This autumn, WAM Theatre had the pleasure of opening its doors and (Zoom) windows to folks of varying ages and backgrounds from across the Berkshires. , A trio of free community workshops offered a chance to dive into an array of participatory theatre activities and to “devise theatre” first-hand. Devising is the process through which our Ensembles build performances and community, but this was the first time we’ve offered this type of experience to the general public. We were delighted at the response. We connected across age, income, and experience. There was enthusiasm, laughter, and open-hearted listening. Trust and community sprouted amongst strangers. This is what happens when we gather, share stories, and play!
“…such a wonderful form of exploration and community building.” —Lisa Donovan, workshop participant
Crafted by WAM Teaching Artists who have decades of practical experience and artistic innovation under their belts, the series was made possible by an “Arts Build Capacity Incubation Grant” from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. The initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to expand the diverse pool of individuals and communities we serve, and deepen connections with those who find an artistic home at WAM.
On a personal level, I was craving time to gather intentionally, to slow down and be present, to play, and to “go deep.” And it’s not just me; this kind of thing is essential for our mental and physical health (hence human’s inherent psychological drive for connection); our lives literally depend on it. But it can feel so hard to actually do. I don’t need to list the factors––global crises, technological norms, mundane logistics, and personal minutae––that make it increasingly urgent and increasingly difficult to slow down and connect; we all know what we’ve been through these past several years, what we are in the middle of now, and what we continue to face. Suffice it to say I was jazzed to dive in.
If you missed the workshops, don’t worry––our doors are still open! Join me for a peek inside!
“[It’s] a great feeling for me to have in my body that I can trust it to know what to do!” —Maggie Katz, workshop participant
“Devised theatre is fun, sacred, creative and cultivated community.” —Edi Pasalis, workshop participant
Behind Door #1: Introduction to Devised Theatre for Strength & Resiliency
Led by Priscilla Kane Hellweg, this workshop emphasized the roles of imagination and community in building resiliency, and was held at WAM’s Creative Hub in Lenox
Workshop participants. Photo by Michael Nancollas
Eighteen community members squeezed into a circle in the WAM Hub on Saturday, September 23. Although we were all women-identifying, the diversity in other respects was striking, the youngest participant was 12 (brought to the workshop by her grandmother) and the oldest were in their 80s. Some professional actors and some experiencing a performance workshop for the first time, all our eyes were on Priscilla Kane Hellweg as she created a remarkable, brave space of depth and intimacy for us to create within.
At one point Priscilla placed laminated copies of Ansel Adams photographs of landscapes in the center of the circle, splitting us into small groups and asking us to pick one of them. In a matter of minutes, people who didn’t know each other recreated the landscapes with their bodies, adding soundscapes and language in unique ways that were breath-taking. It is an important reminder of the power of creativity and connection.
“The suggestions from the facilitator brings out the insides of a group of people who don’t know each other – instant intimacy and no strangers by the end. Astonishing!” —Lee McClelland, workshop participant
Workshop participants engage in a devised theatre exercise. Photo by Michael Nancollas.
Peak Behind Door #2: Devising Theatre Online
Nicole Orabona, who has spent years creating innovative and immersive theatre facilitated by the internet, led Devising Theatre Online. As the name suggests, it took place virtually.
Screenshots of “Devising Theatre Online.”
Boxes flicker on and off a screen, colors blinking, shapes of various sizes morphing like a kaleidoscope. No, this isn’t a fever-dream or a trippy film sequence; it is a Zoom Room where a deconstructed, reimagined performance of “The Three Little Pigs” debuted, after a 5 minutes development process. Set in the Big Bad Wolf’s therapy session with outer-space motifs and taunting piglets swirling in and out of the frame, it was the creation of one of the workshop’s breakout sessions.
We explored the entire Zoom-window, and we pushed the virtual boundaries of movement and shape. We used a spreadsheet to store ideas (think: themes, phrases of text, types of movement etc), and flipped coins to pick the performance elements that our short breakout sessions would explore.
“When I don’t have time to be self-conscious it allows me to be more artistically expressive” —Stephen Fruchtman
Open to anyone with internet access and a curiosity about how to collaborate theatrically in a virtual setting, the workshop’s online nature made it possible for the majority; the fact that it was online made it possible for them to attend. Though many participants had experience with creative arts in some capacity, only one had ever devised theatre with WAM before. Several made a point to thank WAM for “continuing to offer online opportunities even when so much of the theater community has gone ‘back to normal.’’
“When everyone is online, everyone is equally restricted and liberated by the limits and abilities of the camera and the computer it is attached to, so actual physical limitations are minimized.” —Gail Burns
“Community Story Circle” participants at the WAM Creative Hub.
Peak Behind Door #3: Community Story Circle
The third workshop was an in-person story exchange, facilitated by Maizy Broderick Scarpa. (That’s me––hello!)
A circle of eight people seated in eclectic armchairs which circled a blue oriental rug. One person, holding a black stone in her palm, shares a story of longing for, and eventually finding, a sense of belonging. Those listening lean in. There are nods, hands are hearts, and glistening eyes. When the story comes to a close, the speaker gets up in silence and places the stone in the center of the circle and returns to her seat. Everyone breathes in, and exhales together. A comfortable silence lingers for several minutes. Someone sips their mug of tea. The next person reaches for the stone…
a family driving distances to support each other…daily rhythms of reliable roommates…conversations with neighbors at a coffee shop…a choir with inconsistent abilities but an abundance of love…finding solace in friends and playfulness…a mug gifted from a coworker…collecting glimpses of community amidst life’s ephemera…
When the last person returns the stone, take another collective breath and stand, getting up to use the bathroom, to wash our mugs of tea. We’ll go our separate ways soon, but for the moment, we linger. Chatting, hugging, snacking on hummus and chocolate.
“This is a community now,” someone observes.
“Devising Theatre Online” participants on Zoom.
Blog by Maizy Broderick Scarpa, Director of Community Engagement. Feature photo by Michael Nancollas.