Somehow it seems to be December, giving me that year-end, Winter hibernation feeling. Despite the turmoil and isolation of much of this last year, time seems to have flown by. Added to this, no matter what the retailer’s Christmas ads may say, it is likely to be another subdued festive season for many. Earlier this…
Creatively Speaking
Autumn Reading: Workshops Facilitating
With workshops beginning to return to “in person” after over a year of virtual work, it seems a suitable moment for my recommendations for workshop facilitating books for this year’s Autumn Reading. 101 Drama Games & Activities by David Farmer is exactly that. Contained within the book are sections on warm up, ice-breakers, improvisation, group…
Re-emerging…with caution
As we move into mid-August and further out of lockdown, talk has turned to the possibility of “in-person” events this autumn. That is actually meeting in a room with others. Whilst this will be an exciting prospect for many, for those who identify as Introverts, it could be a mixed blessing. For an Introvert, meeting…
50% education cut
The artistic community, both current and future, received another major blow this week with confirmation of the 50% cut to high-cost subject funding for subjects in the performing and creative arts for the academic year 2021/2022. Coming after the threat to scrap the performing arts BETC, Covid, Brexit, fears of future funding cuts and local…
Thriving, not just surviving: update
Irish artists are to be paid a basic income guarantee from 2022, part of a 3 year pilot scheme within Ireland’s national economic recovery plan. I have previously written about UK artists having day jobs to survive and Ireland’s plans to allow their artists to claim benefits without immediately looking for a day job. Ireland…
Imagine If: Celebrating Sir Ken Robinson
4th March 2021 would have been Sir Ken Robinson’s 71st birthday; he died in August last year. “Imagine if” was a week-long celebration of creativity and the work of Sir Ken Robinson, inspired by his observation that what separates us out from other life on earth is our power of imagination – the power to…
Book and Blanket: December 2020
Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year. I’m going to curl up under a blanket with a good book. I’ll be back in the Spring.
Distraction Therapy (2)
With increasing tier levels followed by another lockdown, the hope of theatres reopening this autumn, fully up and running by Christmas, has evaporated. The new lockdown meant postponement of my in-person working day in a theatre, a bitter blow. Back in lockdown at home, I have been able to engage with the work of organisations…
Autumn Theatre Reading
A year ago I posted some reading suggestions for taking stock and moving forward in your career; maybe something I should have kept it for this year. I am going to follow up on that post with further autumn reading suggestions, this year on acting technique. Though one of my suggestions could be useful to…
Sir Ken Robinson Champion of Creativity
It is with heavy hearts that we announce Sir Ken Robinson died peacefully yesterday, 21st August 2020, surrounded by family after a short battle with cancer. We will be following up with a further update as we begin to follow Sir Ken’s wishes and honour his legacy. pic.twitter.com/IS3HsgeSXl — Sir Ken Robinson (@SirKenRobinson) August 22,…