The alarm on my phone went off at 6:30 a.m.
I rolled out of my bunk, carefully trying to make as little noise as possible as I gathered my backpack, clothes, and tool bag before exiting the bus.
Attending live theatre improves empathy, changes attitudes, and leads to pro-social behavior. An extensive research article on this subject by Steve Rathjea, Leor Hackelb, and Jamil Zakic was published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (#95) in the spring of 2021. If you want to read the entire research, you can find a link to the PDF on the bottom of this article. Here now just a quick overview to introduce you to the valuable work which has been done by the researchers.
More theatres are opening up and prep for in person rehearsals is taking place! While still in the midst of a pandemic, here are 3 strong risk mitigation techniques to help prevent transmission of COVID, and other communicable diseases.
Franchesca Wong is a Canadian born Chinese actress currently based in Hong Kong. After studying marketing, she discovered her true passion was with acting. She graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 2019 and has since then lived her passion onstage. Franchesca is also a drama teacher, corporate role player, and an avid adventurer.
The world has changed. A global pandemic, the rise of Black Lives Matter and social justice movements, and the intensifying climate crisis have altered how we live and work. This includes the theatrical industry. These changes, however, have been happening while theaters have been closed. It’s been an opportunity for us to reflect and look critically at our own industry. As live performance returns, it is crucial that theatre makers address how these issues affect our process of theatre making. We are re-opening in a new era, it’s not the world of 2019, this is 2021.
‘The End of the World as We Know It’ is delightful, funny, and philosophical all at once. At first a popular play at Theatre Basel, this has now also been adapted by director Joerg Pohl and the Theatre Basel ensemble to form a mini-series in seven parts.
Like many people, I have been reflecting a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic. Reflecting on what I enjoy and why I enjoy it. With the majority of theatres physically closed since March 2020, it has given me the time to think about what makes theatre so enjoyable? For me it is really hard to put my finger on because for as long as I can remember theatre has been my passion and it’s something I can’t really put into words. Theatre has the power to transform, educate, inspire and escape you from your everyday. It’s ability to adapt to the times, reflect shifting social and cultural attitudes as well as trying to understand our past has meant it is still as relevant today as it has always been. In this article I wanted to shine a light on unique theatre experiences over the last few months that have bridged the gap between the live and digital spaces.
E-hui is an independent lighting designer and digital stage technician currently based in Singapore. She creates art mostly in theatre and dance, and more recently theatre for young audiences. Passionate about the melding of art and science in theatrical production, E-hui often approaches artistic creation from a practical and problem-solving perspective, and especially loves to collaborate with like-minded artists to produce works that inspire the audience to reflect and enact positive change.
Well, it looks like it’s finally starting. We’re going back to work. If you’re like me, starting up work again in the entertainment industry has been coming in at a slow trickle, which I actually think is good. We need time to re-acclimate, but not just to have a job again. We have to learn how to be around people again, how to be physically active, how to stand on our feet for long periods, and how to decide what risks we’re willing to take. We need to relearn our rhythms, our flow. There’s a real thing now called Post-Covid Stress Disorder, and a whole bunch of us have it. We’ve all been dealing with the trauma of a global pandemic the best way we know-how. Some of us have developed bad habits. Some of us have developed good habits and coping mechanisms. Whatever personal journeys we’ve been on, it’s important to remember that no one in the world was safe from this disaster, and we will all need some support as we try to get back to “normal”….whatever that was or is.
Last year, during the prolonged downtime due to the pandemic, I went for a long hike through Switzerland and France to the Mediterranean Sea. As a stage manager, I longed to be backstage again. So, every theatre I saw along the way was a special memento. As such, it was also a trip through time, because I encountered theatres from all eras. Here are only a few examples of the beautiful performance spaces I saw.
Patrick Oliver Jones is an American actor and creator of the podcast Why I’ll Never Make It. In our chat, Patrick shares valuable personal insights on connection, belonging, and on what it means to truly show up for all that you do. Let yourself be inspired. The interview is in two parts. This is part two.
