Playspace: Features: Networking: Artmedia: Artmedia News Welcome to the September 2007 edition of the Artmedia physical theatre newsletter, your e-publication with an Australasian focus and a global perspective, now in its sixth year and reaching over 2,300 subscribers. Again I must start with apologies for the last two months of non-publication... my father died in early July. This has been a traumatic year, with both my parents dying within a few months of each other, so I have been taking time off to grieve, but this has also given me time to reflect on this electronic publishing business and I intend making some changes in the coming months to make Artmedia more responsive to the evolving nature of the web. First up, I've employed a web editor to publish the newsletter each month, which will make the publication less dependent on my emotional space. Trish Summers compiled this issue, and she'll be chasing some of you up in the next week or so about advertising in future issues, because we can't survive without your support. And to encourage you, we're offering cut price Sponsorships in the next two issues. That's right, for just Aus$150 you can get your news at the top of this newsletter for the next couple of months. e-mail trish@artmedia.com.au In the Sponsorship this month we welcome back CircoArts, where director Godfrey Simms has news of the Catapult Festival, (the Australian youth circus and physical theatre festival/conference) held last week in Bathurst, and on the first Community Circus Conference in New Zealand, which was held in the far north at Dargaville, together with information on the two year Diploma in Circus Arts, which CircoArts runs out of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. Over the past few months I have been setting up a little retreat centre in beautiful Wanganui, New Zealand, and in the Playspace section I have information on the first Summer Clown Retreat to be held there in January. This retreat will provide an opportunity to reconnect with that playful, inquisitive, cheeky, clown spirit in a beautiful outdoor setting, overlooking the mouth of the Wanganui river. The price buster deadline is in early October, so get your bookings in to get the best deal on this fun workshop, and don't be afraid of the New Zealand dollar prices, the exchange rate will work in your favor. In the Features this month we have information on the workshops at the New York Clown Theatre Festival, which runs October 5 to 28, with 'classes from amazing teachers, free lectures, public parade and pie fight, clown olympics, and a clown Bar Hop. This year, world class theatre clowns are coming from Italy, Paris, Spain, Catalonia, Germany, Finland and all over the US and Canada'. I also take a Feature to promote the first Angels Can Fly podcast. That's right... Angels Can Fly, the Podcast... Tune in to hear me read the introduction and fiction sections from the first chapter of my book, which is subtitled 'a Modern Clown User Guide'. I've been getting some lovely feedback on the book, and am enjoying experimenting with podcasts. I started performing years ago as a storyteller, and in a funny way the net is allowing the return of the storytelling tradition, where the writer can tell his own story... Check it out. While in the Networking this month, the 2008 WA Circus Festival will take place in Karridale, Margaret River, Western Australia, from the 1st to the 3rd of February, 2008. The festival will include circus, music, comedy, cabaret nights at the Dr. Reg Bolton Bar, taster workshops, tasty food and on-site camping. Lunar Circus are the group behind the festival and we also have information on their Summer School. Also in Australia, Cecil's Moving Body Inc. are the new managers of Cecil Street Studio in Fitzroy, Melbourne. The studio is now an affordable and accessible space for classes, practice and performance. We have more on the range of classes available. And performers who can act and sing are required to present educational productions in Australian primary schools. In Thailand, we have information on the Makhampom Theatre Laboratory, a 14 days intensive training in Thai theatre and intercultural performance running from October 22 to November 4 in Bangkok. The workshop will cover Likay, Thailand's traditional popular folk theatre (including clowning and improvisational aspects), Intercultural Theatre, Theatre Devising and making a dramaturgy performance at the Bangkok Theatre Festival. In America, Avner Eisenberg and Julie Goell will be offering a two-week workshop in Eccentric Performing at Belly acres on the Big Island of Hawaii January 19 – February 2, 2008. For the first time in 15 years the workshop is being made available outside of Maine. Avner is also a central figure in the Phyzgig festival, the premiere festival of physical comedy, and they are currently seeking variety entertainers for this year's event. The festival will be held in late December in Portland, Maine. The producers are particularly interested in magicians, jugglers, illusionists, clowns and other vaudeville-style acts. Fall classes begin Sept 2007 at New England Center for Circus Arts (formerly Nimble Arts), in Brattleboro, Vermont, and we have more info on their 9 month Professional Track Training Program, plus other classes and workshops. And finally in America, the Kentucky Clown Derby will be held from the 5th to the 7th of October, in Louisville, Kentucky. This year they will feature Mama Clown, one of America’s premiere children entertainers and Leon McBryde, a member of the International Clown Hall of Fame. In the UK, teachers are wanted for circus art courses at the Circus Space in London. The Adult Programme has created a series of new Circus Art Courses, which start October and are aimed at Adults aged 18 and above. We have detailed info on skills required and class schedules. Also in London the Generating Company are recruiting teachers/trainers in the following skills: Trapeze, Cordelisse, Chinese