What's on Past Events D&D Roadshow Winchester 21 - 22 September 2012 D&D Roadshow Winchester Theatre Royal Winchester 10am-6pm Mark Courtice's invitation: Dear Friend, I am writing to ask you to join us here at the Theatre Royal for the Devoted and Disgruntled Roadshow on September 21st and 22nd. This is a chance to talk about what matters to you, and hear about what matters to others in the world of theatre. A chance to meet people, initiate projects, start collaborations or simply listen. Please put the date in your diary. Using a process called Open Space, Devoted and Disgruntled is a model of how we want to work. A different type of conference, it’s about listening rather than telling and that means the people who are at the meeting set the agenda, decide on the direction, and really get a chance to explore what matters to them. A series of group discussions, mediated through passion, rather than hierarchy mean that anything can and does come up. In some places that means looking at theatre and social mobility, in others sowing the seeds of new artistic collaborations, and in some places the focus has been on a political view of what we do. The brilliant thing about D and D is that all these things can quite happily be discussed together in the same space, with the same people. As far as Winchester is concerned, I and my colleagues hope that we will be able to welcome theatre makers, audiences, critics, academics, teachers, youth theatre workers, youths, students and most of all - you. I am writing to you because you are on our list of people who have imagination, care about the theatre, and would be a delight to welcome here that week-end. I also would ask you to think of people in your theatrical life who think should join us. Please feel free to pass this email on to them. I guess some poor people will get lots, but I would rather that than that they miss out... If you work in theatre or care about theatre then please contact D and D now to book your free place. All best wishes, Mark Courtice Director Theatre Royal Winchester Phelim McDermott's invitation: Do you love theatre? Do you find it frustrating? Do you feel audiences don't get a voice? Do you feel like an outsider in your own profession? Have you just started out and need support? Been in the profession for years and feel jaded? Is your region always left out of the discussions? Do you usually dread discussions and meetings? Are you looking to change things? In 2012 for the first time ever, you have the opportunity to take part in a unique nationwide conversation. In 2006 I wrote a heartfelt invitation and the first ”Devoted & Disgruntled: What are we going to do about theatre?” took place. This was an open and collaborative conference, a chance to check in with the theatre community, share the news about what we were doing well, talk about what we could be doing better and take action on how to improve things. Devoted & Disgruntled has subsequently become an inspiring annual three day event and since then there have been over 100 offshoot D&D events. Some have been monthly themed satellites, some have been regionally based like D&D Scotland and D&D North East, some have been international events like D&D New York and Vancouver. These conferences have kept the important conversations alive and have lead to companies being formed, venues being opened, festivals started, shows created, and many other projects and initiatives. The Devoted and Disgruntled Roadshow has come about in response to numerous requests for these conversations to reach beyond London, and engage with all parts of the UK. So as part of the Cultural Olympiad we are going on the road, holding D&Ds in twenty different locations round the country, and we are going online, launching a new interactive D&D website, which will record and connect all the D&D events. In theatre, as in so many things, it can feel like the agenda is set, and the decisions are made by a faceless, unreachable "them". We wait for "them" to talk about what we think needs talking about and for "them" to solve our problems. Guess what? "They" aren't going to do it. But you can, and D&D is the place to start - so if there are questions that you think should be asked, projects you want support on, things you want changed, join Improbable this summer on the Devoted & Disgruntled 2012 Roadshow in a conversation that could reshape the theatre landscape. This is a unique chance for your voice to be heard and for us to listen to each other, face to face and online, locally and nationally. Join us and let’s work together towards making theatre better and making better theatre. Phelim McDermott and Improbable Booking for this event has now closed.