An image of 2 artists who are both sitting within a large wheel. The wheel is decorated with a steam punk feeling- adorned with mini draws, fabric cloth, clocks, light bulbs, cogs and other small steam punk inspired props. The 2 artists are sitting facing each other, both are holding books that they are reading and both are dressed in stream punk/ light academia fashion. The wheel is carefully positioned on a pier on the shores of a pebble beach. The sky in the background looks expansive and the clouds are sweeping across the image creating a marvelous backdrop. The light of the sun through the clouds is captured within the wheel and between the 2 artists books they hold.

Director's Lab

DIRECTOR'S LAB

Hosted and produced by 101 in partnership with Acrojou and Improbable

December 2018, 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space

Over this two and a half day residency, 14 participants worked with Phelim McDermott of Improbable, with imput from Jackson Barnard of Acrojou, to explore the role of the Director in outdoor arts.

From conversations with artists working in the outdoor arts sector, we'd identified that there was a lack of training and artistic development opportunities for directors. Jackson Barnard of Acrojou and Nick Sweeting of Improbable worked with us on the framework for the lab, and working with Nick we brought in Phelim McDermott of Improbable as facilitator.

Through the last thirty five years Phelim has established an international reputation for creating extraordinary work across a range of scales and disciplines – from small devised theatre shows to large scale operas and the vast outdoor spectacle, Sticky.

Over this two and a half day residency 14 participants from a wide range of companies explored some of the processes that form the bedrock of Phelim’s work. Working collaboratively, they explored narrative and visual narrative - allowing freedom in the creative process while also being mindful of fixing things - and the potential role of key ways of working such as Open Space and Process Work.

Feedback from participants was hugely positive, the group forming strong relationships and a real desire to be involved in further labs exploring the role of director

“Working in that space is a joy – it’s conducive to communal creative sharing, lending itself so well to this kind of creative lab.”
Participant

Phelim McDermott

Find out more about Phelim McDermott of Improbable.

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Acrojou

Find out more about Acrojou and their work.