Nakai
Theatre, with assistance from Open Pit, organised two workshops taught by guest
instructor Ker Wells. Here is information about the first workshop, An
Introduction to Physical Theatre:
Date: July 12th - July 14th
Location: Yukon Arts Centre Studio Theatre
Total in-studio hours: 9
Number of participants: 11
Age range of participants: 20 - 50
The second
workshop was titled The Nature of the Performed Action and was
considered advanced training. Here is more information on the second
workshop:
Date: July 19th - July 23rd
Location: Yukon Arts Centre Studio Theatre
Total in-studio hours: 18
Number of participants: 6
Age range of participants: 24 - 30
Upon
request, we offered subsidized rates for those in financial need.
Impact
The
participants of the workshops had a wide range of skill levels, therefore the
training affected each of them differently. We asked that participants have
previous theatre experience, but we made sure to not exclude anyone with a keen
interest.
Participants
who had less experience in theatre thought the workshops were interesting and
very different from what they were used to.
“I loved that Ker offered a type of
training that I have never tried before. Physical Theatre does not exist
in the north so I am appreciative that I could learn new techniques.”
The more
professional level participants, who took both workshops, found some great
insight into creation using Physical Theatre. A post mortem was held on the
final day and participants remarked how they benefited from getting to see Ker
Wells’ creative process. It was also noted how this work could be directly
applied to the creation of a new play. There was also benefit in the training
as an actor. Participants learned about creative impulses and how to access
them. Ker Wells’ training made impulses seem tangible and, if not understood,
more accessible.
“Physical Theatre is a new concept to
me and as yet, I have not grasped it’s essence; however, I have no doubt that
it would be a valuable tool for me to add a richer element to the development
of characters in the future.”
These
workshops also had an impact on the trainer, Ker Wells. He thoroughly enjoyed
his time in our city and even took part in a public reading of Catherine Frid’s
Homegrown. He has committed to returning this winter for Nakai Theatre’s
Pivot festival. There were also informal discussions about further partnerships
and opportunities in the north. We believe that having this calibre of talent
interested in working in Yukon is an exciting development for the theatre
industry.
“It was immediately apparent that Ker
Wells brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience to the workshop.
I highly respected the quality of the responses he provided to any
participants questions as well as his instinctive awareness of what is needed
to overcome any blocks that a participant is struggling with.”
