With the rollover of the calendar year comes a new round of workshops from the city’s various arts organizations. First out of the gate is the venerable Irondale Ensemble Project, which is offering two classes. The first is its annual Open Workshop, which is a free theatre games night from 7 to 9pm at Irondale’s space in St. Pat’s Alexandria School on 2277 Maitland in the north end. Everyone comes, says Irondale, including “professional actors, teachers, social workers, Raging Grannies, environmental activists, mill wrights, playwrights….” It begins January 11 and runs Thursdays till February 1.
The other workshop is aimed at professional actors and will focus on the Mask, and the neutral, elemental and character masks used in physical theatre. Led by local notables Karen Bassett, Stephen Cross and Andrea Ritchie, this three-week class starts January 22. You can take part in any number of weeks, but must do the first two to attend the third. Fees range from $200 to $450.
Register by email [email protected] or phone (429-1370).
Five alive
The Film 5 program run by the Atlantic Filmmaker’s Co-operative has produced a great handful of local five-minute films, including The Wake of Calum MacLeod and Enough, which screened at the 2006 Atlantic Film Festival. As this year’s Film 5 filmmakers get moving on their projects, training opportunities have risen astronomically. On Tuesday, January 16, AFCOOP will hold an information session in the Radio Room at the CBC (5600 Sackville) that will discuss workshops and available positions (including production assistant, camera assistant, grip and trainee assistant director). Open to anyone who has completed the pre-requisite workshops (see afcoop.ca to check), the sessions run until April. The info meeting is at 6pm.
Krapptastic
As if Samuel Beckett wasn’t weird enough, King’s Theatrical Society has added a new twist to its first production of 2007, Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape, about an old man looking back upon his life. A one-man show starring Alex Derry, the play has been developed via the collaboration of four directors—Matt Amyott, Eric Benson, Simon Loeb and Jodey Reeves.
Running January 11 to 13 in The Pit at the University of King’s College (6350 Coburg), tickets to Krapp’s Last Tape are $5 ($3 for students) and can be reserved by calling 422-6011, extension 102.
News you can…not use, exactly…
Though the first episode will have aired by the time you read this, you’ll be able to tune in on Wednesday, January 17 to That News Show, a new series covering worldwide wacky newsbites. Produced by local company Arcadia Entertainment, the show stars Nancy Regan and features “one hectic half-hour of Grade A B-roll.” Also featuring familiar local talent including Catherine Bermundo, Rhys Bevan-John, Michael Best and Darryl Kyte, That News Show airs Wednesdays at 8pm on TVtropolis, aka The Rerun Channel, where we’ve been enjoying The Wonder Years lately.
Commonwealthy
Having absolutely nothing to do with Halifax’s bid for the Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth Foundation has announced a call for entry to the biannual Commonwealth Arts and Crafts Awards. Launched in 1985, the awards have given funds to over 80 artists in 30 Commonwealth countries. In this year’s round, up to 10 artists will receive up to £8,000 ($18k Canadian!) to visit another Commonwealth country to study and make art.
Criteria include “artists and craftspeople who show promise and initiative in their own country but who have had little opportunity of working in another country,” “talented artists and craftspeople who have the ability to communicate and the desire to broaden their horizons,” “original art and craft which has a strong identity, is rooted in its own traditions and has the potential to develop further,” “resourceful and self-reliant artists and craftspeople who, if selected, have the ability to plan, organise and manage their award” and “artists and craftspeole who will make the most of the opportunities provided by these awards.”
For info and applications hit www.commonwealthfoundation.com/culturediversity/craftawards Deadline is May 1. Let’s get some Canadians in there!
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