The aim of my workshops is to engage mind, body and spirit through active involvement in a creative group experience. To promote team work, confidence and empowerment with a sense of inclusion and creative freedom. Participants are encouraged to bring nothing but themselves and what they wish to share to the event and to feel that that is enough. Above all, it is about having fun and leaving trauma outside.
Each workshop, typically an hour and a half in length and with ideally around a dozen participants is divided into three main blocks. Following introductions, expectations and mutually agreed boundaries, The first block is designed to bring the group together with a series of games and exercises with a view to relaxing and focusing the group. Timing, concentration, coordination, communication and spatial awareness are the focus at this stage with each exercise intended to introduce creative choices and encourage playfulness.
The second block ‘informing the drama’, Involves inviting the group to introduce themes and observations of characters, places and scenarios from the main topic of the day. These topics may come from suggestions within the group, from the facillitator or by pre-agreement. ‘Informing the drama’, Usually involves a brain-storming session and a period of discussion and experiment. Narratives need not be linear or even realistic. Make believe, folklore, myth and absurdity are encouraged. Music and sound are also an important element. Instruments and improvised sounds, percussion and vocalisation are welcome.
The Third block is ‘creating the drama’. Splitting the actors into two groups, each take the suggestions and ideas and create, with as much or as little supervision as is required, a piece of theatre or spectacle involving movement, sound, vocalisation and whatever is to hand by way of props or scenery, which they then perform for the the other group.
The workshop normally concludes with a discussion, feedback and comments. Sometimes a warm down game or period of reflective relaxation.
My workshops are available, by booking, to theatre companies, treatment centres, drug and alcohol services, schools and colleges, mental health services and affiliated groups. Public workshops are open to any individuals at various locations throughout the year. Details can be found on The events page. Every effort will be made to ensure access for all abilities and to provide support if wanted.
aidan's studio 