Pole, Hoop, Web, Bungees, Acrobatics, Acting, Capoeira, Breakdance and Contact Improvisation. We have more info on other teaching positions. In the Netherlands, we have news of a Forum Theatre master class with Hector Aristizabal and Luc Opdebeeck to be held at Workplace for Participatory Drama, Rotterdam, next week. The work will be on the issue of Counter-Play in Forum Theatre. And finally in Greece we have a call for papers, workshops and short performances for the 6th Athens International Theatre/Drama & Education Conference to be held in March next year. We aim to provide an avenue of communication for the physical theatre community, so send us information for inclusion in this newsletter, and please also forward this to someone else who may be interested. Artmedia Network News Our links page on the Artmedia site had grown so long that it was hard to find any one link, so we have now split the links into seven pages, one each for Festivals, Training, Resources, Circus and Clown, and Physical Theatre, and two pages of Performers links. On the Artmedia site you can find links to performers, companies, resources and festivals all over the world, and you can also subscribe to this newsletter. The newsletter archive includes all issues for the past five years. Check it out at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/news.htm
Theatre LOTE provide innovative Bilingual Performances for schools and
festivals.
http://www.theatrelote.com.au Our website deals still provide great value. For one page on the Artmedia site, it is just Aus$20 a month, or Aus$30 for as many as you want, so contact us if you want to promote your work on a site which features search engine referrals direct to your page, and over 1,600 links from like-minded sites. We have also recently started a new publishing service, where we do your website at your address. On this deal it is just Aus$40 a month to maintain and promote the site, no matter how many pages you have, and only Aus$20 a page set up cost. Sponsor: CircoArts - Providing Circus Arts training in Christchurch, New ZealandGreetings to all Artmedia readers from Godfrey Sim, Programme Leader at CircoArts. I’m writing from just out of Bathurst, Australia where "Catapult", (the Australian youth circus and physical theatre festival/conference) has just been held. This festival reflected an explosion in youth circus activity throughout both rural and urban Australia. It was great to share the range of educational and vocational options available to young people and to encourage innovation in sharing skills including using the internet. And well done all the professional performers and trainers that gave of their energy and time including the whole Circus Monoxide mob. Back in New Zealand the first Community Circus Conference was held in the far north at Dargaville. Congratulations to Thomas and his team at Circus Kumarani. Chris Carrow and Oli Ricken from CircoArts attended and came back inspired by the great community spirit driving this exciting movement. On the home front: CircoArts offers a two year Diploma in Circus Arts out of the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT). This is just one of the options for full time circus arts training and study in Australasia. Right now the year two students are rehearsing for their final show (Sept 28th – 30th). The piece is called "Stocked Up: the circus shopping experience" and has a very quirky bunch of misfits "working" in a dysfunctional supermarket. This piece, devised by the group, is a themed circus-theatre performance that interweaves their solo material. Earlier in the year they engaged with guest director, Mike Friend, in an ensemble physical theatre performance called Whirinaki Forest (Pictured). It was a poignant, lyrical image driven piece exploring the themes of unrequited love and the isolation of human madness. Meanwhile the year one students are preparing street shows and tracking on vigilantly with circus skills and their mix of courses. The highlight for us this year has to be the feast of circus and physical theatre offered at the Christchurch Arts Festival. It included "Laughing at Gravity" by Circus Oz and "Aurelia’s Oratorio" with Aurelia Thieree Chaplin. These shows and the people who birthed them represented two significant roots (France and Australia) of contemporary circus. Also part of the festival was the "Lyttleton Cabaret" presented by a group of CircoArts graduates and other artists. This was a delightfully irreverent combination of circus, vaudeville, stand up, music and other hijinks. Just last weekend the Contemporary Circus Trust together with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra put on "Circus Proms" in the Christchurch Town Hall. Our students, staff and graduates performed with the orchestra to bring to life some great musical classics. The academic year at CircoArts culminates in the outdoor spectacle "Circus Under The Stars" ( November 2nd - 4th). And then a high profile CPIT event, Ignition, which combines Jazz, Fashion, Musical Theatre, Circus and Visual Arts is presented in the Christchurch Convention Centre. This starts November 21st and features CircoArts on Saturday the 24th. If you are keen to study circus arts, applications for the Diploma in Circus Arts are still open. We encourage prospective applicants to get in touch as soon as possible for information on the course, audition requirements, domestic fees and government student loans available to Australians. Applicants from outside of Australasia are welcome to apply. International fees will apply. Please contact: info@cpit.ac.nz Or call 0800 24 24 76 (from inside NZ ) OR + 64 3 9408000 (outside New Zealand) Or visit www.cpit.ac.nz/circoarts Photos: Above left: Photographer: Jonathan Lantz. Image is of members of the "Whirinaki Forest" ensemble. Above right: Photographer: Tim Harris. Image is of Khristina Dzelmanis (cloud swing), George LeCouteur (sitting on trapeze), and Josh Phillips.
