The weekend after Recharge there was a Christchurch theatre forum organised by Operate Trust. It was brilliant to be there after the Magdalena Gathering experience. Creating links. Communicating.
There were representatives from a good number of different Christcurch Theatre Companies and organisations, including the Court Theatre, Red Theatre, The Clinic,The Christchurch Arts Festival, Top Dog Theatre, The Free Theatre, Dramasoc, Repertory Theatre, Blackbird Theatre, self-employed theatre practitioners, Red Rose Theatre, IMAGinE Children's Theatre,graduates from NASDA ... and others... Guest speakers were Steph Walker from Bats who shared inspirational practical experience from her work at BATS and her marketing expertise, and Dayle Hunt who is leading the creation of Red Theatre, the coming new Christchurch Theatre venue.
Many interesting topics of concern to the forum participants were discussed,and it became clear that face to face discussions between us all have been few and far betwen in the past. A monthly face to face meeting has been created to change this - THIRST! THIRST exists to network and share resources and info on what we're all doing, and to create links between Chch performance makers. THIRST happens 8 - 10pm on the 3rd Thursday of every month at the upstairs bar of the Dux de Lux. Join us if you're in Christchurch.
The need for finding ways of giving non-violent peer feedback amongst practitioners was recognised and a training will be set up to discuss and facilitate this process. After being part of the rich experience of Magdalena Gathering feedback this is something I look forward to happening in Christchurch. Many other discussions happened too... Time there is not to report them all! But what a positive and satisfying coming together it was.