![Autumn Reading: Making Theatre [Update]](https://samanthawaddilove.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Kneehigh-Cookbook-e1685358161474.png)
Back in September I posted a piece on theatre making books, including Kneehigh’s Cookbook, which seemed to have vanished after the company closed back in June 2021. At that point, I could not find any trace of the Cookbook. The good news is that the Cookbook, along with over 1,500 photographs, posters and programmes from…
Creatively Speaking
Winter 2022
With this Christmas season looking to be even more challenging for many than the previous 2 years, and after a year that I know many people have found even more difficult than either 2020 or 2021, I am switching off and hunkering down to concentrate on recuperating, writing, planning and setting some intentions for next…
Surviving, not thriving
Ireland has begun a scheme to pay 2,000 creatives weekly payment of €325 over a 3 year pilot project; a scheme I previously highlighted back in July 2019 and June 2021. The selected group includes musicians, actors, writers and dancers; and includes practicing artists and those recently trained. The scheme will cost around €25 million. …
Autumn Reading: Making Theatre
As we move into autumn and what often feels like a “new theatre year”, it seems a good time to look at books on making theatre for this year’s Autumn Reading. Frantic Assembly is a physical theatre company that makes brave and bold theatre creating pieces through much movement and music. The Frantic Assembly Book…
Unsung Heroes: Libraries
Today is World Book Day. There haven’t been many good news stories during the last 2 years, but a rise in reading and book sales is one. In 2020, over 200m print books were sold, and in 2021 that had risen to 212m; despite physical bookshops being closed during the 3 lockdowns. The 2021 figure…
Year End 2021
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…
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…