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Introduction
The director/actor relationship is
of prime importance in a production of collaboration. Stephen Heatley
and Ann Penistan had spoke much about this relationship and decided
that a closer look into how it is working may lead to better ways to
train directors, and help professional directors.
The prime focus of our work is with
the participation of interested professional and trainee directors on
their relationship with actors. Our aim is to give both young and
experienced directors the opportunity to explore their process,
questions, and issues that they wouldn't otherwise have an opportunity
to delve into. These questions often expand beyond the director/actor
relationship and have a vital place in developing and re-evaluating
their process.
Stephen and Ann wrote a research paper
together for the Humanities and Social Sciences Conference at Dalhousie
University in Halifax, Nova Scotia in May 2003. Their
paper, "Exposing the Obvious" is an in depth look at the actor/director
relationship based on conversations and interviews with professional
actors and directors, and coaches in Canada, the United States and
England. They presented it for the Association of Canadian Theatre Research. Clicking on the
link will take you to the abstract and the paper that they presented
together.
Who we are
Stephen Heatley
Director, Dramaturge, Actor,
Playwright, Teacher
Stephen Heatley has worked in
the professional theatre for over 30 years. His training includes a BA
from Brock University, a diploma from the Canadian Mime School and an
MFA in directing from the University of Alberta. During his 12-year
tenure as Artistic Director of Theatre Network in Edmonton, he directed
over 30 premiere productions. He spent five years as Associate Artistic
Director of the Citadel Theatre and ran the company's Theatre School. He
was also resident director for the Free Will Players from 1991-1996,
directing outdoor productions of Shakespeare. Stephen has directed for
companies from BC to Ontario and has been involved with new play
development at the Saskatchewan Playwrights' Centre, the Banff PlayRites
Colony, the Alberta Playwrights' Network and the Playwrights' Theatre
Centre in Vancouver. He is currently on the faculty of the Theatre
Program at the University of British Columbia where he works with
actors, directors and playwrights. In October of 2003 he will direct a
production of Carlo Goldoni's IL CAMPIELLO.
Ann Penistan
Alexander teacher, LearningMethods™
teacher
Ann worked for ten years as
an Alexander Coach with the Stratford and Shaw Festival theatres in
Canada. She studied voice at the Central School of Speech and Drama in
London and from 1993-1997 was the Assistant Director for an Alexander
Technique Training School in London. During this time a new way of
working emerged transcending the Alexander Technique Approach and now
called LearningMethods™. Her 18 years of experience has consisted of
workshops and private classes for actors, musicians and other artists in
Canada, Europe and London’s West End. Ann’s current work includes
in-depth workshops and research on the fundamental relationship between
the director and actor.
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