Do you love theatre?
Do you find it frustrating?
Do you feel audiences don't get a voice?
Do you consider that theatre in Wales has an identity of its own?
Do you feel that there is far too much talking and not enough doing?
Is the time ripe for us in Wales to host a discussion about the future of theatre in our country?
In 2012 for the first time ever, you have the opportunity to take part in a unique UK-wide conversation...
A partnership between IMPROBABLE and NATIONAL THEATRE WALES with PONTIO and SHERMAN CYMRU
The Devoted & Disgruntled Roadshow is part of the 2012 Festival, the finale of the Cultural Olympiad, with19 events across the UK between June and October.
The event is free to attend, but registration is essential.
An invitation from Elen ap Robert, Artistic Director, Pontio
Pontio extends a warm welcome to everyone who feels, as I do, that theatre is important to us and our communities.
With the development of a brand new arts and innovation centre in Bangor, what better time to focus our discussions on the future of theatre in Wales?
Pontio is in a crucial period - presenting work and developing participatory activity in the lead up to the opening of the centre in 2014. Presenting and co-presenting theatre in Welsh, English – and of course theatre without any language at all, is and will be an integral part of Pontio’s artistic vision.
I consider this discussion platform a fantastic opportunity for people in north Wales to come together and share views, hopes and ideas. This may just lead to something very special. So come and tell us what you think and how you feel - Pontio looks forward to seeing you and hearing your thoughts!
An Invitation from John McGrath and Lucy Davies, National Theatre Wales
Theatre would get nowhere without the passion and questioning that D&D embodies in its name – and Welsh theatre has a proud range of opinions and beliefs about the what, how and where next of our artform, our profession, our obsession. D&D offers us an opportunity to put all of our hopes and gripes to work in a productive, collaborative forum – to imagine the future, and then make it happen.
D&D is a great opportunity for the experienced artist to sit alongside the newest talent, the experimentalist to mingle with the classicist, the individual to rub up with the organisation, audience with maker, and all of us to discover new possibilities. We look forward to seeing as many Welsh theatre lovers as possible at these two Welsh D&D events held in partnership with two fantastic friends: Pontio and Sherman Cymru.
What is Devoted & Disgruntled?
In 2006 I wrote a heartfelt invitation and the first ”Devoted & Disgruntled: What are we going to do about theatre?” took place. This was an open and collaborative conference, a chance to check in with the theatre community, share the news about what we were doing well, talk about what we could be doing better and take action on how to improve things.
The Devoted and Disgruntled Roadshow has come about in response to numerous requests for conversations to engage with all parts of the UK. So as part of the Cultural Olympiad we are going on the road, holding D&Ds in twenty different locations, and we are going online, launching a new interactive D&D website, which will record and connect all the D&D events.
In theatre, as in so many things, it can feel like the agenda is set, and the decisions are made by a faceless, unreachable "them". We wait for "them" to talk about what we think needs talking about and for "them" to solve our problems. Guess what? "They" aren't going to do it. But you can, and D&D is the place to start. This is a unique chance for your voice to be heard and for us to listen to each other, face to face and online, locally and nationally. Join us and let’s work together towards making theatre better and making better theatre.
Phelim McDermott, Artistic Director, Improbable
Saturday July 7th
10am-7pm
Rathbone Hall, Bangor University
FREE
(registration essential)
Another Devoted & Disgruntled Roadshow will take place at Sherman Cymru in September 2012 |
