ISSUE 3 March 2009
Welcome to the latest issue of the DF Acting News Page!
Feel free to pass the news link on to anyone you think might be interested, and if you have received this from a friend and wish to have further news sent directly, please email d.f.acting@gmail.com to join the mailing list. You can also email to make any comments or suggestions - all gratefully received!
Every effort is made to make sure information is correct. If you should note an error, please do email and amendments will be speedily made.
You can also access the DF Acting News Page by joining the Facebook page of Discover Fine Acting. Go on, Facebookers, become a fan!
Every effort is made to make sure information is correct. If you should note an error, please do email and amendments will be speedily made.
You can also access the DF Acting News Page by joining the Facebook page of Discover Fine Acting. Go on, Facebookers, become a fan!
If you do not wish to continue receiving the DF Acting News Page, please email d.f.acting@gmail.com and ask to be removed from the page's mailing list.
Discover Fine Acting News
Well, I'm very much looking forward to delivering my first Shakespeare weekend workshop for Raw Talent Productions (18th and 19th April). Their site has an online booking system, or you can contact them via info@rawtalentproductions.co.uk or 0131 220 8304.
Be sure to check out ILA funding which can completely cover some Raw Talent class costs - get that done now and you then have the funds when you need them: do not delay!
I'm also excited about being an Associate Artist with Tightlaced Theatre. For information about this new company, designed to assist actors, writers and directors, visit www.tightlacedtheatre.org where you will see on offer a different Shakespeare workshop led by me (I'm versatile that way!).
Please note the introduction to Discover Fine Acting of a Calendar which helps to reduce the length of this News Page and can be very handy for you to copy events into your own diary.
As always, read on for further news and events, and remember, whatever you are up to - ENJOY!
Danielle Farrow
Diary Dates
Check out the Discover Fine Acting Calendar! If you have a Google calendar yourself, you can copy events directly into your diary.
Event information is found below.
Information
QUICK LINKS: SKILLS PERFORMANCES AUDITIONS OTHER
SKILLS
Free Dance Class - a great offer from Dance Base (which ends on 28th March)
Professional Actor Studios
If you are a professional actor and interested in meeting up with other professional actors to practice and share your skills - for free - then check out DF Acting Information on the following and contact:
Edinburgh - ACTORS KITCHEN (Facebook); email d.f.acting@gmail.com
Glasgow - THE ACTORS BOTHY; email admin@theactorsbothy.com
Community Choir
This is run by Chandra Mather and a great way to become comfortable with your singing voice if you are not yet secure with it (and if you are, it's a great way to get in some enjoyable practice). The Choir's venue is changing, so please contact Chandra for details. You can also read more at DF Acting Information.
Devising A Performance, Telling The Story - Morna Burdon at Raw Talent Productions
This workshop explores devising and story-telling with the actor as the starting point.
Why are you here? What do you want? And, here, the tales begin…
Recount a tale through performance
Work with what inspires you
Tell tales together and dig deeper into the story.
Sat. 14th March, 11am to 5pm. Worth checking if there are any places left for this, part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme - further information on the workshop there.
Shakespeare Workshop: Taste Those Words! - Danielle Farrow at Raw Talent Productions
Shakespeare's stories and characters are rightly popular to this day. It is his language, though, that both attracts in its rich beauty and repels when seen as complex and hard to grasp.
This workshop looks at meaning, verse and practical expression, and builds up techniques for tackling Shakespearean language. Come, 'feast your ears' and tongues!
Sat. 18th & Sun. 19th April, 11am to 5pm. This is one of the workshops I am leading as part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme. There are further dates available for this workshop, as well as my Learning Lines one.
Postgrad Course: The Form of Duologue in Shakespeare - Charioteer Theatre
This course for experienced actors and postgrads is designed to help the actor to get acquainted with the structure of the Shakespearian language and speech, engage with the set of circumstances presented by a specific scene and create the energy to support the performance in a duologue.
Sat. 18th to Fri. 24th April, 2pm to 7pm. Details available at DF Acting Information.
Play Day Workshop - Royal Lyceum Theatre
A drama workshop using costumes and props from the Lyceum store to create character and a Play in a Day. Using improvisation and devising techniques. Age 16 years +
Sat. 25th April, 10.30am to 4pm Cost: £10 / £5 from Lyceum Box Office Tel: 0131 248 4848
For more information about this season's workshops or performances, including booking, call 0131 248 4848 or visit www.lyceum.org.uk.
