More than 2188 plays were submitted to this year's Bruntwood Prize, the U.K.'s largest prize for playwriting.
This was a record number of entries for the Bruntwood, which is partnered by the Manchester Royal Exchange. I'm delighted to announce that my play, MacGregor and Beth, was chosen as one of the top 100 plays this year. The prize winners from will be announced on Tuesday 15 November.
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I have a new mic in the home studio and wanted to take it for a quick test drive. The result is this recording of Shakespeare's Sonnet 2....since it was the first thing that came to mind (I do hope that without the script in front of me my memory is still serving me well): Several months ago I was invited by the internationally acclaimed artist and author, Quintan Ana Wikswo to record voice over on several short stories that were to form part of a wider project by the artist entitled, Prophecy of Place.
In the project, Wikswo combines original text, photography, installation, video and brings together collaborating composers and choreographers in a dynamic exhibition that also includes live performance. The source of the work lies in a variety of global sites that once bore witness to crimes against humanity. Prophecy of Place spans seven countries, eight centuries and nine languages. Using artifacts such as battlefield cameras and military typewrites, Wikswo's work is a startling encounter with atrocity that raises questions, serves as resistance and memorial. Further details here on the Yeshiva University Museum website and here on the artist's site. Beware the tides of March...and the radical sea change in the fortunes of arts organisations the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.
Today's funding announcements by the Arts Council of England will have a long lasting effect on the cultural landscape of Great Britain. By slashing 30% of it's grant-in-aid the government left the ACE the unenviable task of passing on those cuts. However, rather than reducing the budgets overall, the ACE has announced bold funding decisions making winners and losers of arts organisations across the country. 206 arts organisations have lost 100% of their funding. Here's a link to the Guardian's full decisions list. Have spent a marvelous afternoon in the company of some fine NY actors here in L.A. The workshop was a veritable Shakespeare feast that involved monologues, scene work and a mini-performance in front of an invited audience to wrap with.
Among others I would like to thank Melissa Olson-Clark and Jeremy Stevens for sharing two scenes with us. A particularly fruitful part of the day was spent exploring Shakespeare use of Antithesis and how best to bring the idea alive in performance. WATCH THIS SPACE... ...for details of my forthcoming book on acting Shakespeare, full of practical games and exercises on how to explore such ideas practically. The afternoon performance was followed by a Q and A with yours truly during which there was some heated debate on the topic of SUBTEXT. or lack thereof in Shakespeare's plays. Further to my recent post on Spectacle Theatre Company's fight for survival in the face of the Arts Council of Wales funding review - you can now sign a second online petition at the Welsh Assembly link below:
http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/sign-petition.htm Glad to announce that I am expanding my relationship with the Wallis Agency, this time with the Commercials department. Thanks for the invitation Blake...and since joining at the start of the week I've booked a commercial! Not a bad ration that - 2 castings:1 booking
One of the foremost Theatre-in-Education companies in the U.K. faces an uncertain future in the wake of recent Arts Council of Wales funding proposals.
Spectacle Theatre Company has a proud and award-winning history as a provider of Theatre-in-Education. The company has a reputation for excellence, strong artistic vision and diversity. It does all the things ACW should be rewarding, is socially inclusive, reaches out into the community and works with and for young people in the valleys of south Wales. You can learn more about this company here. Support the fight to save Spectacle Theatre by signing the online petition below: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopartscouncilinwales/ Many thanks to actor, educator and founder of Young Artists Lab Michael Balsley for inviting me to direct YAL's summer Shakespeare workshop this year. It was a resounding success and a joy to work with such a fearless group of young performers. They displayed alacrity and confidence, took Mr. Shakespeare by the scruff of the neck and despite the time frame put it all before an audience on Friday afternoon.
I'm delighted to announce my association with the Young Artists Lab, an L.A based arts organisation committed to delivering the highest standards of arts education to high school students through their summer arts programs. The Shakespeare Workshops will run from July, 26 2010. You can find out more by visiting the Young Artists Lab website. Simply click on the icon below.
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