Michael Kushner, an award winning multi-Hyphenate, as in Actor – Writer – Producer – Photographer – Podcaster got together with us for an interview. Michael shares with us how multi-hyphenating kept him afloat during the pandemic. How he was not only able to survive and pay the bills, but also forward his career in theatre through following his multiple interests and inspirations.
Across the globe, event organizers are trying to get back to in-person events as soon as possible. Not so the legendary Burning Man festival. The organizers have decided to play it safe and have officially announced the cancellation of their 2021 in-person event. An interactive virtual event will take place August 21 to September 5, but hopes are high to get back to the Nevada desert in 2022.
Following a pioneering concert that took place in Barcelona on 27th March, the data of the audience members who attended is looking to be highly successful.
I am just one of thousands of stage managers who found themselves unemployed in the spring of 2020 – due to Covid19. My last job was on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Seas as Stage and Production Manager for the Aqua Theatre. In this true tale, I want to share a little bit of my odyssey over the last twelve months. Where these months of enforced downtime have led mentally as well as practically. This is Part 2 of my story.
I am just one of thousands of stage managers who found themselves unemployed in the spring of 2020 – due to Covid19. My last job was on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Seas as Stage and Production Manager for the Aqua Theatre. In this true tale, I want to share a little bit of my odyssey over the last twelve months. Where these months of enforced downtime have led mentally as well as practically. This is Part 1 of my story.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the world of theatre completely in a new way. Regardless of the recovery of live performance industry in the western world, more and more people, especially commercial workers, start to realize that theatre cannot and will not go back to the old days. Facing numerous challenges in domestic markets, show makers may need a vision shift — the life-saving straw may lie on the other side of the globe. From various points of view, China is the most promising market for commercial musical companies to recover from the pandemic shock.
We never thought the arts could be this vulnerable. COVID has given us many challenges throughout the year, and a lot of time has passed since we’ve had to think about being in peak show condition. As shows and companies make new operating procedures to support the arts to get back into the studio and on stage, it’s up to us as artists to create our plan to get show ready. Maybe we haven’t had access to the tools and methods to keep ourselves show-ready. Perhaps we’re uncertain and not sure where or how to begin. The time we have all anticipated is here. It’s time to Be Show Ready!
It has been announced that Liverpool will be host to a ‘normal’ outdoor music concert on 2nd May as part of a government-led pilot concert post-lockdown in the UK. The gig, which is to be held at Liverpool’s Sefton Park is the first of its kind to take place in England and the UK.
Theatre is for everyone. It doesn’t just take place inside the confines of a theatre or an arts centre it takes place all around us and is presented in different forms. During the Covid-19 pandemic, venues across the world have been forced to close and re-evaluate how they choose to present work. The role of digital has captivated audiences and diversified theatre’s offering on a truly unprecedented scale. It has offered more opportunities for inclusion and interaction than perhaps any time in history. We should use this opportunity for a fundamental change and shift in terms of giving people opportunities to see and enjoy theatre. This change will not happen overnight and we should do all we can to improve accessibility and inclusion for people to enjoy theatre. There are some fantastic services and platforms that help promote digital inclusivity to theatre and the wider arts.
Cirque du Soleil have released the exciting news of plans to bring back “O” and a second show to the Las Vegas Strip this summer. Although the dates are yet to be announced, the show is going to return to the Bellagio hotel-casino, and will be a large part of reopening the entertainment industry in Las Vegas.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2021 has announced the exciting news that registration will be open for artists and venues from Wednesday 5th May. The announcement The official statement on the Edinburgh Fringe website explained: Artists and venues will be able to register Fringe shows right up until the end of the festival. The Fringe’s world-class […]
Meet our Senior Project Manager Moira Garee who sat down with us on how the pandemic affected her work and the underground music scene around the world. Despite the uncertainty and having to play in empty halls, Moira believes that the last year might have brought some positive changes towards greater inclusion, accountability and equality for creative communities.
Teaching was never something I expected myself to pursue. As a wig and make-up designer, I always pictured myself working in one wig shop or another; I never imagined myself in the classroom. Once the opportunity presented itself, however, I fell in love with teaching. I discovered how gratifying and inspiring it was to see students pursue their dreams. Teaching others who are just as passionate about the subject matter that you love is a dream come true. I truly felt like I had the best job in the world.
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