Authenticity & the Actor: What Makes Me Unique? - Morna Burdon at Raw Talent Productions
This workshop is aimed at actors and performers who are keen to explore, re-visit, liberate their potential as creative artists.
The work is emotional, dynamic, funny, serious, challenging, changing and is based on the work of Master Fool, Jonothan Kay, where the work centres on the techniques of fooling, confronting the dictator within, and authentic expression through creative impulse.
Sat. 25th and Sun. 26th April, 11am to 5pm; part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme - further information on the workshop there.
Meisner Workshop - Scott Williams
The Actors Bothy is delighted to announce a 5 day Meisner workshop with Impulse Theatre Company’s Artistic Director
Scott Williams:
SCOTT WILLIAMS - THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE
10th to 14th May
10:30-17:30
The famous Meisner Technique as it is taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, whose alumni include Robert Duval, Sidney Pollack and David Mamet. This off-shoot of Stanislavsky’s method, created by Sanford Meisner, uses three basic exercises to get at the core definition of acting: ‘acting is living truthfully under a given set of circumstances’.
• Scott studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighbourhood Playhouse. He is founder of the Impulse Company, which works with actors, writers and directors to create vibrant and dynamic theatre.
PARTICIPANTS: £250
OBSERVERS: £50
ADVANCED *
For an application form, e-mail admin@theactorsbothy.com
www.theactorsbothy.com
* Applications will be selected by CV. We will email people to let them know they have received a place on the course. When your place has been confirmed we ask that you pay the fee within three days, otherwise we will release your place to the next person on the list.
PERFORMANCES
St Columba's DS - Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
Amateur group SCDS presents this classic comedy. When novelist Charles Condomine invites Madame Arcati to dinner, hoping to get material for his next book which will feature a fake medium, he gets a lot more than that as an unexpected guest turns up. Takes place at Blackhall St Columba's Church, Wedn. 25th to Fri. 27th March. Tickets £5 for adults and £3 for children. For information and tickets contact Scott Kerr via scott.kerr@semplefraser.co.uk.
Tightlaced Theatre - Double Bill of Rehearsed Readings
Tightlaced Theatre presents Aunt Mona Gamby and the Tragic Mistake by Joel Houck & Charlie and My '45 by Robert Howat in the first of regular public readings of a new playwright's work. The audience has the option of staying for a feedback session after the reading itself. Roxy Arts Centre, Wedn. 1st of April. Further details can be found at www.tightlacedtheatre.org.
Big Village - Harvey by Mary Chase
Classic Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy that has endeared generations of audiences all over the world! A unique tale of friendship between the amiable gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and a 6'1" tall white rabbit that only he can see . . .
Come and get in the mood for Easter with a very special bunny! This amateur production takes place at The Bedlam Theatre, Thurs. 2nd to Sat. 4th of April, incl. Sat. Matinee. Tickets: £8.00 / £6.00 (concs); book by phone from The Hub on 0131 473 2000 or online at www.hubtickets.co.uk.
King's Theatre - Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Sean Mathias
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart star - worth checking to see if there are tickets left!
Mon. 13th to Sat. 18th April 2009 - 7.30pm / Wed. & Sat. 2.30pm
King's Theatre, Edinburgh - 0131 529 6000 www.kingstheatre.org.uk
Arkle Theatre Company - Iron by Rona Munro
This Edinburgh amateur company presents a strong drama set in a women's prison, telling the story of a difficult mother-daughter relationship.
Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th April in Edinburgh, and Thursday 30th April to Saturday 2nd May in Melrose. Contact Michael Mulligan via grumpy@mulliganm.fsnet.co.uk for further details / visit www.arkle_theatre.com.
AUDITIONS
The Grads - Antigone
This is planned for the Fringe - click here for info re. auditions on 22nd March. More information about this amateur company can be found at www.egtg.co.uk.
Arkle Theatre Company - The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare & Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Also planned for Fringe; Edinburgh amateur company, for whom professional actors sometimes audition - visit www.arkle_theatre.com for information.
Looking for more? Do you know these: Casting Call Pro; Mandy; Equity Job Information; Spotlight Breakdowns?
