PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ARTISTS

The Strange Victory Performance Lab

with Tori Morrison and David Gagnon Walker

March 10, 11 and 12
11:00AM – 4:00PM Daily
Studio Theatre, Centre in the Square

This workshop will examine how and why to make unusual theatre. Through creation exercises and group discussion, Tori and David will share some of the methods, inspirations, and philosophies behind our creative partnership Strange Victory Performance.

Our focus will be on where ideas come from: how to tune in and harness the creative possibilities in the world around us. We’ll move through a creative process, from idea generation to writing, score-making, and multimedia (sound and video) design. We’ll talk about how to devise unique performance forms from everyday life, and tangibly explore some possible ways of making original work. Everyone will leave the workshop with a concept, early material, and rough design elements for a new performance. Along the way, we’ll discuss artists from across Canada and around the world who have been especially important influences on our work.

Participants may choose to work individually or in collaborative groups. Day one will be about idea generation and development. Day two, we will add design elements, and do some experimentation creating concepts with readymade materials and tech. Day three, there will be an opportunity to present and discuss the work we’ve generated, and talk about next steps like grant writing and the gathering of archival and support materials. We’ll finish each day with some open-ended Q&A time about making, producing, and touring strange shows like ours.

Please bring your smartphone, headphones (ideally with a built-in microphone), and the right clothing/footwear for taking a walk outside, weather-permitting. You might also want to bring any tools that are a regular part of your own creative practice, and that you can imagine wanting access to while making new work (e.g. musical instruments, movement clothes, etc). (…application to participate and more)