Hola Friends!
I’m sending you this employment opportunity because you strike me as someone who has shared their life with a wide variety of people and consequently may know someone in Vancouver (or have personal interest) in the following 1-week (paid) workshop about homelessness and mental health. Headlines Theatre is an amazing grassroots organisation that genuinely desires participation by the people who are affected by the topic being explored – anyone who is currently homeless, has been homeless at one point in their life, or has been touched by homelessness in the lives of those they love are invited to participate. The mental health aspect is very general, meaning the expected toll on one’s mental health (that may be experienced when a person is unsure about their shelter situation) qualifies.
If you’re unfamiliar with Headlines, they approach theatre in the tradition of Augusto Boal (theatre of the oppressed):
http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/1999/12/a_brief_introdu.php
where NO acting experience is necessary as they focus on interpersonal relations, power dynamics and real-life situations that everyone has encountered – they view theatre as an opportunity to create a dialogue with the audience/community (rather than a monologue/performance for the audience.) I was lucky to work with the artistic director (David Diamond) back in high school when they came to do a week-long workshop on racism, that culminated in performances where the audience was invited to stop the action and suggest solutions to problems being experienced by the characters on stage. The focus is on community engagement and affecting policy changes through the people who understand the issues best.
This is an incredible opportunity (through a very safe process in a very warm and non-judgmental environment) for anyone who would like to explore solutions to the challenges being faced on the streets of Vancouver. Participants will NOT be expected to share intimate, personal stories. If you know anyone who might be interested in participating in the workshop (one week, full-time commitment, pays $600, lunch provided daily, with the option of being part of the main production at $650/week from October 17 – December 6, PLUS accommodation provided for up to two members of the workshop/production who do not have housing currently) please direct them to:
http://headlinestheatre.com/present_work/after_homelessness/participant_callout.htm
Or just forward them this email (I’ll copy and paste the info below).
Thanks for reading this – I can think of a few people who might really appreciate this opportunity and thought you might know one or two as well,
Jenn.
(FROM HEADLINES’ WEBSITE…)
Callout to Participants: after homelessness… theatre making policy
An Audience-Interactive Theatre Project
Created and performed by people living issues of homelessness and mental health
Headlines Theatre the producer of the 2004 award winning community project Practicing Democracy, as well our recent projects Here and Now and SHATTERING, (formerly known as METH) is working in collaboration with numerous grassroots organizations on our 2009 main stage project after homelessness…
after homelessness… will be created and performed by people who have been touched by homelessness and its connections to mental health, whether it is through their own lives or the lives of loved ones. The play will perform for the general public and be a way for diverse audiences in Metro Vancouver to create a vehicle for people living the issues to help develop policy and plans to ensure that housing that is created is safe, appropriately supported and affordable.
We are looking for up to twenty people to participate in a 6-day Theatre for Living Workshop. No acting experience is necessary. Just a willingness to be honest about your experiences and a desire to play!
Participants should have a connection to homelessness and accompanying issues of mental health and want to use the theatre to do something about it.
We need a diversity of perspectives from within the community to enrich this work.
All participants will be paid!
The cast and workshop participants will be a mix of people who have either experienced the homelessness and mental health issue in their own lives, or through their family members and friends. Having a living knowledge of the issue will be one of the essential criteria for participation.
Being in the play is not a healing opportunity – it is employment in a project the purpose of which is to create an artistic focal point for community discussion and transformation.
If you are keen to explore your relationship to these issues your perspective is valuable to this workshop!
THE WORKSHOP:
The workshop will use theatre games and exercises to build trust and explore your experiences around the issue. In the beginning, these games and exercises will be non-verbal. Slowly, the workshop will create plays, based on the life experiences of the workshop participants. This will happen through a symbolic, physical language. It is these points of tension that will form the subject matter of the play. You will not be asked to make testimonials where you tell really personal stories to the group.
The purpose of the workshop is to gather the core material for the creation of the Forum Theatre production that will perform in Metro Vancouver
The workshop will take place from October 17 to 22, 2009, Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Avenue, in Vancouver.
It is very important that you are able to commit to coming to every day all day of the workshop. Each workshop participant will be paid $600.00 for the week and lunch will be provided each day.
We will be able to arrange accommodation for up to 2 workshop participants and 2 cast members who are not currently in housing for as long as required.
THE PRODUCTION:
Six members of the community workshop will create the main-stage Forum Theatre play along with Headlines’ Artistic Director David Diamond and a professional design team.
We don’t want the community workshop to be an audition so, if you want to be considered for the cast, you will be asked to do some improvisation work with David during the participant interview.
Cast will be paid $650 per week from October 17, 2009 to December 06, 2009. Housing will be provided for up to 2 cast members for the duration of the project. Cast members will sign contracts stating they are available for the full time period and all performances.
Please send us a letter/email/fax indicating that you are available to commit to the dates and times of the workshop (Oct 17 to 22, 2009, from 9am to 5pm each day). If you are interested in creating the public main-stage show and being a cast member, please indicate that you are available to do so (Oct 17 to Dec 06, 2009).
Please, also state why you want to be part of this project and how it is relevant to you. And be sure to let us know how we can find you again (a phone number, email, mailing address, a contact person…). If you have any questions, feel free to give is a call at 604.871.0508.
323-350 East 2nd Ave. Vancouver, BC • V5T 4R8
fax: 604.871.0209 email: info@headlinestheatre.com