The Queer Theatremakers’ Handbook

Description

The Queer Theatremakers’ Handbook

Join Tabby and a whole host of inspiring queer creatives over Zoom to develop a brand new piece of queer theatre, entirely of your own creation! In a group of exclusively queer folx, you’ll learn about the entire process of creating a show. From writing and devising, to pitching, all the way through to self care techniques when doing a long run! We’ll even cover some of the industry secrets like what day jobs work best for freelance theatremakers? And how do you get free tickets when the shows are running again?!

When: 5th May - 23rd June (8 week course)

Time: 18:00 - 20:00

Where: Zoom

More information:

Homework to be set in advance of the first session.

Each week there will be homework to write 3-4 new pages.

5 May: Introduction & outline of the course. Homework deadlines and a broad overview of current queer theatre. From Philip Ridley to Travis Alabanza and beyond. Who is making what work, and who should the participants research for their own show/process. 101 on writing tips and r&d processes.

12 May: Guest artist 1. How to put together a representative creative team & cast.

19 May: Pitch your idea to the group & learn pitching techniques for both a new commission and an existing show you want to tour or take to fringe etc.

26 May: Guest artist 2. Audiences, whether to make work for dominant culture / counterculture / subculture audiences + why we might do each.

2 June: Half way point - check in on writing, discuss scene structure & form, encourage collaboration.

9 June: Guest artist 3. Engagement. How to engage meaningfully with a community - and how to turn engagement into a sustainable day job too!

16 June: Final check in before sharing work the next week, talk about guests coming to watch & ways we can chase up pitches. Set up a network for participants to stay in contact beyond the course.

25 June: Showcase - potentially in person (but if you aren’t London based you can join online!) with invited industry people. Half the session showcasing 5 minutes of work each, and half speed dating with industry folx for feedback & advice.

About Tabby:

Tabby Lamb is a non-binary writer and performer based in East London and a graduate of the Theatre Directing course at Dartington College of Arts. Similarly inspired by Carly Rae Jepson and Tennessee Williams, she strives to tell stories that explore the intersections between popular culture and politics. Their debut solo show SINCE U BEEN GONE, which Tabby wrote and performed, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019, after previewing at the Gate Theatre. The show was spectacularly received by audiences and garnered a glowing 4* write up from the Guardian who called the play “bold, honest and swollen with love”.

Tabby is an associate writer with Middle Child, she’s on attachment at the Oxford Playhouse via their Playhouse Playmaker scheme 2021 and she’s developing new work on Wild Child’s Oli Lansley mentor scheme, mentored by Sarah Solemani. She has previously been part of the Soho Theatre Writers Lab and the LGBTQ Arts Review #RaisingOurVoices scheme for queer and trans writers. Current commissions include the Unicorn Theatre, The Place, Kilter and Pentabus. Alongside their passion for writing, Tabby is a facilitator and runs creative arts projects for young people from the LGBTQ+ community, including founding @TheatreQueers. She is developing various stage and TV projects including a new trans musical.

 

Bursaries

At Wildcard we believe everyone should have the chance to be creative. We want all our courses to be as open and inclusive as possible to anyone that wants to take part. We are aware that the cost of workshops and regular training is a key barrier in our industry for many people.

With this in mind, we are pleased to be able to offer 2 free places on this course for people who identify as QTIPOC.

If you are interested, please email [email protected] with the workshop title as the subject and tell us a bit about you and why you feel that this would help you.

Bursary places will be offered out no later than 2 weeks before the course begins.

For further enquiries please email [email protected]