Playspace: Clown Training with Alan Clay Summer Clown Retreat - Wanganui, New Zealand. Monday 7th to Friday 11th January 2008 (5 days) 10am to 4pm each day. The Retreat will provide an opportunity to reconnect with that playful, inquisitive, cheeky, clown spirit in a beautiful outdoor setting, overlooking the mouth of the Wanganui river. The fees include six nights accommodation with kitchen facilities. The Clown Retreat will be held in a secluded studio within reach of breathtaking west coast beaches, bush walks and jet boat or canoe expeditions, but still handy to good coffee and all the facilities. The Clown Retreat is timed to be held before the World Buskers Festival in Christchurch for those coming for the summer season in New Zealand. Two Clown Retreats were held at the beginning of this year in the Coromandel peninsula. These proved popular and successful, with the residential nature of the retreat facilitating the group dynamic and the peaceful surroundings assisting with the relaxation, which is such an important part of clown work. NZ$600 Price Buster (by October 4th), NZ$650 Earlybird (by November 12th), NZ$750 (full). Including 6 nights accommodation with kitchen facilities. Those with somewhere to stay in Wanganui, or those who wish to book their own accommodation, can deduct $100 from these prices. (All fees and deposits are non-refundable) email: clown@artmedia.com.au to hold a place or make enquiries about this workshop. "In the best clown tradition Alan held up a window-mirror for us to step through and reflect on the patterns, habits and rituals of our days... It was funny, moving and excellent theatre." NZ Herald. Feature: 2nd Annual NY Clown Theatre Festival, October 5 to 28
We have classes from amazing teachers, free lectures, public parade and
pie fight, clown olympics, and a clown Bar Hop This year, world class
theatre clowns are coming from Italy, Paris, Spain, Catalonia, Germany,
Finland and all over the US and Canada.
Workshops Bouffon led by Sue Morrison Saturday and Sunday, October 6th and 7th, from 9 am to 3 pm (1/2 hour break for lunch) Cost $300. More information at: http://bricktheater.com/morrisonbouffon.htm Introduction to Clown Through Mask led by Sue Morrison Tuesday and Wednesday, October 9th and 10th, from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm Cost $200. More information or to enroll: http://bricktheater.com/morrisonmask.htm Finding your Clown and Beginning to Write for Clown led by Patrick de Valette (of Chiche Capone) Monday, October 15th, 6:30-10:30pm Cost $100. More information or to enroll: http://bricktheatre.com/valette Working on Your Own Clown: A coaching workshop for clowns led by Giovanni Fusetti Saturday, October 20th and 21st, 2007 From 10 am to 1 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm Cost $300. More information or to enroll: http://bricktheater.com/Fusetti.htm Dynamics of Comedy: Space, Weight and Time in the Comic Situation - Led by Eric Davis Monday, October 22nd from 6:30-10:30pm Cost $100. More information or to enroll: http://bricktheater.com/Davis.htm Classic Clown Entrees - led by Dominique Jando Saturday, Oct 27th from 10am-3pm with lunch break Cost $100. More information or to enroll: http://www.bricktheater.com/Jando.htm For the whole family: Circus Yoga led by Kevin O’Keefe and Erin O’Keefe with Circus Minimus staff Saturday, Oct.13th 1:30-3:30 PM (directly after the Circus Minimus Show at the Brick Theater). $25 for adults, $15 for kids. More information or to enroll: http://bricktheater.com/Okeefe.htm
Find more information about the shows at:
www.bricktheater.com tickets
are on sale at
www.theatermania.com
Feature: Angels Can Fly, a Modern Clown User Guide, Podcast Tune in to hear Alan Clay read the introductory and fiction sections from the first chapter of his book, Angels Can Fly. A large number of Spanish speaking clowns have been buying Angels Can Fly since it was recommended on www.clownplanet.com and many of you and others may prefer to hear the book read aloud. Find the podcast at: www.alanclay.com/wordpress/ Angels can Fly includes a mix of fiction which follows the adventures of ten clown characters, some personal clown anecdotes from clowns around the world, a total of 50 practical clown exercises, and some theory on the nature of modern clown. The book is available on order through bookshops and online stores in New Zealand, Australia, America and England."Clown is a fascinating, diverse, complex and exciting art form, which has existed around the planet for thousands of years. Like any art form it has to evolve to stay relevant to the culture nurturing it, and at the same time, and by its very nature, clown teases and turns upside down the cultural patterns and boundaries around us." You can find the paperback on Amazon by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/9nrwj And check out more information at: www.alanclay.com where you can still get a free copy of the e-Book. Networking "The 2008 WA Circus Festival will take place in Karridale, Margaret River, Western Australia on the 1st - 3rd of February, 2008. The three-day event will feature non-stop entertainment from noon to midnight. It will be a bigger and better event jam-packed with national and international performances. There will be circus, music, comedy, cabaret nights at the Dr. Reg Bolton Bar, taster workshops, tasty food, on-site camping plus the occasional lunar surprise! The training programs this year will comprise the