by Amy Clare Tasker

A big thank you to the dozen or so artists who attended our Devised Theatre Open Studio this week! And another big thank you to Theatre Delicatessen for hosting us in their Broadgate studios!

This is the second Open Studio we’ve run, giving theatre makers a taste of what the London Devised Theatre Intensive is like. Open Space can seem so mysterious when we try to describe it, but once people get a feel for it, it’s much easier to understand what it is and why it’s so revolutionary for devised theatre. (I’ve also written an article about Open Space for HowlRound, which goes into a lot more detail.)

Over two days, we worked on anything and everything that the group was passionate about. People called sessions about how to get a new project started, asked questions about setting up theatre companies, invited others to ‘get out of our chairs’ and play with some physical theatre techniques… you can see some of the photos in an album on our Facebook page. 

As well as getting to know more devisers, the Open Studio is also really useful for us to keep the space open for more than just two weeks a year. It gives me a chance as a facilitator to reconnect with all the things I love about running workshops in this way – and challenges me to keep adjusting to what’s happening in the moment. No two days in Open Space are alike, so it’s great practice to hold the space for new collaborators finding a new group dynamic. Our co-producer Laura Lundy also used the Open Studio to test out a new group coaching session: ‘Finding Your Niche as an Artist,’ which she’s continuing to develop into a half-day workshop for the Intensive in October.

This Open Studio also marked the beginning of a new collaboration with Julian Laverty of Whiz Kid Social Media. Julian was a participant in our 2017 London Devised Theatre Intensive, and this year he’ll be joining us to document the Intensive and help us share insights into what’s happening in the room. If you pop over to our Twitter and Instagram, you can see his handiwork. Plus, we hosted a Q&A on Facebook Live at the end of the Open Studio, answering questions about what the two-week programme is like.  

“The thing that I will take home and come back to are the guidelines and the one law of Open Space work… The law of passion and mobility, all of those ideas, that you can give yourself freedom to create, that it doesn’t have to happen at a certain time or in a certain way… you have the freedom to really explore what it is that you have to offer? That will stay with me as a creator forever.”

–Heather Lundy Kahl, 2017 participant

Applications are open now for the 2018 London Devised Theatre Intensive. Apply by 27 July for an Early Bird, Ambassador, or Fellowship place.

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IMAGE: Laura Lundy leads a discussion at the Open Studio. Photo by Amy Clare Tasker