The Next Stage 2007

The Next Stage
The Next Stage was a professional development initiative for emerging performing artists. Sixteen participants took part in a 10-day series of workshops, talks, performances and other development opportunities to broaden and deepen their experience of theatre from conception to performance. The programme took advantage of the unique opportunity presented by the Festival, and the world-renowned performing artists involved in it, to offer a series of stimulating workshops and talks.

When was it?
From Thursday 27 September – 11 October 2007, during the 2007 Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival.

What did it include?
Workshops were led by leading international theatre professionals such as Árpád Schilling, artistic director of Krétakör Theatre Company Hungary, and actors from SITI company of New York.

Participants had an opportunity to see shows in the evening. Directors and other leading artistic personnel behind the shows met the group to discuss their work. These include internationally prominent Irish directors such as Garry Hynes, Artistic Director of Druid Theatre Company, and Michael Keegan-Dolan, Artistic Director of Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre, as well as the actors from Peter Brook’s Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord. Participants also observed a rehearsal of the innovative site-specific piece La Marea, and discussed the show with its director, Mariano Pensotti.

Participants in The Next Stage received complimentary tickets to shows for the duration of the programme.You can browse the full schedule below.

Who was eligible?
Emerging performing artists, such as actors, directors, choreographers, dancers – and writers, if they didn't mind pulling on their legwarmers and getting physical. Participants had at least one professional production under their belts and, preferably, were to be involved in the process of producing another within the next year. Ideally, the group was to be comprised of a good mix of people with different talents, backgrounds and experience. The programme was full-time and required full commitment. Participants had to agree to be present (both physically and mentally) for the entire course.
Applicants have now been chosen and a full list of the 16 successful participants, is available here.

Where did it take place?
The Next Stage programme was based at Dance House, Foley Street, Dublin 1 (close to the Luas stop at Busáras).Theatre Forum gratefully acknowledges Dance Ireland’s support for this event.

What did it cost?
The fee was €250. This included attendance at all seminars, talks, a VIP card for the Festival club and tickets to 10+ shows during the Festival.

How can I apply?
The closing date for applications was Monday 21st August and was heavily oversubscribed. The selection panel made their decision and you can see the final list of participants here .

Closing Date
Closing date for applications was Monday 21 August. Successful applicants were notified the first week of September. Full payment for the course must be received by Monday, 17 September. No refunds will be made.

Selection panel
A selection panel including Loughlin Deegan, Artistic Director of the Ulster Bank Dublin Theatre Festival; Paul Johnson, Chief Executive of Dance Ireland; Chrissie Poulter, Lecturer in Drama Studies in Trinity College; Christine Madden, curator of The Next Stage, and Tania Banotti, Chief Executive of Theatre Forum, assessed applications.

Full schedule
The schedule is below.

All workshops were held in Studio 5 (3rd floor) of Dance House in Foley Street, unless stated otherwise.

Thursday 27 September
19.45 Evening performance, Kebab (Royal Court and Pentabus Theatre Company) Project Cube 1hr 30 mins

Friday 28 September
14.00 Introduction from Loughlin Deegan
15.00 Open session with Christine Madden
16.00-17.30 Q&A session with playwright Gianina Carbunariu, author of Kebab, Resource Room, Dance House
19.30 Evening performance, James Son of James (Fabulous Beast) Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College 1hr 30 mins

Saturday 29 September
10.00-12.00 Anne Bogart, SITI Viewpoints Workshop
13.00-14.00 Attendance at Suzuki warm-up session for actors venue tbc
19.30 Evening performance, bobrauschenbergamerica (SITI) Project 1hr 45 mins

Sunday 30 September
10.00-12.00 Suzuki workshop with 'Bondo' from SITI Company, Dance House
18.00 Performance Hibiki (Sankai Juku) Gaiety Theatre 90 mins
20.00 Performance On the Case (Legs on the Wall) George's Dock

Monday 1 October
12.00-14.00 and 15.00-17.00 Observation of rehearsals of La Marea Studio 191, Trinity College
18.00 Q&A with Mariano Pensotti Studio 191
19.30 Performance Traces (The 7 Fingers) Olympia Theatre

Tuesday 2 October
10.30-12.00 Jim Culleton, Director of The Pride of Parnell Street talks about commissioning & directing new work, Dance House
13.00-14.00 Seminar: 'Circus as an Artform in Ireland', New Theatre, East Essex Street, Temple Bar
14.30-18.00 Workshop with Gypsy Schneider of The 7 Fingers Dance House
19.30 Performance BLACKland (Krétakör Theatre) O'Reilly Theatre 1hr 30 mins

Wednesday 3 October
10.00-12.00 Workshop with Árpád Schilling
13.00 An illustrated insight into the development process featuring filmed material from the original BLACKland improvisations.
15:00 – 18:00 Workshop Árpád Schilling, Dance House
19:00 Performance: Long Day’s Journey into Night (Druid) Gaiety Theatre 4hrs

Thursday 4 October
10:00 – 13:00 Workshop Árpád Schilling Dance House
13:00 – 14:00 Lunchtime talk with Garry Hynes, Dance House (brunch will be provided)
17:30 Pre-show talk from members of the company of Long Day’s Journey into Night, Gaiety Theatre
19:30 Performance The Pride of Parnell Street (Fishamble) Tivoli Theatre

Friday 5 October
10.30-13.30 and 15.00-18.00 Workshop with Árpád Schilling
19.30 Performance Radio Macbeth (SITI Company) and post show talk (21.15)
20.00 La Marea (Mariano Pensotti), Italian Quarter, the north side of the Millenium Bridge (runs continuously from 21.00-23.00)

Saturday 6 October
Workshop with Michael Keegan-Dolan (Fabulous Beast)
Evening: free

Sunday 7 October
10:30 – 13:30 Workshop Árpád Schilling Dance House
15:00 – 18:00 Workshop Árpád Schilling, Dance House
Evening: free

Monday 8 October
10:00 – 16:00 Workshop Árpád Schilling Dance House
17:00 Public Interview with Peter Brook, (Samuel Beckett Theatre Trinity College)
20.00 Performance Is this about sex? (Rough Magic) Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire 1hr 45 mins

Tuesday 9 October
10:00 – 14:00 Workshop Árpád Schilling, Dance House
18:00 Garry Hynes on her approach to directing Synge and O’Casey (Public Talk at the Abbey Theatre)
19:30 Performance Fragments (C.I.C.T./ Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord) Tivoli Theatre 55 mins

Wednesday 10 October
11:00 – 13:00 Workshop Ruth Little, Literary Manager at The Royal Court, Dance House
14:30 – 16:00 Ruth Little
16:30 – 17:00 Ruth Little
19.30 Performance The History Boys (National Theatre) Olympia Theatre followed by post-show with members of the company (22:15)

Thursday 11 October
10.30am Informal breakfast discussion with 5 members of the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord. Actors include Jos Houben, Kathryn Hunter, Marcello Magni and Bruce Myers. (Croissants provided by Theatre Forum. Bring your own coffee).
Followed by Group closing session and evaluation.
19:45 Performance The Seagull (Krétakör Theatre) Project Cube