The Festival at Hampstead Theatre

Just across a small pedestrian square from Central is the fabulous Hampstead Theatre. Hampstead is two stage producing theatre that focuses on contemporary work and new writing for the stage. They also boast a very comfortable coffee bar where we Central students often congregate to work.

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to temporarily join their marketing team to help advertise their Festival at Hampstead Theatre which was presented this past weekend. The program for the Festival was an eclectic mix of sessions with various creative arts professionals. This was the second year Hampstead produced the Festival and the inspiration for the event came from Issy Van Randwyck, the Festival's lead producer. Her vision was to bring a series of talks and seminars to the public to reveal the different ways and processes of creative writing and how ideas go from page to stage or film. Many of the sessions included talks with writers from multiple mediums including script writers, poets, novelists and biographers. There were also sessions that explored filmmaking, dance, design and of course, various aspects of theatre.

For my part, I joined the marketing team in the office a couple days of each week for the past month and helped research potential target markets and communicated with various groups and organizations to spread the word about the Festival and its offerings.

I attended some of the sessions this past weekend. Highlights for me were Mig Kimpton and Sir David Hare. Mr. Kimpton was the feature of a session called Theatrical Florals with Mig Kimpton. I have never seen an offering like that on any line up so I had to go and see what it was all about. It did indeed involve flowers. Mr. Kimpton was a theatre manager for decades in London. He worked with a variety of celebrities and ran some of London's most popular venues. He is also an award winning floral designer. A few years ago he retired from the theatre to take on floral design full time and now he produces some of the UK's most famous flower shows and competitions. He spent an hour telling us about his life in the theatre while simultaneously creating some of the most magnificent flower arrangements I have ever seen. Prior to this, I had never attended a flower arranging demonstration so, that was interesting but the bonus was to hear the amazing stories of Mr. Kimpton's adventures in the biz.

On Saturday I saw an interview with the great Sir David Hare at The Festival. David Hare is one of the most revered playwrights of our time. I have been a fan of his work since I saw Skylight in London in 1996. During the hour long chat, he spoke about his life and career and then answered questions from the audience. He is an absolute inspiration and his passion for new work and the future of theatre is contagious. Afterwards, he was available to sign copies of his autobiography in the lobby. Of course I had to take advantage of the chance to meet him. Mr. Hare's session sparked me to think more about some other topics that have come up on my course this past term and I will continue to ponder how I may want to incorporate some of these ideas into my practice as a producer.

Friday brought the last day of term and we are off from school for a few weeks. I plan to take some time to relax but there is much to do in London and I want to take advantage of what I can. Tomorrow, I am off to a workshop in copyright and intellectual property for producers. This will help inform my work with new writing for the stage.

I'll let you know how it goes next week. In the meantime, have a look and see if there are seminars or talks happening in your region that might give you a glimpse into the life and work of performing arts professionals.

Take care!
-m

The Festival at Hampstead Theatre : https://thefestivalathampsteadtheatre.co.uk

Mig Kimpton

Sir David Hare

BEAM

This past week brought the culmination of one of my placements in the form of the BEAM Festival. I have been working since January with Mercury Musical Developments on the production of the very first BEAM Festival here in London. At BEAM new musical theatre works, in various states of development, were presented to industry professionals. The audience was comprised of producers, artistic directors and theatrical publishers. The goal was for BEAM to be a sort of matchmaking service to help facilitate new relationships between theatre makers and the industry professionals who can help move their work to the next level.

The production team gathered on Monday to introduce performers and presenters to the venue and the process. Each presentation received a sound check and had the chance to sample the performance space. On Tuesday the festival kicked off. Over the course of two days 40 presentations, varying between 10 and 25 minutes in length, were delivered to the audience. We also had a few industry panel discussions, masterclasses and plenty of coffee breaks for professionals to network.

BEAM was a huge success and all the attendees were thrilled with the opportunity to connect, present and/or see what the market has to offer for future programming. BEAM had three production assistants from my course at Central; Shai, Travis and myself. It was a lot of work but, of course, it was great to be a part of this incredible event. All of us came out with new friends and connections. Plus, it was fantastic to see what the world of musical theatre is cooking.

