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1
PROPOSAL FOR SPONSORSHIP MA APPLIED THEATRE STUDENT, WILL HUDSON
Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London
CONTENTS
2. INTRODUCTION 3-5. BACKGROUND 6-8. THE FUTURE 9-10. BECOMING A SPONSOR 11. YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT! / CONTACT 12. “CIVILISED” SOCIETY – SUZUKI 13. USEFUL LINKS
2
INTRODUCTION
First and foremost, I thank you for investing valuable time in reading this
document. I am approaching you for assistance because I feel
passionately about my chosen field of research and I believe that your
organisation also places a focus on communication as a means to
develop skills and resolve conflict within a business or community. As an
emerging practitioner in the field of Applied Theatre, my aim is to take
full advantage of theatre’s potential as a forum for discussion and
cooperation in order to strengthen relationships between individuals
and groups.
My hope is that, having read this document, you will find sufficient cause
to contribute towards this key area of research in both a financial and
collaborative sense
3
BACKGROUND
I have been working as an international theatre practitioner, translator, teacher and workshop facilitator for the past 15 years. During this time I have been exposed to a wide variety of customs and cultures that have
become the catalyst for my research in the area of cross-cultural communication and team-building in the theatre and in non-theatre
environments.
I have had key work experience in three major metropolitan hubs:
LONDON
In 2000 I accepted a place at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama
to study on the BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts programme, working in
a dynamic environment alongside students from a wide range of cultural
backgrounds. Here I formed links with practitioners in Madrid and
Barcelona that would later influence my decision to move to Spain.
LONDON: 2000-05
MADRID: 2005-14
NEW YORK: 2014
4
Enthused by the challenge to find a common language that could
communicate to an international audience, the multicultural theatre
company Zecora Ura Theatre was formed - a diverse ensemble that
brought together artists from the degree programme and of which I was
a founding member. The company mission was to create original work
that would address the themes of “transit” and “language” and to create
a network of organisations for the purpose of collaborating on
educational outreach programmes.
Between the years 2000 and 2005 I participated in a number of projects
with the company that included tours to the Edinburgh Fringe and
Tampere Fringe Festival, Finland. In 2002 I coordinated workshops for the
company with schoolchildren at St. John’s School, Marlborough, as part of
our theatre outreach programme.
The company still operates as ZU-UK to great acclaim, under the direction
of Brazilian practitioner Jorge Lopes Ramos.
MADRID
In 2005 I moved to Madrid on a permanent basis in order to immerse
myself in the language and culture and gain a wider perspective on
international communication. Operating as a freelance practitioner in
Madrid, I initiated a series of workshops entitled “Inter-Action” in which
Spanish and South American actors worked with text in English as an
investigation into how foreign vocabulary and expression affects the
body and how this foreign angle sheds new light on the native language.
The fascination in language as a base for social cooperation has also
led me to run in-company workshops for the logistics company Cacesa
where I focused on language learning as a means to widen social
interaction and encourage equality in the workplace between
employees of different nationalities.
5
My experience in the area of cross-cultural communication as an
interpreter, translator and facilitator has involved collaborations with
leading international theatre practitioners such as Declan Donnellan and
Anne Bogart during their visits to the Spanish National Theatre (CDN) and
the Bridge Project at Teatro Español.
At the CDN I assisted Declan and Anne as they worked intensively with
groups of approximately 30 actors and was responsible for
simultaneous translation during the entirety of the masterclass
between the students and the practitioner. At the Teatro Español I
facilitated communication between the Spanish technical team and the
technicians and actors of the Bridge Project in their touring productions
of As You Like It and The Tempest, directed by Sam Mendes.
I have also been responsible for the organisation and project
management of large scale theatre projects, such as “Fuego Artico”. The
project involved over 20 actors in a production based on The Cherry
Orchard, transposed to modern-day Spain in the midst of the financial
crisis and political upheaval. The piece was directed by the celebrated
Theatre du Soleil artist, Jeremy James.
NEW YORK
In September of 2014, I was invited to New York by celebrated theatre
actors Joan Shepard and Evan Thompson1 to perform a non-profit theatre
piece inspired by the life of the cult literary icon, Jack Kerouac. The aim of
the project was to emphasise Kerouac’s tireless search for the links
between communities in his own native land of America. The piece,
entitled Burn, Burn, Burn was performed in Manhattan in November at a
private theatre venue and later as part of the event “The Beat, The Root
and the Soul” at Artes Liberales in Heidelberg, Germany.
1 Sadly, Evan Thompson passed away earlier this year at the age of 83. Out of respect, a link will not be sited.
6
THE FUTURE
After a 15 year international career I now have the opportunity to
return to London on a leading MA programme in order to consolidate
my skills.
I have been recently awarded a place at the prestigious Royal Central
School of Speech and Drama to study on the MA Applied Theatre
programme, currently considered to be a world-leading postgraduate
degree in this particular field.
In the field of Applied Theatre I will be undertaking practical research
projects in non-theatre environments, such as youth referral units or
hospitals and working with a wide variety of individuals that have
suffered marginalisation in the UK and abroad as a direct result of their
gender, race, sexuality or social standing.
LONDON 2015 -
MA Applied Theatre
cross-cultural communication:
dissolving conflict increasing
cooperation
LONDON
NEW YORK
MADRID
7
I may be, for example, devising projects with young offenders, or
improving communication skills between persons of different
ethnicities in UK businesses. The overall objective of the programme is to
implement projects that can utilize theatre’s potential as an agent to
increase social wellbeing and expose injustice.
