Tim Norwood, 14 January 2017

Called by: Tim Norwood

Also there:

Miranda Debenham

Eddy

(Nobody else gave their names, sorry!)

Preamble:

I try and see as much theatre as I can, and recently I've noticed a lot of shows making

the same mistakes. What if we had a magical course that taught everything you

needed to know to make none of those mistakes? What would that course teach?

Here's what we came up with:

-Be willing to share your work when it's imperfect or unfinished

-Variation (or rhythm - two words for the same concept, having changes to keep the

audience's interest) in emotion, in pacing, and more

-Don't spoonfeed your audience a message

-Do your research thoroughly

-“Good art asks questions, it doesn't provide answers”

-How to give and accept feedback

-Value of a mentor

-Don't say you're shit

-Be proud of your achievements

-Learn how to plan, both in terms of the practicalities, and in terms of planning out your

creative work (not that you always need to plan creative work - but you should try out

planning out your creative work too)

-Enjoy it. If you don't enjoy it, ask yourself why - something might be wrong

-Follow your creativity when you're making something - don't get lost in trying to make

something great

-Don't be precious about your work

I'm planning to write about these things in more detail on a blog and I'll post the link

here.

Tags:

Teaching, Theatre, Emerging Artists, advice, Creativity, Learning, teaching, creativity,

emerging artists, TEACHING, THEATRE, learning, theatre, Advice

Comments: 2

Chris Grady, 15 January 2017

It is my pleasure to have this conversation over and over and over again through the years with creative artists - whether they are creative producers at Mountview, writers and composers through my Musical Theatre mentoring, conversations with Kath Burlinson's Authentic Artists, or through my own coaching and surgeries. I think each creative WILL make the same mistakes - it is part of the growing process. And if we create the “perfect course” it will be heard, but I suspect not embodied, until the practitioner has fallen on the first banana skin. There are legions of books and courses - but in the end I learn by experience.

I think sharing is vital, working in collaboration, having a mentor, being willing to show up and be a prat (or have a pratfall),

and then improve the work. I so agree that seeing loads of work is a brilliant way to challenge yourself to get better, or know you wouldn't do it like that.

And be sure that someone out there wants to enjoy what you create, wants to help you, wants to listen, wants to cheer you on. We as audience, mentors, facilitators see work for pleasure - not under sufferance. Just ask the right person out there who can help you.

Cheers

Chris