The Director's Diary

All actors need to hear this. The top DOs and DON'Ts from the auditioning process. Here Alex lays out top tips to stand out and what mistakes to avoid when applying for roles.

Rhiannon White, co-founder and co-director at Common Wealth. Common Wealth are an Arts Council NPO who make socially charged, activist and site-based work. Interestingly they work out of two cities, Cardiff and Bradford. Rhiannon fronts the Welsh side of the company and here we learn about her journey from her estate, to squatting in Bristol to setting up this exciting company. Questions include; -What was your childhood like? -Your first experience of theatre? -Squatting in Bristol….what is the journey there? Does your hustle come down to class? -Was there a moment that you can remember a certain code in the industry? -What do Common Wealth do really well? -What is your rehearsal period like? -How do you work across two cities? -What is the most difficult thing? TW: We do speak briefly about domestic abuse.

Jess Sweet runs CLAY (Centre for Live Art Yorkshire). CLAY is an ambitious, lively and welcoming live art venue in Leeds. In this chapter Jess speaks about what it was like to quit her job, her relationship and leave her accommodation to then go on to build something. This chapter has multiple take-aways including; - How to trust your instincts when others doubt you? - How to choose the right people to work with? - How to make a company agile and still be able to grow it? - How can a board make all the difference to a company? - How can you engage with new audiences and make them feel welcome?

Paul Smith has helped build Middle Child into one of the industry-leading companies in the UK. For years Middle Child have been recognised for their exciting, dynamic performance style. But 6 months into their journey, Paul admits they nearly stopped everything. Luckily they didn't and lucky for us Paul is here to talk about his experiences with us. Why didn't they quit? Why didn't they get 'proper jobs'? It's all in this chapter. This feels like one of the most important chapters to date for this reason. We all get to that moment of quitting, this industry is HARD. Some do quit. But what makes others continue...?

This week we speak to Nathan Geering, co-artistic director of Theatre Deli, Chief Exec of Rationale Arts, Accessibility innovator, TED X speaker, Published author, award-winning film maker. This chapter sheds light on what we can all do to make our art more accessible and why it is important. Nathan gives us practical steps to follow towards where our industry should be. Towards the end, Nathan speaks honestly about mindset. This is often not spoken about at all in my experience. What does it take to be successful? How can we become the authentic version of ourselves?

Amit Lahav, the Artistic Director of Gecko Theatre comes onto the podcast to share his journey with us. And what a journey it is. From moving from Israel to London as a boy, to finding his love of performing in an unlikely fashion to setting up the company. Amit shares how he thinks about his process, how to tell the human story, how to juggle the different parts of running a company (Director, performer, producer etc.) as well as telling us how a visit to the opticians can be theatrical! This is a chapter not to be missed. Gecko are in a really exciting time at the moment with a new show just on the horizon and with The Wedding being invited back to The Barbican (7-11 June 2022) Book tickets here: https://www.geckotheatre.com/

This is a topic we haven't covered but will affect most of us. It has always felt like I have carried around a fear of being an artist becuase I know I want to have a family one day. "How will I do that?", "Will I be able to do that?", "What will I need to sacrifice?". Here Helen and Abbi from RashDash reveal how they are making it work with an honest account of how becoming Mothers has influenced their work. There is lot online about RashDash and their work, but in this chapter we see a different side to them. We follow them from students trying to choose a name, to picking their values, to making their shows to starting families. N.B. We are sweetly interrupted by a small person which we have decided to keep in, to maintain the flow of conversation but also to emphasise that this is real, unfiltered and a true picture of what it is like to work in the arts.

If there was one question that unites all freelancers in the arts, this is it. Do I move or stay? Do I go to London because of its possibilities and opportunities or are these even more competitive than the positions in the regions? Alex has collated responses from people in the industry, previous special guests as well as his own musings on the topic to try to give a well rounded, fair response to the question; do I go to London?

Clem Garritty is the co-founder and creative director at Swamp Motel. Swamp Motel creates entertainment that blurs boundaries between theatre, film and gaming. By giving audiences a pivotal role within story-worlds, Swamp Motel's innovative productions are always live, social and thrilling whether experiencing them from your sofa, your desk or in an unexpected venue. Their online experiences combine the artistry of immersive theatre with the thrill of an escape room, made for the internet. Here Clem goes back with us to the start of the company, how he makes work and uses technology within his work. Making money is necessary as an artist but it is often a "dirty" subject which most duck away from speaking about. What stayed with me after the conversation is how Clem doesn't do this. This is the conversation that many will need, and has the potential to transform how we think about making work.

