibilities of how storytelling at the theatre is delivered. When Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale was first performed on May 11, 1611 at the Globe playhouse, their lighting design was provided by the sun. Their amplification system was healthy vocal projection provided by the actors and the architecture of the building. I wonder what The Bard would think of how I experienced The Winter's Tale today.
Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench are currently starring in a production of The Winter's Tale here in London at the Garrick Theatre. Produced by the Branagh Theatre Company in this, their inaugural season, The Winter's Tale is a hot ticket this season. Today, I had the opportunity to see the show but, with a twist. I saw the show from a seat at the cinema about two blocks from my flat. No, it was not a film version. It was not a prerecorded version of the stage show. It was streamed live from the Garrick Theatre to the cinema where we experienced the show in real time with the patrons at the Garrick. To be fair, this isn't really a new concept. Sporting events have been broadcast live to sports bars around the world for decades. There was less beer, shouting at referees and no commercial breaks at The Winter's Tale today but, it is a similar idea.
So here is the brain teaser for pondering; did I see theatre today? I saw a live show, that was for some that were in the audience, no doubt, theatre but I was not in the same space, the same room as the actors, so what does that make it for me? Does the very definition of "theatre" require the individual audience member to be there in person? Many would say yes. Others would count my experience today as theatre.
This is a new frontier for the world of theatre. We may have to clarify definitions and maybe come up with some new vocabulary. Filming shows and then broadcasting them later or selling VHS copies or DVDs has been in practice for a while now. In recent years, downloading and streaming previously filmed performances is a service offered by Digital Theatre, iTunes, Netflix and other online resources. Viewing shows in those ways is watching an archive of a live performance and still gives the viewer the option to pause, rewind or come back to the very same document of a performance later.
The Winter's Tale was not an archive and we will not be able to experience it, like we experienced it today, ever again. If this performance was recorded for later viewing, it too will be an archive. But today we had to be there on time for curtain, we had a 20 minute intermission (or interval, if you're British) and the actors had a curtain call at the end. Funny fact; no one in the cinema applauded. This is not to say people didn't like it because people were gushing praise as they left the auditorium. So there is another curiosity. Do we only thank the actors for their live performance if they can hear our thanks? If a tree falls in the forest...
I think I shall have to find some of my theatre comrades and debate this subject further: what exactly is live theatre?
In the meantime, go see some! At a theatre or a cinema!
Take care!
-m
Kenneth Branagh and Judi Dench are currently starring in a production of The Winter's Tale here in London at the Garrick Theatre. Produced by the Branagh Theatre Company in this, their inaugural season, The Winter's Tale is a hot ticket this season. Today, I had the opportunity to see the show but, with a twist. I saw the show from a seat at the cinema about two blocks from my flat. No, it was not a film version. It was not a prerecorded version of the stage show. It was streamed live from the Garrick Theatre to the cinema where we experienced the show in real time with the patrons at the Garrick. To be fair, this isn't really a new concept. Sporting events have been broadcast live to sports bars around the world for decades. There was less beer, shouting at referees and no commercial breaks at The Winter's Tale today but, it is a similar idea.
So here is the brain teaser for pondering; did I see theatre today? I saw a live show, that was for some that were in the audience, no doubt, theatre but I was not in the same space, the same room as the actors, so what does that make it for me? Does the very definition of "theatre" require the individual audience member to be there in person? Many would say yes. Others would count my experience today as theatre.
This is a new frontier for the world of theatre. We may have to clarify definitions and maybe come up with some new vocabulary. Filming shows and then broadcasting them later or selling VHS copies or DVDs has been in practice for a while now. In recent years, downloading and streaming previously filmed performances is a service offered by Digital Theatre, iTunes, Netflix and other online resources. Viewing shows in those ways is watching an archive of a live performance and still gives the viewer the option to pause, rewind or come back to the very same document of a performance later.
