Green Room Workshops with Giles Ramsay

I must just tell about some recent, exciting developments for arts and especially theatre in Bulawayo that have taken place in the last week!  

The team behind The Green Room is delighted to see a new link established with the organisation, Developing Artists, led by UK theatre director Giles Ramsay  (http://www.gilesramsay.co.uk/).

After some initial contact and discussion in London about the work of Developing Artists and The Green Room, Giles and I felt there was potential for partnership opportunities that were worth exploring. The first stage in this was Giles came to visit us in Bulawayo (his first time to Bulawayo in the 11 years that he's come and directed in Zimbabwe!) He offered his services and expertise to us and to the artists and performers of The Green Room, which was a great bonus and cause for celebration!

In advance of his visit, we'd organised to hold a 2-day workshop on "Acting and Devising" at The Bulawayo Theatre, which Giles then facilitated.  About 35 people attended the workshops last Thursday and Friday and responded really well to the exciting teaching and experimentation process.  The audience on Friday night also saw the fruit of the creative process as the workshop culminated in an exciting "work-in-progress" performance at The April Green Room event on Friday night.  In addition Giles also got to see a fair bit of the arts scene in Bulawayo and what we're up to here during his 5 days with us.

All in all the feedback was very positive and what was also great was that it brought together a host of performers and actors to work together over the two days and perform together during The Green Room.  We're all about new collaborative and creative relationships! We really hope that this will lead to new working partnerships on various projects in Bulawayo in coming months...

In the light of the productive and successful start we've made, we've already started discussing further ideas for future collaboration with Developing Artists.  Everyone involved sees what's been already achieved as a great outcome in itself, but also, excitingly, as the start of something to be developed further in coming weeks and months.

Green Room - first 2 months

Apologies for the time lapse with news about the Green Room, it's off to a very good start.  Here are some pictures to fill in the story over the last 2 months.  The week of the Green Room launch we spent a bit of time at the theatre getting the workshop space ready.  Already the guys at the theatre had painted us a big black circle on the floor to be our stage space and two  artists from the national gallery had helped me to create a large folding screen as a flexible 

piece of scenery.

 

With a bunch of friends volunteering to help, we then painted 3 walls at the theatre that needed a re-vamp.  Two in the bar area and one large wall in the workshop that we had decided would be perfect for projecting films & images onto.  Despite the heat of the sun on the roof we did a good job, had fun and I think impressed the theatre staff with our dedication!

Setting up on the launch day was fairly straightforward.  Similar to the Lounge it involves collecting and setting up PA equipment, lights, tables & chairs, a projector and signs directing people to the venue.  The space look great, decked out with all the fairly lights and candles and then with images projected on the wall.  The bar area also looked cool.  As we've known all along, it is a very funky space! 

These are a few snaps from the launch night, showing some of the performances.  We aim to have a programme of 3 live theatre pieces and also a film item. Ideally we want to represent theatrical diversity and to introduce new styles and forms of theatre.  We also believe in the need for a varied programme to be entertaining escapism, and at times a reflective and provocative look at current affairs and issues. On launch-night we had a gripping one woman piece about unwanted preganancy, a thought-provoking monologue from the perspective of an angry grave-digger in modern day Zimbabwe and lastly an ensemble piece weaving historical and modern affairs together. 

More images from the December Green Room will follow...

The Green Room

One week to go!

It's all coming together - been pretty busy lately with organising and publicising the launch of The Green Room but things seem to be coming together.  There's a fair amount to think about - venue details, publicity, acts, refreshments, design etc! But the general vibe surrounding it is good - people are positive and excited!