This coming week I return to Hampstead Theatre to continue work on their Festival. Thursday and Friday we have classes and then...end of term and SPRING BREAK!! Whoot Whoot!! This term has been jam packed with wonderful but I admit, I'm looking forward to a little down time.

I'll let you know how the final week of term shapes up next week. In the meantime, look around your region and see what festivals and conferences are available for theatre students and professionals.

Take care!
-m

Program Cover for BEAM 2016

BEAM Production Assistants from Central: Shai, Melanie and Travis

*Photo credit to Shai for both of these! Thanks Shai!

International Exchange: US to UK and UK to US

Saturday night took me to the theatre. That's a good place for an aspiring producer to be on a Saturday night. I went to see Hand to God by Robert Askins. Hand to God is a new and some might say, edgy play that just finished a successful run on Broadway. Personally, I really enjoyed the show but it has received mixed reviews here in London. For a producer, we must consider this reaction, especially when New York embraced the production.

Not all transfers from across the ocean work. So, what is it that makes some things work in New York that don't work in London and vice versa? If we could predict this, we could save ourselves a lot of heartache and lost capital. I wonder if it is a simply a difference in culture? After all Hand to God is set in the American South and centers on the spiritual turmoil of its main characters as they seek for answers within the walls of the church.  Of course I liked the show, it was set in my home region with characters I recognized. For me, the references to Chick-fil-A and TCBY were a love song to my homeland. But is that really it? As an audience we constantly watch plays, films and TV shows imported from each other. Every time I turn on the TV here in London, The Big Bang Theory is on. And when I lived here from 2008-2010, Friends was on constant re-run. At home, Monty Python's Spamalot was a huge hit on Broadway and regionally. Downton Abby has become a movement for American TV audiences.  So, how can it just be culture?

This may be a debate that can never be answered. Sure, some things are lost in translation. I may have been the only one in the audience last night who knew what a TCBY was, but the story and the journeys of the characters are universal. There was nothing about the production elements or actors' delivery that was misplaced. In fact, I was very impressed with the actors in the show. I tend to be a very harsh critic of non-American actors attempting American accents and doubly so if they are going Southern, but they all did a fine job with the accents and with their characters.

This will take more thought and observation as to why some productions transfer successfully and others find it more of challenge. It is certainly a curiosity. However, I will say the audience at the performance I attended did seem to enjoy the show. I wasn't the only one laughing and applauding. Some even gave it standing ovation. Perhaps it's just that not every show is meant for all people. Some stories are meant for the audience who understands that particular message and is open to receive it.

This coming week I have a major project launching. I'll let you know how it goes next week. In the meantime, look at your local theatres and consider why they select the shows they produce. See if they are taking any risks in their programming. Then go see the risk!

Take care!
-m

Hampstead Happenings

This past week brought a new opportunity with an old friend. Back in 2009, when I was studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, (now known as The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) we brought three new plays to London. Our host venue was the lovely Hampstead Theatre. Hampstead produces an assortment of plays from new works to reboots of contemporary scripts. They are a well known producing theatre in London and attract some of the finest talent in the industry to participate in their productions.

Central is directly across a pedestrian square from Hampstead Theatre. When I returned to London this past October, it was a delight to encounter this familiar place and as the term progressed, I found I spent more and more time there. Hampstead Theatre has a coffee bar that is open all day and thus, it is a popular workspace for Central students and staff. Many of my group projects from first term were born over coffee at Hampstead's cafe.

On Tuesday, I got to know Hampstead on a whole new level. Quite unexpectedly, one thing lead to another and I began helping out in their marketing department. Marketing is an area I have been keen to learn more about and here the chance came for me to learn more from a theatre of distinction and one with whom I have a history!

Specifically, I am helping with the marketing of The Festival at Hampstead Theatre. This event will take place March 18 through 20 and will feature an incredible variety of panel discussions and lectures. Attendees can hear talks on script writing, novel writing, theatre design, filmmaking, opera, dance and much more. Playwright Sir David Hare will be there to discuss his life in the theatre. Paul O'Grady will talk about his career in showbiz. Children can participate in a puppetry workshop. MAC cosmetics will host a session on makeup magic. And that barely begins to describe it! For a full list of the offerings visit: http://thefestivalathampsteadtheatre.co.uk

If you are in London, do have a look. You won't be disappointed. It is a fantastic line up. There is something for everyone!