The Winter's Tale was not an archive and we will not be able to experience it, like we experienced it today, ever again. If this performance was recorded for later viewing, it too will be an archive. But today we had to be there on time for curtain, we had a 20 minute intermission (or interval, if you're British) and the actors had a curtain call at the end. Funny fact; no one in the cinema applauded. This is not to say people didn't like it because people were gushing praise as they left the auditorium. So there is another curiosity. Do we only thank the actors for their live performance if they can hear our thanks? If a tree falls in the forest...
I think I shall have to find some of my theatre comrades and debate this subject further: what exactly is live theatre?
In the meantime, go see some! At a theatre or a cinema!
Take care!
-m
Sunday, December 27, 2015
A Christmas Walking Tour of London
One of the best ways to explore a city is on foot. On foot a person can directly experience how the landmarks and neighborhoods connect. Now I do have some history with London having lived here before and prior to that, engaging in some long term visits to this fabulous city. However, I have never taken the time to walk through the heart of London in order to connect the dots that I view regularly on tube maps. So, with a clear schedule and a well rested mind and body, I started my own series of foot tours this past week. Armed with an iPod for soundtrack and a City Mapper app in case I got way off track, I hopped on the tube and emerged topside at Green Park.
Green Park is very close to Buckingham Palace and is just beautiful with lush stretches of, yes, green grass. I headed through the park toward Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland is a merchant market and fun fair that is erected seasonally in Hyde Park. Hyde Park sits caddy corner to Green Park. Green Park is home to many military memorials and the Wellington Arch. The Wellington Arch is one of my favorite landmarks in London. There is a majesty about it and the quadriga on top is the largest bronze statue in Europe. The statue depicts Nike, the Goddess of Victory being drawn in a chariot by four horses.
Once past the Wellington Arch, I arrived at Hyde Park. Winter Wonderland was a huge sprawl of rides, games, food, and vendor booths. And, of course, an ice skating rink. The fair was filled with families and fun finders of all ages. I had a quick poke around but didn't stay too long as I had more to see.
Off I went back through Green Park to exit on the Piccadilly side. As I strolled past the Ritz Hotel, I came upon one of my favorite stores, Fortnum and Mason. F and M feels like a snap shot in time. Their products are the most current available but the atmosphere makes one feel they are shopping in a posh department store at the turn of the last century. It being a couple of days before Christmas, they were swarmed with holiday shoppers.
After a quick detour through F and M, I carried on to Piccadilly Circus and then to Leicester Square. Leicester Square was complete insanity. It is not a place to go during the holiday season if you are in a hurry. As this adventure was my purpose, I wasn't bothered by the time it took to weave through the crowd. Leicester Square is a pedestrian area that is in the heart of the theatre district and is flanked by cinemas, restaurants and amusements. For the Christmas season they even have a mini-fair operating in the center of it all, complete with a ferris wheel and fake snow machines.
After the shuffle through Leicester Square, I was onward to Covent Garden. Covent Garden is always busy but it has a charm like no other place. It is home to a year round market with all kinds of unique treats. Here, I took a tea break at an outdoor cafe and listened to street musicians play holiday music. Then I was off again, working my way down to Strand, past Charing Cross to arrive at Trafalgar Square.
At Trafalgar, I paused and took in the light show that was infused into the fountains. After a song or two on the iPod, I carried on down Whitehall, passing a slew of government buildings and offices including the Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street. And then, like a beacon in the night, there was one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, Big Ben. I took a moment to take in the glory of the Palace of Westminster and then walked down Bridge Street to the bank side. On the walkway, along the River Thames, I sat on a bench and took in the view of the river, South Bank and the London Eye while Ben chimed the time over my right shoulder.
I sat for a while on the bench and watched the light show on the Eye and surrounding buildings across the river and I thought how wonderful it is to be in this amazing city. I'm looking forward to more adventures on foot in London. In the meantime, I've posted a few photos below. Hope you enjoy!
Happy New Year Everybody!
Take care!