lunar circus summer school from the 7th - 18th January and the festival master class workshops from Thursday 24th - Wednesday 30th January. The Lunar Circus summer school classes will be in weekly blocks with the first starting on January 7th and the second starting on January 11th. Classes will be taught in the basic circus skills and aimed at the novice to intermediate aspiring circus stars. The festival master class workshops will cater to all skill levels with a focus on both the emerging and professional performer. If you would like to perform at the festival, teach in the workshop program, or volunteer during the festival please contact us." Fatso, Lunar Circus. Find a link to the WA Circus Festival under Festivals at: www.artmedia.com.au/links9.htm and a link to the Lunar Circus Summer School under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm "Melbourne's Cecil Street Studio under new management. Cecil's Moving Body Inc. has turned this mainstay for improvised movement and body-based practices into an affordable and accessible space for classes, practice and performance. We are… Lucy Angell, Trevor Dunn, Janice Florence, Phil Mitchell, Zoe Phillips, Stef Robinson, Peter Trotman and Al Wunder. Our Fringe Artists special: $10 rehearsal rate to Fringe artists in the lead up the festival. Our Ongoing Contact Improvisation Jam is open to all and happens every Tuesday rain, shine or holiday! Drop in between 6-8pm and have a dance, watch a little, or just come by to say hi to the community and find out about upcoming classes and other events. Contact Improvisation is an improvised partnered danceform involving touch, sharing weight, rolling, falling & momentum. POW Circus (Performing Older Women), an innovative open access community circus for women aged 40 and over, use the studio to train women in circus skills like acrobalance and aerials." Find a link to Theatre of the Ordinary with Al Wunderunder under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm or contact Cecil Street Studio 66 Cecil Street, Fitzroy 3065 Australia cecilstreetstudio@gmail.com "Actors - Tour Oz For A Living with Tie Shows ! Performers who can act and sing are required to present educational productions in Australian primary schools. Visit every state in 2008, with full-time sub-contractual work from mid-February to late-November. Couples/pairs encouraged to apply, as well as singles. Driver’s licence essential. Musical ability or any additional skills an advantage. Improvisation experience is highly regarded." Nick, Tie Shows. Find a link to Tie Shows under Resources at: www.artmedia.com.au/links8.htm "Makhampom Theatre Laboratory is 14 days intensive training in Thai theatre and intercultural performance running from October 22 to November 4 in Thailand. Travel to Bangkok and perform at the opening weekend of the festival at the Makhampom Living Theatre, Ban Dong village, Chiang Dao town. The workshop will cover Likay, Thailand's traditional popular folk theatre, including clowning and improvisational aspects, Intercultural Theatre, Theatre Devising and making a dramaturgy performance at the Bangkok Theatre Festival. Who Should Come? Performers, actors, directors, dramaturges, dancers, anyone with performance experience and an interest in ensemble performance, inter-cultural theatre, and Thai or Asian theatre. There are a minimum 5 and maximum 10 places available for international participants, with another 10 places allocated for Thai participants. Five half scholarships are available to Australian participants, supported by the Australian Thailand Institute." Find a link to Makhampom under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm "Hawaiian Workshop in Eccentric Performing. Avner Eisenberg and Julie Goell will be offering a two-week workshop in Eccentric Performing at Belly acres on the Big Island of Hawaii January 19 – February 2, 2008. This is the same professional level workshop they have been conducting at the Celebration Barn in Maine for over 15 years, but with black sand beaches and swimming with dolphins. Details and an application can be found on the Hawaiian workshop site." Avner Eisenberg. Find a link to Avner's site under Clowns at: www.artmedia.com.au/links.htm and to the Hawaiian Workshop under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm "Phyzgig, the Northeast USA's premiere festival of physical comedy, seeks variety entertainers for this year's event, scheduled to take place at the Portland Performing Arts Center and Space Gallery in downtown Portland, Maine between December 26th and 31st, 2007. Acorn Productions and Avner the Eccentric, the producers of Phyzgig, are particularly interested in magicians, jugglers, illusionists, clowns and other vaudeville-style acts. Please note that although this is a kids-friendly event, Phyzgig features performers whose material appeals to adults as well." Avner Eisenberg. Interested performers can find a link to Phyzgig under Festivals at: www.artmedia.com.au/links9.htm "Fall classes begin Sept
2007 at New England Center for Circus Arts , formerly
Nimble Arts, in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nimble Arts will continue to exist
and provide the performances, equipment sales, residencies and workshops of
Elsie Smith and Serenity Smith Forchion. NECCA is our Brattleboro school
where we offer our Professional Track Training Program (9 months), session
classes (9 - 12 weeks), private lessons, workshops and flying trapeze.