This week I'll be back working with the marketing team at Hampstead. Also on the schedule is a trip to tour a venue called Shoreditch Town Hall with my class and working with the BEAM festival produced by Mercury Musical Developments and Musical Theatre Network. I'll have more on BEAM next week!

In the meantime, check out what special events and festivals are on offer at your local theatres.

Take care!
-m

Professional Profiles: Resume Reboot and Social Media Shape Up

With only three weeks left in this term, these past few days have brought about a flurry of activity to make improvements to all things related to networking, job creating and professional profiles. I keep hearing about how important it is to be well connected on all forms of social media. Two platforms that continue to get air time in class and group discussions are Twitter and LinkedIn. I have to admit, I never really understood how to best use these resources to my benefit. My Twitter account as not been touched since 2009 and my LinkedIn profile has long been in need of an update.

However, I decided it was time for a social media makeover. I started with Twitter. I changed my handle to my name which looks more professional, updated my photo and profile details and expanded my network by following tons of theatre companies and arts and entertainment professionals. I try and make a point of checking my Twitter feed a couple of times a day to see what industry news is coming through.

LinkedIn also got an overhaul with an updated work and education history and several requests to connect to people and join interest groups. Apparently, LinkedIn is used extensively when companies are looking for personnel. I'll just need to keep monitoring that site as well. I'm sure there must be an app out there that helps people keep up with all these profiles and news feeds. I really must look into finding it.

My entire Saturday was dedicated to renovating my resume. I was overdue for a format update and an information purge. It really is amazing how long it takes to get it just right. But with all the industry people we meet almost daily now, we must have our arsenal of professional profiles and platforms at the ready. I realized this as I was called in for an interview, out of the blue, on Tuesday. Don't worry, it went very well and I'll have more on that company next week.

This week I plan to educate myself on how to get the most out of social media and see how I can turn my investment of time on those sites into a career move. I'll let you know how it goes.

In the meantime, follow me on Twitter and connect with me on LinkedIn. You can also look for your favorite theatres and artists on social media and give them a "like".  Until next week...

Take care!

-m

8Squared: A Night of New Writing

This week brought to life a project I have been working on since I started at Central. 8Squared.

In our very first week the Creative Producers course was introduced to a student lead project called New Writers' Night. This was an evening performance over a run of two nights that featured new short works from the writing students on the MA/MFA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media. The pieces were restricted to eight minutes each and the entire production was student produced. I was immediately drawn to the project as I have long been a supporter of new works for the stage and headed up a New Play Festival at my previous place of employment.

My first involvement came with the New Writers' Night that was presented in October. As it was right at the beginning of my first term at school, I didn't have a whole lot to do with the planning process. But I helped with auditions and ran sound for the performances. My classmate, Trish, also got involved as Stage Manager. After the October performances, we began to collaborate intensely with the two second year writers who took on the organization of the October performances. Over the past few months we formed a dedicated and organized producing team consisting of the two writers, Dale and Natalia and Trish and me, all of whom were involved in the October performances and we brought on board a writer from the first year writers' class, Sophie. Together the five of us overhauled New Writers' Night, establishing a mission statement, organizational procedures and documentation to communicate our purposes to those who submitted to become involved in the performances. We established a network of script evaluators and liaised with faculty at Central to solicited formal support for the event from the school. We completely re-branded, including the new name 8Squared, which refers to the eight scripts we present at performance nights and the eight minutes of time allotted to said scripts.

In December, writers submitted their work and with the input from the evaluators we selected eight for presentation in a rehearsed reading format. The eight scripts were workshopped and rehearsed and finally presented to the public this past week. The attendance was good and I believe the writers learned much from seeing their work in action, which is the ultimate goal for these presentations. It is after all, about the new work and the writers' education and experience. 