-m
Green Park is very close to Buckingham Palace and is just beautiful with lush stretches of, yes, green grass. I headed through the park toward Winter Wonderland. Winter Wonderland is a merchant market and fun fair that is erected seasonally in Hyde Park. Hyde Park sits caddy corner to Green Park. Green Park is home to many military memorials and the Wellington Arch. The Wellington Arch is one of my favorite landmarks in London. There is a majesty about it and the quadriga on top is the largest bronze statue in Europe. The statue depicts Nike, the Goddess of Victory being drawn in a chariot by four horses.
Once past the Wellington Arch, I arrived at Hyde Park. Winter Wonderland was a huge sprawl of rides, games, food, and vendor booths. And, of course, an ice skating rink. The fair was filled with families and fun finders of all ages. I had a quick poke around but didn't stay too long as I had more to see.
Off I went back through Green Park to exit on the Piccadilly side. As I strolled past the Ritz Hotel, I came upon one of my favorite stores, Fortnum and Mason. F and M feels like a snap shot in time. Their products are the most current available but the atmosphere makes one feel they are shopping in a posh department store at the turn of the last century. It being a couple of days before Christmas, they were swarmed with holiday shoppers.
After a quick detour through F and M, I carried on to Piccadilly Circus and then to Leicester Square. Leicester Square was complete insanity. It is not a place to go during the holiday season if you are in a hurry. As this adventure was my purpose, I wasn't bothered by the time it took to weave through the crowd. Leicester Square is a pedestrian area that is in the heart of the theatre district and is flanked by cinemas, restaurants and amusements. For the Christmas season they even have a mini-fair operating in the center of it all, complete with a ferris wheel and fake snow machines.
After the shuffle through Leicester Square, I was onward to Covent Garden. Covent Garden is always busy but it has a charm like no other place. It is home to a year round market with all kinds of unique treats. Here, I took a tea break at an outdoor cafe and listened to street musicians play holiday music. Then I was off again, working my way down to Strand, past Charing Cross to arrive at Trafalgar Square.
At Trafalgar, I paused and took in the light show that was infused into the fountains. After a song or two on the iPod, I carried on down Whitehall, passing a slew of government buildings and offices including the Prime Minister's 10 Downing Street. And then, like a beacon in the night, there was one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, Big Ben. I took a moment to take in the glory of the Palace of Westminster and then walked down Bridge Street to the bank side. On the walkway, along the River Thames, I sat on a bench and took in the view of the river, South Bank and the London Eye while Ben chimed the time over my right shoulder.
I sat for a while on the bench and watched the light show on the Eye and surrounding buildings across the river and I thought how wonderful it is to be in this amazing city. I'm looking forward to more adventures on foot in London. In the meantime, I've posted a few photos below. Hope you enjoy!
Happy New Year Everybody!
Take care!
-m
Wellington Arch
Covent Garden Christmas Tree
Big Ben
The London Eye
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Vacation Location: Off World
The first week of break has been very relaxing. Apart from a few meetings regarding up coming projects, there hasn't been a too much activity and that has been wonderful! I have taken the time to explore new worlds. There is a British phenomenon by the name of Dr. Who that I never really knew anything about so, I decided to educate myself. In my down time, I have been indulging in a binge watch of the television series. The verdict? New fan inducted. I started with the 2005 re-launch of the series. At some point I will need to watch the original episodes which began airing in 1963 and ran until 1989. In the meantime, I'm in the middle of season 4 of the re-launch and very impressed with the writing and the acting on the series. Let's face it, Sci-Fi/Fantasy can get really cheesy really fast if not crafted well but this team is winning. I admit, I may be a little partial because many of the actors are fellow alums of a couple of my schools. Christopher Eccleston, who plays The Doctor in season 1, trained at Central as did Catherine Tate who plays The Doctor's Assistant and leading lady in season 4. David Tennant, The Doctor starting in season 2, trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now called the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) which is where I did my last Master's. So, there might be a smidge of bias from me but, I am certainly not the only one who gives the series a thumbs up. Dr. Who has masses of fans all over the world.
