Devoted and Disgruntled North East
Phelim McDermott of Improbable has been running Devoted and Disgruntled - What shall we do about theatre? “open space” events in London and elsewhere for some time, but last week was the first time that D&D came to the north east, under the auspices of The Open Space, the NE theatre development agency.
Held in the magnificently high Victorian Great Hall of Newcastle’s Discovery Museum over two days, the event was signed up to by around 70 people, but in the event between 30 and 40 actually turned up.
It was quite a varied crowd of actors, directors, producers, writers, dancers, choreographers and others, together with a fair representation from ACE NE. Essentially it was an event for theatre-makers so the commercial sector was noticeable by its absence. Many of the region’s smaller companies were well represented, as were Northern Stage and Live, and of course I was there wearing two hats, as BTG editor and AD for KG Productions.
It could so easily have turned into a whinge-fest. McDermott simply provided the structure for the two days and it was left to the attendees to choose the subjects for discussion. Eight break-out spaces were provided for groups to convene and discuss the chosen topics and a further two had to be added on the second day to accommodate what people wanted to talk about.
Each discussion was given an hour and a half: some finished early, others ran the full time (and on the second day, one in which I took part had not finished by the end of the allocated time so three of us adjourned into the sunshine outside (yes, in Newcastle!) to continue for another hour. Some people flitted from one to another, like bumble bees cross-pollinating a series of flowers.
Topics were as varied as the participants:
- what should writers be writing about in 2009?
- the links between dance and theatre
- how do we help new and emerging artists to develop?
- how do we stop the NE being just a stepping stone on the way to London?
- how do we assess the quality of work?
- who wants to have a laugh?
- the loneliness of the director
and many, many more.
It was also an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones and - most important of all - to feel that we are not alone, that others have the same frustrations and joys, for, although there were obviously whinges (although fewer than you mights have expected!), there was also a considerable amount of sharing of good ideas, of experience and expertise. And there were practical outcomes: the directors amongst us agreed that we should meet on a regular basis in a kind of mutual support group; there is to be an email group for sharing ideas and providing mutual help; we all have a greater understanding of what The Open Space is for - and we all came away energised.
Hopefully it will become a regular event, as it is in London. And next time, perhaps, some of those major fisgures in NE theatre who had their names down but didn’t turn up, will bring their experience along.