One Year Mentoring

In 2008 the one year mentoring programme was launched by Elen Bowman. It was funded by the Sherman Cymru theatre and Welsh arts Council. The directors were attached to the Sherman Cymru theatre and learnt about the various departments of a busy producing house - marketing, new writing & script reading/developing, youth theatre and producing.

They received mentoring throughout from Elen Bowman with a monthly class in theory and showings of practical work. These showings included a company of six actors who assisted the directors in their studies throughout the year and they were all given space at the theatre to rehearse during the month leading up to a class.

They studied on Living Pictures courses in London and visiting practitioners in Cardiff included Punchdrunk, Nancy Meckler and Katie Mitchell. All three directors assisted on Sherman Cymru productions on of new writing, Christmas plays, and play readings and competitions.

The year culminated with the production staging of three plays of their choice. They created images with a professional stills photographer plus wrote their own copy and attended marketing meetings on how to sell the work. They also learnt about casting and auditioning, contracting and budgeting. They also learnt about casting and auditioning, contracting and budgeting. The plays headlined a week dedicated to directing at the theatre titled 'The Directors week' which included a Living Pictures BookClub and a workshop with guest NTW director John McGrath. See images below of 'The City' by Martin Crimp directed by Bridget Keehan, 'Frozen' by Bryony Lavery directed by Sita Calvert-Ennals and 'A place with the Pigs' by Athol Fugard directed by Sarah Bickerton. Each play (no longer than 1h 15) performed four times in rota with the other two plays using a composite set designed by a professional designer. Note sessions were given to each director as the week developed and feedback forms were supplied to audiences and production team.

The director's final task was to pitch new ideas to the Director of the theatre, Chris Ricketts, who gave them feedback on their performance and on the viability of their ideas.

Elen continues to keep in touch with the directors, meeting every six months to catch up with theory and support their various projects.

Due to the closure and refurbishment of the Sherman Cymru Theatre we aim to re-start a similar venture at the opening in 2012. For future information about this scheme please contact the company at livingpictures@btopenworld.com

It has vastly surpassed my expectations - I thought I would be learning some useful techniques for directing and of course I have but what I have had is life changing learning - time to understand who I am better so that I can be better in all spheres.

Bridget Keehan

It's completely lived up to and surpassed my expectations. The care and the rigor that Living Pictures has put into supporting and pushing us personally and professionally has been incredible. I feel I was supported and challenged in equal measures which I think is a brilliant combination. I now feel like I've finally got the toolbox I've been looking for years as a director and that I can now branch out a lot more with such a solid process to work with. The course has also changed my taste in acting. I am now hungry to see a style of acting which is purer and more truthful.

Sita Calvert Ennals

I feel that I am much more confident to direct text work with the process that I now have. I also feel that the skills learnt will help me in working with new writers and developing new/devised work. It was so useful to ask myself important questions e.g. what stories do I want to tell? What do I care about? Why do I want to direct? The course helped me challenge myself and be brave...

Sarah Bickerton