If you don't know Dr. Who, here's a quick intro: The Doctor is a Time Lord from another planet and can travel through space and time. He most often travels with a companion that comes in the form a human female and assists him in all his crazy adventures. He spends time fighting alien invasions, solving mysteries, exploring other worlds, species and history and generally saving the universe. There was even an episode that took him to Shakespeare's world and was filmed at the Globe, another place with a special connection for me.
On Saturday I did manage to tear myself away and spend time with my friend Remi. We met for lunch and then went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Remi and I both grew up on the Star Wars films and going to see this new addition was a trip down memory lane. I promise, no spoilers, but it did spark conversations about our reactions to the films when we were kids, the toys we remember and the thrill of this iconic piece of pop culture. Oh and by the way, Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia, also trained at Central.
Star Wars, Dr. Who. The popularity and endurance of these stories is a testament to our need for the fantastical. Before the space age, there were stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Frankenstein, Dracula, Grimm's Fairytales, Arthurian legends, Greek mythology and a slew of other epic tales involving wild adventures and bizarre creatures. As humans, we like our escapism from the everyday but we also need to hear of great feats of mankind over things we may not equal. It stirs us to confidence and imagination. So, to the creators of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, keep telling us your stories. Keep those creative wheels churning. We need your grand sagas to keep us from the "darkside" and help us slay our monsters. We need inspiration to take on heroic journeys to save the universe and, often, ourselves.
That's it from me this week.
Check out some of your favorite stories from other worlds, whether, on the screen, on stage or in a book. Let your mind go on an adventure and see what motivations can be gained. Going off world every now and then can be so refreshing.
Take care!
-m
If you don't know Dr. Who, here's a quick intro: The Doctor is a Time Lord from another planet and can travel through space and time. He most often travels with a companion that comes in the form a human female and assists him in all his crazy adventures. He spends time fighting alien invasions, solving mysteries, exploring other worlds, species and history and generally saving the universe. There was even an episode that took him to Shakespeare's world and was filmed at the Globe, another place with a special connection for me.
On Saturday I did manage to tear myself away and spend time with my friend Remi. We met for lunch and then went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Remi and I both grew up on the Star Wars films and going to see this new addition was a trip down memory lane. I promise, no spoilers, but it did spark conversations about our reactions to the films when we were kids, the toys we remember and the thrill of this iconic piece of pop culture. Oh and by the way, Carrie Fisher aka Princess Leia, also trained at Central.
Star Wars, Dr. Who. The popularity and endurance of these stories is a testament to our need for the fantastical. Before the space age, there were stories like Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Frankenstein, Dracula, Grimm's Fairytales, Arthurian legends, Greek mythology and a slew of other epic tales involving wild adventures and bizarre creatures. As humans, we like our escapism from the everyday but we also need to hear of great feats of mankind over things we may not equal. It stirs us to confidence and imagination. So, to the creators of Sci-Fi/Fantasy, keep telling us your stories. Keep those creative wheels churning. We need your grand sagas to keep us from the "darkside" and help us slay our monsters. We need inspiration to take on heroic journeys to save the universe and, often, ourselves.
That's it from me this week.
Check out some of your favorite stories from other worlds, whether, on the screen, on stage or in a book. Let your mind go on an adventure and see what motivations can be gained. Going off world every now and then can be so refreshing.
Take care!
-m
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Projects Presented and Break Begins
Ladies and gentlemen, the first term is now complete. Whew! What a race to the finish line. This past week we pitched a major business proposal to an industry panel in what has been our most complex project to date. I was partnered with my classmate Oran and together we developed a ten minute presentation and a twenty page business plan for assessment. We undertook the concept of opening a full service restaurant, cocktail bar and musical theatre cabaret called, A Chorus Wine. Our research included every aspect of the business, from real estate to a food and cocktail menu to the cabaret production. And our budget had to include everything needed for the entire venture as well. For those of you who run bars and restaurants, I now have a whole new level of appreciation for what you have to do just to get the doors open. Wow.
