Registration of Interest

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For further information contact...

Susan Cameron
sj-cameron@clear.net.nz

Theatre workshops
Directing and Improv theatre
15 and 16 June 2013
Elmwood Auditorium, 31 Aikman’s Road, Merivale

Improv Workshop with Kathleen Burns

Restricted to 15 participants to ensure maximum engagement.
Saturday and Sunday  15 – 16 June 10.00am – 5.00pm
Total cost $60 per person
Course details: Learn to play! Explore the possibilities of your own theatrical craft by diving into a world of spontaneity. Learn to be open and fearless as you create scenes, stories, characters and games with other theatre lovers.

Directors Workshop with Bryan Aitken

Restricted to 12 participants to ensure maximum engagement.
Saturday and Sunday, 15 – 16 June, 10.00am – 5.00pm
Total cost $95 per person
Course Details: A two day workshop for aspiring directors or those who wish to enhance their skills.  You will work as a group, going through the following categories:
Genres of Comedy
Defining the play’s physical needs
Script analysis
Energy – how to harness the actor’s energy into the play
Styles – what is style?
You will also be required to bring a 2 page copy of a script to work through with the group.

The Tutors

Bryan Aitken

A former Associate director and original company member of The Court Theatre, Christchurch, Bryan has worked as an actor or director for most of New Zealand’s major theatre companies.

He has been awarded a QEII Arts Council Major Travel Grant, a Trust bank Arts Excellence Award and the 1990 Commemoration Medal for his work with youth.  While a director/dramaturg for the NZBC, he adapted many stage plays for radio and also wrote for children’s programmes. 

He has held positions as Artistic Director of the Arts Employment Scheme, Artistic Director of the Road Show Trust and Course Director for the Diploma in Performing Arts, Nelson Polytechnic. He has been a guest lecturer and Tutor at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth (WAAPA), and the National Academy of singing and dramatic art in Christchurch (NASDA).

Bryan is also recognized as one of the country’s top Drama Adjudicators, and has a national youth award named after him. Bryan continues to freelance out of The Court Theatre as a Director, Tutor, and Tour Manager.

His work is as diverse as the magnificent Les Miserables to the one woman show, The mourning After.  He was recently appointed an Associate of The Court, an honorary position recognizing his length of service. Until recently he was their Core Tutor for a young adults theatre-skills programme, Theatreworks.

Kathleen Burns

Kathleen has worked as a professional improviser since 2003, performing regularly at SCARED SCRIPTLESS as one of the Court Jesters.  As well  as performing nationally with ConArists in Auckland and at the New Zealand International Improv Festival in Wellington.

On top of working nationally as a professional actress since graduating from NASDA in 2010, she is a regular tutor of both drama and improvisation at The Court Theatre and works with people of all ages and experience levels creating fun, playful and instructive classes.

“Wherever I take a class with Kathleen I feel like I’ve been at an awesome party where I just got better at Improv.”  Debbie Klausen, Advanced Spontaneity Student.