OTHER
ActorExpo - 27th of June 2009
Scotland's FIRST and ONLY dedicated trade show and exhibition for ACTORS and PERFORMERS. There will be an abundance of career advice for those who want to endure in the business. Further information can be found via the Raw Talent website, as Raw Talent Productions are the Scottish Partner.
Equity
The East of Scotland Equity Branch holds regular meetings and social evenings, and if you would like to know more, please contact edinburgh@equity.org.uk.
Protecting Actors - a new initiative designed to help safeguard the interests of UK actors
Protecting Actors was formed as a way to combat the increasing number of production companies who systematically convince actors to work for them under false pretexts, promising fees, expenses or footage they later fail to deliver.
Protecting Actors has been setup to address just one of these issues: the fact that many production companies promise participants a DVD copy of the film, but fail to deliver this in a timely fashion, if at all.
Protecting Actors urges all productions to signup to the Protecting Actors Casting Agreement and so agree to provide all actors involved in the production with a copy of the final film within 6 months of completing filming.
Once signed up they can display the shield on their website / castings and actors can rest assured that, should they fail to delivery on these promises, the company can be publicly blacklisted and legal action may be taken on the actors' behalf.
The success of the site is really up to you - by helping to spread the word and convince production companies to signup to the Casting Agreement, actors can safeguard both their interests and the interests of their peers.
To learn more about Protecting Actors please visit www.protectingactors.org.
Thoughts of Interest
Here is an interesting page for acting quotes and tips, and a thought from Jack Lemon about how open one has to be as an actor:
"If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. [You must] reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience."
[From these acting quotes: http://www.jbactors.com/actingphilosophy/actingquotations.html]
So, regarding vulnerability, or taking risks - ever wanted to firewalk? If you fancy this, check out the Edinburgh Zoo Firewalking Challenge (24th April).
Rather stretch yourself without being quite so physical? You could support a Morris Dance film!
Or maybe you'd prefer this classic: Edgar Alan Poe's The Raven by Omnia. While you're there, you may wish to find Omnia's Twa Corbies and their Wytches' Brew, lyrics by one William Shakespeare! Omnia also offer free downloadable music at their website, including live tracks.
And that's it for this month! As ever, if you want something included in the next newsletter, email d.f.acting@gmail.com making this request - and feel free to pass the News Page on to anyone who might be interested.
Until next time, then, and remember - the most important advice of all:
ENJOY!
Well, I'm very much looking forward to delivering my first Shakespeare weekend workshop for Raw Talent Productions (18th and 19th April). Their site has an online booking system, or you can contact them via info@rawtalentproductions.co.uk or 0131 220 8304.
Be sure to check out ILA funding which can completely cover some Raw Talent class costs - get that done now and you then have the funds when you need them: do not delay!
I'm also excited about being an Associate Artist with Tightlaced Theatre. For information about this new company, designed to assist actors, writers and directors, visit www.tightlacedtheatre.org where you will see on offer a different Shakespeare workshop led by me (I'm versatile that way!).
Please note the introduction to Discover Fine Acting of a Calendar which helps to reduce the length of this News Page and can be very handy for you to copy events into your own diary.
As always, read on for further news and events, and remember, whatever you are up to - ENJOY!
Danielle Farrow
Diary Dates
Check out the Discover Fine Acting Calendar! If you have a Google calendar yourself, you can copy events directly into your diary.
Event information is found below.
Information
QUICK LINKS: SKILLS PERFORMANCES AUDITIONS OTHER
SKILLS
Free Dance Class - a great offer from Dance Base (which ends on 28th March)
Professional Actor Studios
If you are a professional actor and interested in meeting up with other professional actors to practice and share your skills - for free - then check out DF Acting Information on the following and contact:
Edinburgh - ACTORS KITCHEN (Facebook); email d.f.acting@gmail.com
Glasgow - THE ACTORS BOTHY; email admin@theactorsbothy.com
Community Choir
This is run by Chandra Mather and a great way to become comfortable with your singing voice if you are not yet secure with it (and if you are, it's a great way to get in some enjoyable practice). The Choir's venue is changing, so please contact Chandra for details. You can also read more at DF Acting Information.