On Thursday, we had a ten minute verbal pitch to the panel. Armed with witty puns, a montage video of what the project may look like when complete and a Power Point presentation with the particulars, we addressed the panel as if they were potential investors in our business. We even brought each of them a mini bottle of wine to remember us by. It felt good to deliver the project. Many, many hours went into its creation and I am proud of what we accomplished.
Final papers were also due this week. Essays inspired by another project we delivered a week ago were submitted. I focused on the need for theatre to escalate productions that bring invisible illnesses and disabilities to light. The theatre has always been a way to educate the audience and explore topics important to our society and this is an area where we could use some additional support. With the rise of conditions like autism, PTSD, autoimmune diseases, bipolar disorders and many more, theatre could help us understand the needs and lifestyles of those suffering from these conditions and those that help care for them. With the recent successes of shows like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Next to Normal, there is clearly a demand for these topics to be examined on stage.
Now begins a much needed break during the holiday season. I am looking forward to doing some reading, catching up with friends and exploring London. Oh and getting some rest. Next term will be here before I know it and I am sure to need all my energy.
I think I'll get stared on the rest part.
Until next time...
And don't forget to make your end of the year donation to your favorite arts organizations. They like Christmas presents too!
Take care!
-m
On Thursday, we had a ten minute verbal pitch to the panel. Armed with witty puns, a montage video of what the project may look like when complete and a Power Point presentation with the particulars, we addressed the panel as if they were potential investors in our business. We even brought each of them a mini bottle of wine to remember us by. It felt good to deliver the project. Many, many hours went into its creation and I am proud of what we accomplished.
Final papers were also due this week. Essays inspired by another project we delivered a week ago were submitted. I focused on the need for theatre to escalate productions that bring invisible illnesses and disabilities to light. The theatre has always been a way to educate the audience and explore topics important to our society and this is an area where we could use some additional support. With the rise of conditions like autism, PTSD, autoimmune diseases, bipolar disorders and many more, theatre could help us understand the needs and lifestyles of those suffering from these conditions and those that help care for them. With the recent successes of shows like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Next to Normal, there is clearly a demand for these topics to be examined on stage.
Now begins a much needed break during the holiday season. I am looking forward to doing some reading, catching up with friends and exploring London. Oh and getting some rest. Next term will be here before I know it and I am sure to need all my energy.
I think I'll get stared on the rest part.
Until next time...
And don't forget to make your end of the year donation to your favorite arts organizations. They like Christmas presents too!
Take care!
-m
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Destination: Deadline
Five days to go until the end of the first term. We have one more group project to deliver and academic papers to submit. The time past is hard to gage. In some ways it feels like I just got off the plane yesterday and in other ways I feel we have been in it for years. It's natural with something this intense. Our head lecturer, Jessica, told us they load the first term with as much as they can in order to teach us the skills to help make the following terms successful. After all, next term we are sent out into the world on placements (or internships, if you're American). We will still have classes two days a week but three will be spent in the field. I am really looking forward to this experience and know that I will learn much just being in the environment.
Today I had a brief break from school focused work and had a pre-holiday meal with some of my hall-mates at the student accommodations. We went for dinner at a local Lebanese restaurant. One from our party is from Lebanon and guided us through the menu. Also at our dinner table was a student from Italy and another from Pakistan. One of the things I love the most about London is the number of international students I meet. Getting to know people from all over the world, from different cultures is an education and enlightenment unto itself.
Okay, back to the grindstone for me.
Lots of Holiday shows opened this past week. Go see one!
Take care!
-m
Today I had a brief break from school focused work and had a pre-holiday meal with some of my hall-mates at the student accommodations. We went for dinner at a local Lebanese restaurant. One from our party is from Lebanon and guided us through the menu. Also at our dinner table was a student from Italy and another from Pakistan. One of the things I love the most about London is the number of international students I meet. Getting to know people from all over the world, from different cultures is an education and enlightenment unto itself.
Okay, back to the grindstone for me.
Lots of Holiday shows opened this past week. Go see one!
Take care!
-m
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)