MY SPECIALISM – TACKLING RACIAL TENSION / IMPROVING
COOPERATION
I intend to specialise in the area of theatre and cultural integration. My
aim is to learn and implement dynamic new techniques in order to
improve communication and understanding between persons
of contrasting cultures.
We, in the UK and elsewhere, are still struggling to address the ethnic
differences within our societies. With racial tension on the rise between
Christian and Muslim communities we must constantly be reminded of
the urgent need for dialogue, as opposed to alienation and
scaremongering. It is the physical, face-to-face communication at both an
international and local level that I consider to be a gateway towards
resolving conflict between opposing communities or individuals.
Theatre can teach us key communication skills that can aid the process of
such a resolution.
My aims throughout my course of study will be the following:
to identify the “patterns of conduct” that must be
observed if one is to become a fully-fledged member of
society. Follow-up question: where is the line between
integration and conformity?
to examine the level of discrimination prevalent in
society. Follow-up question: have attitudes in society
8
towards immigration become more open or closed-minded
over the last fifty years?
to expose “identity” as a transient concept and that
our sense of belonging should attempt to reach beyond the
limitation of national status. Follow-up question: Where
does then, that sense of belonging originate?
to heighten cultural awareness. Follow up question:
how can communication be improved between
communities in order to reduce tension and mistrust and
prevent violence?
9
BECOMING A SPONSOR
I believe that with the skills I have developed through working in theatre,
teaching and translation, I have the potential to become a leading
practitioner in the area of cross-cultural communication. The MA
Applied Theatre at Royal Central is the springboard that will enable me to
consolidate these skills and offer me, upon graduation, the employment
opportunities I need in order to work effectively with communities and
businesses. However, my only obstacle is that I cannot currently meet the
total cost of one year’s study in London.
I am currently approaching individuals and organisations that are in
favour of backing artistic initiatives for the purpose of social change and
are keen to participate in my development as an emerging practitioner in
this field.
If I am unable to cover the course fees and living costs I may have to
defer my place at Royal Central and as a result will not be able to take
full advantage of the remarkable placements that the school is currently
offering.
Detailed below is an estimation of the expenses I will incur over a 12-month period as a student in London
Type of expense Estimated cost over 12 months
Course fees £7,424 Housing £8,120
Travel £1,320 Food £3,968
Telephone £660 Bills £1,320 Medical expenses £220
Course materials £2,200 Other £2,398
TOTAL £27, 630
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I intend to meet the total costs using the following strategies:
personal savings (I intend to raise £10,000 myself)
grants and bursaries (I have already been awarded a £2,500 grant from Equity towards my course fees)
private sponsors
loans
crowdfunding campaigns
A percentage of my living expenses will be covered by my own
personal savings. I receive no financial support from family or friends
and therefore must find alternative sources of funding to reach my
target amount of £27,630 that should be achieved by November 2015.
SPONSORSHIP – WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?
an individual or organisation that officially supports my development as a practitioner in the field of Applied Theatre
offers financial support
will actively back my proposal in the form of recommendation
letters or emails
will receive updates about my projects and progress
WHAT I OFFER IN RETURN FOR SPONSORSHIP
free workshop for your organisation on cultural integration / team-building / communication skills
visible acknowledgement of support via social media / blog (under construction)
commitment to providing updates of progress to sponsor
commitment to ongoing collaboration beyond graduation
11
YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT!
Your support can make a difference. It is my pledge to carry out
theatre and arts initiatives as a force for social justice and change. I am
committed to projects that provide creative solutions for communities
and businesses; that improve cooperation between individuals and
groups of opposing beliefs and backgrounds. Gaining access to my
programme this year will provide me with the key pedagogical skills I
require in order to carry out this important work at the highest
possible level.
CONTACT
For more information or to become a sponsor please do not hesitate to
contact me at [email protected] or call on 07534 935 774.
Once again, thank you for your time, interest and support with this project.
12
“In my opinion, a ‘cultured’ society is one in which the perceptive and expressive ability of the human body is fully potentiated; that in which the aforementioned ability constitutes the standard level of communication. A civilised country is not always a ‘cultured’ society.”
Tadashi Suzuki
10
USEFUL LINKS
Rose Bruford College, European Theatre Arts https://www.bruford.ac.uk/courses/european-theatre-arts-ba-hons/
ZU-UK http://zu-uk.com/
Cacesa, forwarding and logistics http://www.cacesa.com/
Declan Donnellan http://www.cheekbyjowl.com/declan_donnellan.php
Anne Bogart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bogart
CDN – Spanish National Theatre http://cdn.mcu.es/
The Bridge Project http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/5296859/Sam-Mendes-and-Kevin-Spacey-The-Bridge-Project.html
Jeremy James / Fuego Artico (In Spanish) http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2014/03/12/actualidad/1394648675_091404.html
Joan Shepard http://performancereviewed.com/rada-festival-confessions-of-an-old-lady-2-with-joan-shepard/
Royal Central School of Dramatic Art, Applied Theatre http://www.cssd.ac.uk/course/applied-theatre-ma
Artes Liberales / The Beat, The Root and the Soul (some German) http://hejevent.se/event/o7eb5656zcfosa/the-beat-the-root-and-the-soul
Tadashi Suzuki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadashi_Suzuki