Contact us to find out more about: the show "Fall into Circus Cabaret" Sept
22; a special workshop "Discover your Inner Fool" with Jesse Dryen of Cirque
du Soleil and Circus Smirkus; September residencies in Athens, GA and
Asheville, NC; October and November SLAM in New York; Elsie's & Serenity's
October trip to China as special invited competitors at the Wuqiau Festival. "Teachers wanted for The Circus Space, London. The Adult Programme has created a series of new Circus Art Courses aimed at Adults aged 18 and above. These courses have been designed to train up students physically and creatively in performing circus. The first of these new courses is starting in October 2007 and will run on a Wednesday evening. As part of this course we are looking to employ two new teachers who will become an integral part of the Adult programme teaching team in delivering these courses. We need an Object manipulation / Equilibristic teacher: We are looking for an experienced, versatile and creative teacher who is able to teach a range of object manipulation and equilibristic skills from juggling, stilt-walking and rola-bola to tight-wire walking. And we need an Acrobatic / Vertical Aerial teacher: We are looking for an experienced, versatile and creative teacher who is able to teach a range of acrobatic and vertical aerial skills from handstands and tumbling to corde-lisse and tissu. The ideal candidates will be great team-players, see potential in everyone and possess good facilitative skills to nurture the students' creativity and interests. You will also be able to develop the students' technical and creative skills in a performance context. The Adult Programme runs in three 15-week terms, which are separated by two-week term breaks. Deadline for applications: 1st October 2007. Interviews: 8th/9th October 2007. Visit the website for detailed job descriptions and application form for these posts." Tamsin Weatherly. (Picture: 'Dark Nights and a Kinda Jazz Cabaret' 3rd year student devised performance, 2007). Find a link to The Circus Space under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm "The Generating Company, UK, are recruiting teachers/trainers in the following skills: Trapeze, Cordelisse, Chinese Pole, Hoop, Web, Bungees, Acrobatics, Acting, Capoeira, Breakdance and Contact Improvisation. We are also recruiting the following: Pilates instructor with a thorough circus background wishing to develop the use of Pilates in circus skills; Circus Riggers interested in teaching circus rigging/safety and researching new possibilities within the performance environment; and Circus and Theatre teachers with experience of and inspired by working with young people. Teachers and Applicants for these positions please send CV and DVD with job reference." Ellie Culpin. Find a link to The Generating Company under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm " Forum Theatre Masterclass with Hector Aristizabal and Luc Opdebeeck in Rotterdam, Netherlands. There are still places left for this master class. Don't miss it, Hector Aristizabal is not available in Europe very often. Together with our artistic director Luc Opdebeeck he will work on the issue of Counter-Play in Forum Theatre. It will be an "open rehearsal" setting, in which we will work with the actors of a real Forum Play that is going on tour two weeks later. We would be very pleased to welcome you at our new Centre. If you can't make it yourself, please spread the word. September 25 and 26. 50 Euros for both days, payable in advance. Rehearsal is from 10am - 4pm on both days. Location: Workplace for Participatory Drama, Rotterdam." Ronald Matthijssen. Find a link to the Forum Theatre Masterclass under Training at: www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm "Call for papers (working groups), workshops and short
performances. The Hellenic Theatre/Drama & Education Network is celebrating
its 10th birthday by organising the 6th Athens International
Theatre/Drama and Education Conference in Athens, Greece, from
March 27 to 30, 2008. We are interested in paper-presentations for the
following four Working Groups: Theatre/Drama and Formal Education,
Theatre/Drama and Socio-cultural Changes, Theatre/Drama and Research and
Practice, Arts and
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