Devising A Performance, Telling The Story - Morna Burdon at Raw Talent Productions
This workshop explores devising and story-telling with the actor as the starting point.
Why are you here? What do you want? And, here, the tales begin…
Recount a tale through performance
Work with what inspires you
Tell tales together and dig deeper into the story.
Sat. 14th March, 11am to 5pm. Worth checking if there are any places left for this, part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme - further information on the workshop there.
Shakespeare Workshop: Taste Those Words! - Danielle Farrow at Raw Talent Productions
Shakespeare's stories and characters are rightly popular to this day. It is his language, though, that both attracts in its rich beauty and repels when seen as complex and hard to grasp.
This workshop looks at meaning, verse and practical expression, and builds up techniques for tackling Shakespearean language. Come, 'feast your ears' and tongues!
Sat. 18th & Sun. 19th April, 11am to 5pm. This is one of the workshops I am leading as part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme. There are further dates available for this workshop, as well as my Learning Lines one.
Postgrad Course: The Form of Duologue in Shakespeare - Charioteer Theatre
This course for experienced actors and postgrads is designed to help the actor to get acquainted with the structure of the Shakespearian language and speech, engage with the set of circumstances presented by a specific scene and create the energy to support the performance in a duologue.
Sat. 18th to Fri. 24th April, 2pm to 7pm. Details available at DF Acting Information.
Play Day Workshop - Royal Lyceum Theatre
A drama workshop using costumes and props from the Lyceum store to create character and a Play in a Day. Using improvisation and devising techniques. Age 16 years +
Sat. 25th April, 10.30am to 4pm Cost: £10 / £5 from Lyceum Box Office Tel: 0131 248 4848
For more information about this season's workshops or performances, including booking, call 0131 248 4848 or visit www.lyceum.org.uk.
Authenticity & the Actor: What Makes Me Unique? - Morna Burdon at Raw Talent Productions
This workshop is aimed at actors and performers who are keen to explore, re-visit, liberate their potential as creative artists.
The work is emotional, dynamic, funny, serious, challenging, changing and is based on the work of Master Fool, Jonothan Kay, where the work centres on the techniques of fooling, confronting the dictator within, and authentic expression through creative impulse.
Sat. 25th and Sun. 26th April, 11am to 5pm; part of Raw Talent Productions' 2009 Programme - further information on the workshop there.
Meisner Workshop - Scott Williams
The Actors Bothy is delighted to announce a 5 day Meisner workshop with Impulse Theatre Company’s Artistic Director
Scott Williams:
SCOTT WILLIAMS - THE MEISNER TECHNIQUE
10th to 14th May
10:30-17:30
The famous Meisner Technique as it is taught at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, whose alumni include Robert Duval, Sidney Pollack and David Mamet. This off-shoot of Stanislavsky’s method, created by Sanford Meisner, uses three basic exercises to get at the core definition of acting: ‘acting is living truthfully under a given set of circumstances’.
• Scott studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighbourhood Playhouse. He is founder of the Impulse Company, which works with actors, writers and directors to create vibrant and dynamic theatre.
PARTICIPANTS: £250
OBSERVERS: £50
ADVANCED *
For an application form, e-mail admin@theactorsbothy.com
www.theactorsbothy.com
* Applications will be selected by CV. We will email people to let them know they have received a place on the course. When your place has been confirmed we ask that you pay the fee within three days, otherwise we will release your place to the next person on the list.
PERFORMANCES
St Columba's DS - Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
Amateur group SCDS presents this classic comedy. When novelist Charles Condomine invites Madame Arcati to dinner, hoping to get material for his next book which will feature a fake medium, he gets a lot more than that as an unexpected guest turns up. Takes place at Blackhall St Columba's Church, Wedn. 25th to Fri. 27th March. Tickets £5 for adults and £3 for children. For information and tickets contact Scott Kerr via scott.kerr@semplefraser.co.uk.
Tightlaced Theatre - Double Bill of Rehearsed Readings
Tightlaced Theatre presents Aunt Mona Gamby and the Tragic Mistake by Joel Houck & Charlie and My '45 by Robert Howat in the first of regular public readings of a new playwright's work. The audience has the option of staying for a feedback session after the reading itself. Roxy Arts Centre, Wedn. 1st of April. Further details can be found at www.tightlacedtheatre.org.
