Title
Digital devising: collaboratively creating and presenting original theatre online

Workshop description
A practical experience of digital devising. In this workshop we will examine different strategies and tools for collaboratively creating and presenting original theatre online.

Learning outcomes
• To examine ways of creating a collaborative culture online.
• To practically explore a starting point and generate material digitally.
• To examine the presentation of theatre online.
• To examine how to gather audience feedback remotely.

How this workshop will benefit teachers in their curriculum delivery?
It is possible, in this time of uncertainty, that we will find ourselves in situations where theatre has to be made and performed online. Students may be required to collaboratively create and present original theatre online as part of their assessment. This workshop offers tools, strategies and tips to help teachers prepare their students for online devising in an authentic way which is enjoyable, creative and collaborative.

Target audience
DP Theatre teachers

I’m a playwright, director and education consultant working in the United Kingdom and internationally. I was writer-in-residence at Mayflower Theatre, Southampton and am currently working with them on a new musical and with Birmingham Royal Ballet on a youth empowerment programme. I’m the creative learning director of UCAN, working with blind young people and artistic director of the Celebrating Our Stories Verbatim Theatre Festival for December 2020.

My passion is for Verbatim Theatre, working with communities to discover empowering ways of theatrically presenting untold stories. My work with students and teachers focuses on reflection, the role it plays in learning, in making art, in social activism and in building compassion. As an artist I am inquiring into what it means to make art with kindness.

I have an interest in curriculum and was manager of the curriculum review of IB MYP Arts. As a consultant I am involved in the development of the IB Diploma Theatre course as well as Diploma Literature and Performance and Diploma Music. My work involves the design of Diploma Theatre teacher workshops, online courses and teacher support materials (TSM) and the overseeing of whole school change programmes.

I am currently working on a number of projects which, as a result of Covid-19 have now gone digital. As artistic director of the Hear Us Out festival, with New Writing South, I am writing and directing a new verbatim theatre piece with older people; I’m working on an online piece with six young people for Birmingham Royal Ballet and with UCAN Productions I’m working with 6 performers to create a series of online solo pieces and accompanying workshops, Storystarters, for primary schools.

Event coordinator
Keriann O’Rourke

The workshop will take place using the platform Zoom.
Places are limited to 20 participants per workshop.
You will receive a link to the zoom call the day before the workshop.

The cost of the session is GBP £30 per person.

Any materials shared with you prior to the workshop, such as the workbook. Plus anything requested by the workshop leader which will be shared with you a few days prior to the workshop.

Space requirements
If possible, please try to have a small amount of space near to you for any practical work.