by Amy Clare Tasker

The London Devised Theatre Intensive is over… for now. We’ve had an incredible time with theatre makers Anne Rene Brashier, Joel Gatehouse, Kate Goodfellow, Heather Lundy Kahl, Jennifer Kay, Steven Laverty, Peyvand Sadeghian, and Katie Stephen, the core ensemble who participated in the full two-week Intensive. These 8 fearless artists threw themselves wholeheartedly into a demanding programme and have emerged at the end of it with new skills, confidence, and focus for taking the next steps in their work. I can’t wait to see what they do now!

“LDTI2017 has changed the way I see myself as a performer. I feel more motivated & armed with tools to create work than I have ever done . The friends I have made here are life-long and we will continue to support each other far beyond the fortnight that we’ve been together.”

Jennifer Kay

“The principles of Open Space and the environment it creates make for a wonderful and unusual experience for artists from all disciplines. An invigorating and validating experience that on both a personal and a professional level has left me better off.”

Steven MJ Laverty

These two weeks have been an intense experience for me, too, as a facilitator. I’ve been able to hone my skills in creating time and holding space for artistic discoveries to happen. The Intensive has reaffirmed my faith in Open Space as a method for making theatre, especially the tenet ‘Be Prepared to Be Surprised!’ It has been a privilege to witness the depth of work done in the studio, and to see how effective the programme has been at supporting theatre makers. I too have gained skills, confidence, and focus – and I can’t wait to channel my discoveries in to the London Devised Theatre Intensive 2018!

I am delighted to announce that we are already planning to run the Intensive again in London next year. Mark your calendars for 7-19 October 2018! Applications will open in May 2018, with more information about guest artists and masterclasses being released at that time, too.

We’re also dreaming up more long-term possibilities for the future: weekend or week-long devising workshops, bringing the programme to artists outside of London – and even outside of the UK. Join our email list or follow us on social media to keep up with more news as it breaks.

For now, it only remains for me to thank the core ensemble, the theatre makers who joined us for masterclasses, guest artists Bryony Kimmings, Eric Mallett, Nir Paldi, Lee Simpson, and Tom Mansfield. And of course, my coproducers Laura Lundy and Susie Italiano, without whom none of this would be possible. It’s been wonderful, and I can’t wait to do it all again!

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IMAGE: the 2017 LDTI core ensemble & facilitators. Photo by Susie Italiano.