Big Village - Harvey by Mary Chase
Classic Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy that has endeared generations of audiences all over the world! A unique tale of friendship between the amiable gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, and a 6'1" tall white rabbit that only he can see . . .
Come and get in the mood for Easter with a very special bunny! This amateur production takes place at The Bedlam Theatre, Thurs. 2nd to Sat. 4th of April, incl. Sat. Matinee. Tickets: £8.00 / £6.00 (concs); book by phone from The Hub on 0131 473 2000 or online at www.hubtickets.co.uk.
King's Theatre - Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, directed by Sean Mathias
Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart star - worth checking to see if there are tickets left!
Mon. 13th to Sat. 18th April 2009 - 7.30pm / Wed. & Sat. 2.30pm
King's Theatre, Edinburgh - 0131 529 6000 www.kingstheatre.org.uk
Arkle Theatre Company - Iron by Rona Munro
This Edinburgh amateur company presents a strong drama set in a women's prison, telling the story of a difficult mother-daughter relationship.
Wednesday 22nd to Saturday 25th April in Edinburgh, and Thursday 30th April to Saturday 2nd May in Melrose. Contact Michael Mulligan via grumpy@mulliganm.fsnet.co.uk for further details / visit www.arkle_theatre.com.
AUDITIONS
The Grads - Antigone
This is planned for the Fringe - click here for info re. auditions on 22nd March. More information about this amateur company can be found at www.egtg.co.uk.
Arkle Theatre Company - The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare & Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Also planned for Fringe; Edinburgh amateur company, for whom professional actors sometimes audition - visit www.arkle_theatre.com for information.
Looking for more? Do you know these: Casting Call Pro; Mandy; Equity Job Information; Spotlight Breakdowns?
OTHER
ActorExpo - 27th of June 2009
Scotland's FIRST and ONLY dedicated trade show and exhibition for ACTORS and PERFORMERS. There will be an abundance of career advice for those who want to endure in the business. Further information can be found via the Raw Talent website, as Raw Talent Productions are the Scottish Partner.
Equity
The East of Scotland Equity Branch holds regular meetings and social evenings, and if you would like to know more, please contact edinburgh@equity.org.uk.
Protecting Actors - a new initiative designed to help safeguard the interests of UK actors
Protecting Actors was formed as a way to combat the increasing number of production companies who systematically convince actors to work for them under false pretexts, promising fees, expenses or footage they later fail to deliver.
Protecting Actors has been setup to address just one of these issues: the fact that many production companies promise participants a DVD copy of the film, but fail to deliver this in a timely fashion, if at all.
Protecting Actors urges all productions to signup to the Protecting Actors Casting Agreement and so agree to provide all actors involved in the production with a copy of the final film within 6 months of completing filming.
Once signed up they can display the shield on their website / castings and actors can rest assured that, should they fail to delivery on these promises, the company can be publicly blacklisted and legal action may be taken on the actors' behalf.
The success of the site is really up to you - by helping to spread the word and convince production companies to signup to the Casting Agreement, actors can safeguard both their interests and the interests of their peers.
To learn more about Protecting Actors please visit www.protectingactors.org.
Thoughts of Interest
Here is an interesting page for acting quotes and tips, and a thought from Jack Lemon about how open one has to be as an actor:
"If you really do want to be an actor who can satisfy himself and his audience, you need to be vulnerable. [You must] reach the emotional and intellectual level of ability where you can go out stark naked, emotionally, in front of an audience."
[From these acting quotes: http://www.jbactors.com/actingphilosophy/actingquotations.html]
So, regarding vulnerability, or taking risks - ever wanted to firewalk? If you fancy this, check out the Edinburgh Zoo Firewalking Challenge (24th April).
Rather stretch yourself without being quite so physical? You could support a Morris Dance film!
Or maybe you'd prefer this classic: Edgar Alan Poe's The Raven by Omnia. While you're there, you may wish to find Omnia's Twa Corbies and their Wytches' Brew, lyrics by one William Shakespeare! Omnia also offer free downloadable music at their website, including live tracks.
And that's it for this month! As ever, if you want something included in the next newsletter, email d.f.acting@gmail.com making this request - and feel free to pass the News Page on to anyone who might be interested.
Until next time, then, and remember - the most important advice of all:
ENJOY!