Monday Night Group

  Free Workshops For Writer/Performers

Performing your own poetry, prose or stand-up material
can be a dream or a nightmare -
why not make it a pleasure for yourself and your audiences
by taking time out to work with professionals
who can guide you towards developing your skills and confidence?

As part of its 2008/09 programme Spotlight is organising
a series of workshops designed to help you do just that.

Workshops are currently scheduled to take place at The Gregson Centre, Moor
Lane, Lancaster on:

Sunday 23rd November 2008 - 1-3pm - Facilitator: Steve Ashton

Steve Ashton began his acting career in stand-up character comedy in 1995 before
turning to conventional theatre, primarily touring with Freehold and Cat's Eye theatre
companies.
In 2005, he founded Blue Lizard with Marian McCraith. Their one-man play, The
Reading Room,
has toured in venues across the country, including The Lowry in Salford, Derby
Guildhall Theatre
and the Birmingham Mac, in addition to appearing at literature festivals in Cheltenham
and
Hay-on-Wye. Steve is currently writing the script for Simply Einstein, a one-man play
about the life, science and politics of the famous scientist that will tour in 2009.

www.bluelizardtheatre.co.uk

  Change of Facilitator
Due to unforeseen circumstances Steve Ashton is unable to facilitate this workshop.
His place will be taken by Ruth Quinn
there are still a few places available.

  Ruth Quinn has taught Theatre, Drama and Acting for eighteen years in schools, colleges and University. She has a particular interest in movement and voice work for performance. Ruth currently works enabling teachers to develop their creativity in the classroom.
Ruth is also a poet and therefore particularly interested in how we read our own poems.

Sunday 11th January 2009 - 1-3pm - Facilitator: Sarah Hymas

Develop confidence and skills to give engaging performances of your work. This workshop will look at the importance of warming up, voice work and the power of movement and stillness. It'll be two hours of interaction, a little bit of physical exertion, interspersed with play, shouting and listening. Please bring a piece of work, preferably memorised, comfortable clothes and an open mind to the afternoon.

Sarah Hymas has been writing for performance and performing her poetry and fiction for seven years, in collaboration with other writers, musicians and solo. She is also a children's puppeteer, and aspires to entertain all her audiences, whatever their age.

More info about her can be found at

www.myspace.com/shymas

www.deepcabaret.co.uk/HymasLewis/hymasindex.htm

Sunday 15th February 2009 - 1-3pm - Facilitator: Ron Baker & Sarah Fiske

Ron Baker & Sarah Fiske are both writer/performers have been co-ordinating Lancaster's
monthly Spotlight Club since December 1995.
The workshop will look at what makes or breaks a reading/performance, with an emphasis on
microphone technique and
basic performance techniques (such as how to centre yourself, breathe easily, moderate your
voice) -
play around with words, ideas, physicality - experiment with improvisation - generally extend
your range.

Further dates to be arranged.

If you are interested in attending any of these
please email contact info to:

spotlightclub@btinternet.com

Lancaster Spotlight is funded by Arts Council England and supported by
Lancashire County Council Arts and Lancaster City Council Arts &
Events. Spotlight works in association with litfest.