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<TITLE>Sharing about making work in Open Space</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>For the past two years, since the Improbable-hosted Devoted & Disgruntled in 2010, I’ve been convening a group of writers, directors, artists, actors, musicians, performers (approx 60 in all, but we’ve been coming together in different combinations of between 12 to 30) towards making a show together, entirely in Open Space. <BR>
Having worked on 14 days over two years, we decided we wanted to aim for performance in 2013, with a week’s R&D this summer. And that, while we would continue to make the work whether we had funding or not, we would apply to the Arts Council (of Great Britain) for funding for the R&D, 25 people, rehearsal space, 6 days ... Not a cheap thing.<BR>
Like any of those application forms, the Arts Council funding application form has plenty of questions asking the name of the leader or the writer or the director ... And we kept saying the same thing “a show about individuals and community, made by a community of individuals” (it’s about loads else, of course, but that sums up the basics pretty well). <BR>
We explained Open Space and how well it’s working for us, that it feels very new (to welcome a 3 year old and a 6 year old into the rehearsal room for eg), but also very old (if theatre started around a campfire), and therefore very right.<BR>
And we did all this – the actual filling out of the application – in Open Space. Eleven people, all writing on flip chart paper, working out how best to explain who we are and what it is we’re trying to make and – perhaps especially – how we’re trying to make it. <BR>
We added the photo of us doing this in OS to our application. <BR>
Last week we heard we’ve been successful and have been granted funding for the R&D. And we know that’s a long way from a completed show, but it’s a big step forward. And it also feels like a vindication of our choice to work entirely in OS. And it started at D&D. <BR>
Thank you community,<BR>
Stella Duffy</SPAN></FONT>
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