The team and I now need to review the strengths and weaknesses of this round and start preparing for the 8Squared event that will take place in the spring. We have gained support from the school and are looking forward to the advantages of faculty involvement. Much to do and exciting new ways to grow.

That's the big news for this past week. More reports coming soon. In the meantime, check your local theatres and see if they support new writing and then go see some!

Take care!

-m

Venice

It's been a busy week but I need to fill you in on Venice!
Last weekend my friend Soha and I traveled for a weekend get-away to Venice, Italy. We wanted to experience Carnevale di Venezia which is a festival that happens every year since 1162 and spans about three weeks every winter leading up to the beginning of Lent. It is a bit like Mardi Gras in New Orleans in that celebrations and events take over the whole city and people take to the streets in special attire. A large portion of people were at least wearing masks and many wore costumes, some very elaborate. Multiple masquerade balls were thrown nightly. Some were special invite only but others could be accessed with the purchase of a ticket. Tickets ranged from 50euros to 1000euros for these parties.

Venice is known for its streets made of water. Indeed, we did not see a single car when we were in the center of town. The streets are narrow and made for pedestrians. One must take a boat to get around if one is not walking. Bikes are not very popular either. Walkways shrink in width often and at nearly every turn there is a bridge to cross a canal and there are steps required to cross the bridges. I saw a few parents with strollers and it looked to be a mission to wheel them around.

We of course took a gondola ride. The gondola is a very tranquil way to travel but if you are in a rush, motorized taxi boats are available. Venice is very much a tourist town. Restaurant and shop owners encourage you to come in but that is part of the fun of travel. We were able to enjoy an authentic Venetian meal at a local restaurant recommended by our hotel. And no, it wasn't pasta, it was sea bass. Venice is in the middle of the water after all. It was delizioso!

One thing we saw a lot of in the shops was Murano glass. Venetian glass has been famous for centuries and Murano glass is by far the most popular. Murano is an island easily accessible from the heart of Venice where this glass is crafted. Products of Murano glass come in all shapes and sizes from dainty glass beads to glorious chandeliers. The most popular design pattern is Murrine which is a multi-colored speckled pattern that comes from layering different colors of molten glass on top of each other to make canes which are then cut in a cross section to form disks that look almost like candy. These are then heated and molded into dishes, bowels, pendants and a variety of other crafts.

Saturday night we went to an opera. We saw a sight-specific production of La Traviata. It was performed in a palace and broken into three acts. Each act was performed in a different room in the palace and at each intermission the audience was escorted to the new room and given champagne along the way. My kinda show!

Sunday involved more sight-seeing. We took a motor boat ride around Venice and visited the Doge's Palace. The Doge of Venice is kind of like the Mayor of Venice. He is the chief government official of the city and the Doge's Palace is the seat of government. But this isn't just your average city hall. Venice has a rich history of being a major player in the leadership of Italy and Europe. Historically, the Doge has been a very powerful position. The Palace is a reflection of the wealth and influence of Venice. It is an architectural wonder and the most opulent "city hall" I have ever seen.

If you ever get the chance to go to Venice, go! It is a magical city worth seeing. And if you only have the English language in your catalogue of communication, no worries, every merchant, waiter and desk clerk seemed to have a fine grasp of English. With so many tourists, I imagine it is a necessity.

Coming up this week we open one of my projects, 8Squared: A Night of New Writing. If you are in London, come on down to Central Wednesday, Thursday or Friday evening and see what our emerging playwrights have been cooking. It's free!

In the meantime, enjoy a play, film or television show set in Venice. There are hundreds to choose from. Everything from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice to a season five episode of Dr. Who called "Vampires of Venice"!

Take care!
-m

One very well accessorized costume.

Ready for the masquerade ball.

Coffee break at a cafe. It ain't Starbucks!

The "streets" of Venice.

Didn't pack your mask? You can get one just outside St. Mark's Basilica.

In the courtyard of the Doge's Palace.

With no buses or trains, public transport is offered by boat. The cube with the yellow stripes is a "bus" stop.

The view from our hotel window on a foggy Sunday morning.

Murano glass in the Murrine pattern.