DAY 1. Tuesday 18 September 2018. Introductions
DAY 2: Wednesday 19 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 1
DAY 3: Thursday 20 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 2
DAY 4: Friday 21 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 3
DAY 5: Saturday 22 September 2018. Emerging Insights
All daytime events will be in Avon #1 (except for 2 hours on Sept. 20 in Avon #2)
DIRECTIONS: Please go to the Avon Theatre Stage Door at 45 Brunswick Street (between Waterloo and Downie streets). The door code is 4545#. Please ONLY use the elevator to get to the rehearsal hall — do not use the stairs. The elevator is just ahead and to the left when you enter the Stage Door. Press 3 in the elevator (top floor). When you exit the elevator, the rehearsal hall is immediately to your left. We will also provide directional signs.
DAY 1. Tuesday 18 September 2018. Introductions
10-11.30: Introductions: scholars, dramaturge, transconsultant
11:30-12: Lunch
12-1: Work with actors begins. Introduction to initial research questions, methodologies, and primary historical materials.
1-1.30: Movement workshop 1 – introducing the project’s movement language (objective: introduction to Laban efforts, Lecoq’s levels of tension)
1:30-2:30: Movement workshop 2 — the basics of carrying and wielding a sword
2:30-2:55: Break
2.55-4:30: Simultaneous rehearsals of scenes in small groups. Objectives – table work. Scholars help to clarify meanings in text and provide larger context for the scene. Actors ask questions to clarify their characters’ situations and intentions.
4:30-4:45: Actors and scholars separately debrief
4:45-5: Collective debrief re. the first day, with suggestions for day 2
5:45: Dinner @ Foster’s Inn, 111 Downie St.
8: Optional performance — Robert LePage’s Coriolanus, Avon Theatre
DAY 2: Wednesday 19 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 1
10-11.30: Seminar 1: scholars discuss pre-circulated research papers
11:30-12: Lunch
12-1: Actors join. Movement workshop 3 – using VLOGs based on primary sources as springboard to explore the performance of gender using the project’s movement language
1-2: Simultaneous rehearsal of scenes
2-2:25: Break
2:25-4.10: Simultaneous rehearsal of scenes. Identify target sections for focus on movement, apply movement principles, exploring the creative possibilities of primary resources and their possible historical and contemporary implications. Scholars help to clarify texts and contexts. Actors free to play with staging but now encouraged to introduce work from the movement workshops and ideas sparked by VLOGs.
4:10-4:30: Actors and scholars separately debrief
4:30-5: Collective debrief re. the second day, sharing insights, scenework, with suggestions for day 3
5:30: Dinner @ Mercer Hall Kitchen, 101-104 Ontario Street
8: Optional performance: Julius Caesar with Seanna McKenna in title role, the Festival Theatre
DAY 3: Thursday 20 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 2
10-11.30: Seminar 2: scholars discuss pre-circulated research papers
11:30-12: Lunch
12-1.35: Movement workshop 4 using VLOGs based on primary sources as springboard to explore the performance of gender using the project’s movement language
1.35-2: Break
2-4: More intensive simultaneous rehearsal of targeted sections from scenes applying principles, exploring the creative possibilities of primary resources and their possible historical and contemporary implications. Starting to refine performance choices for each scene but also looking for alternative ways to play the same scenes.
4:00: Move to Avon #2
4-4:30: Actors and scholars separately debrief
4:30-5: Collective debrief re. the third day, sharing insights, scenework, with suggestions for day 5
5-6: Move to Avon #1 for interviews
7:30: Dinner @ Pazzo Pizzeria, 70 Ontario Street (downstairs)
DAY 4: Friday 21 September 2018. Performing the Evidence 3
10-11:30: Company class in Avon 1 – open to full company, Friends of the Festival, McMaster affiliates
11:30-12: Lunch
12-1:30: Seminar 3: scholars discuss pre-circulated research papers
2-3:45: Comedy of Errors, the Studio Theatre
4-5: Scholars debrief re. morning’s work plus responses to Errors, suggestions for next day. Recording of insights for website.
5:15: Dinner @ the Red Rabbit, 64 Wellington Street
8: Wordplay staged reading of Swetnam the Woman-Hater Arraigned by Women, the Studio Theatre
DAY 5: Saturday 22 September 2018. Emerging Insights
10-11: Additional intensive simultaneous rehearsal of targeted sections from scenes with focus on exploring alternative ways to play the same scenes
11-11:40: Additional intensive simultaneous rehearsal of targeted sections from scenes with focus on exploring alternative ways to play the same scenes
11:40-12:40: Lunch break
12:40-1:00: Into costume
1-2:30: Presentation of all four scenes for one another, open to company
2:30-2:45: Break
2.45-4: Further group discussion of insights and applications. What have we learned?
6: Dinner at Molly Bloom’s Irish Pub, 26 Brunswick St.
8: Optional performance — The Tempest with Martha Henry in title role, the Festival Theatre