If I am honest, I am a little nervous to put this out. This is probably the most honest I have been on this podcast. I haven't had a good week and feeling quite defeated about things. Showing you the reality of working and living in the arts is what this podcast is all about, so I felt compelled to put my nervousness aside and open my diary once again. I hope you are not in my position, but I suspect that a few may be. I hope this shows you are not alone and can give you some sort of value into how to move forwards. As ever, thanks for listening. It is no-ones intention ever to share a diary, so if you are listening to this...keep it close and use it well.

Thomas Maller has gone from 6 people seeing his first show to creating some of the most internationally acclaimed experiences with well known titles such as 'Dr Strangelove', ‘28 Days Later', ‘Blade Runner', 'Romeo + Juliet' and ‘Casino Royale' which opened in London 2019 and transferred to Shanghai 2020. In this chapter, Tom talks about his process and how he forms a company when making such epic performances. He also speaks to how we all can continue to push the boundaries of whatever form we are working in. - Founding a company - Making a show with choice - Creating Gatsby - What makes great experience? - Making work with audience at the centre? - What is the rehearsal process like? - How do you inspire your actors (during a rehearsal)? - Working with big IP - Time Fracture: The Official Doctor Who experience. - Work/Life balance - Advice to 18 year old Tom

Nick Moran is one of the trailblazers within the escape room industry. Having built some of the UK's most successful escape games this chapter pulls back the curtain to reveal what it was like to create such experiences. This conversation, recorded in December 2021 is full of amazing insights into writing, specifically how to use structure within cinematic and theatrical storytelling. Nick Moran: https://www.nickmoran.com Time Run: https://time-run.sketchanet.com/ Sherlock: https://www.thegameisnow.com/

Sharon Watson MBE is CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Prior to this, she was the longest-standing Artistic Director of Phoenix Dance Theatre. Her journey with the company began when she was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award-winning company. The list of awards Sharon has won is staggering and endless. She has been and continues to be a guiding light not just for dance but for the industry as a whole. Here she talks about her journey into the industry and how she thinks about being a leader, both in the rehearsal room but also in a wider sense. Sharon was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. She also appears in the Yorkshire Insider Power 100 list 2022.

Bertie Watkins is the founder of COLAB. A London based Immersive Theatre company comprising of different theatre companies working together to create the first home for Immersive Theatre. Bertie opens his diary here to talk about how he went from making a show on his own, to creating one of the most successful immersive companies in the industry who span different venues across London.

Season Two kicks off with a really special guest. Amy Letman is one of the most prolific producers in the North, if not the UK. Amy has recently been named as one of The Stage's top 25 people in the industry. She is also the Creative Director of Transform Festival which always hosts a wide array of ambitious national and international performance work. Here Amy talks about how it all started for her, she opens her diary and reveals what it really took to build something like Transform. https://transformfestival.org/ https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/the-stage-25-amy-letman

We are BACK! The diary flicks open and Season 2 of the podcast returns. In this chapter we make a commitment to you for the future. Alex also talks about working from home and opens up his diary to share practical steps to make you more productive. This season Alex is joined with an unreal list of special guests, who are all at the top of the industry.

Amy Leach is the Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse, here she reveals her journey from youth theatre to setting up an award-winning comany (En Masse) to her professional work. Amy speaks openly about how she thinks about her work, the role of the director and how she runs a room.

Here Alex talks to two talented and ambitious producers. Simply put, this chapter is a must for any aspiring producer or theatre-maker. Jo Crowley is the Executive Producer at 1927, a multi-award winning independent Performance Company that specialises in combining performance and live music with animation and film to create amazing experiences. Rosie has worked with some of the most interesting organisations in the country such as 1927, The Young Vic, Cheek by Jowl and Headlong Theatre. Rosie Clark is currently the Producer at Riptide, and the Associate Producer at Cast in Doncaster running their talent development.

This week our special guest is Emma Beverley. Emma is a Producer and Programmer of multiple artforms, who has made and presented award-winning artworks in a range of contexts: including the Royal Court Theatre and British Council Showcase, pubs, clubs, cafes and derelict storage units. In 2021, she will join Leeds 2023 as Executive Producer, delivering a landmark year of culture for Leeds and the wider region.

In Chapter 14, we hear from Kate McGrath, Director at Fuel (@Fueltheatre) who are an independent proceeding company working with visionary artists to realise groundbreaking work. Artists such as Sound&Fury, Fevered Sleep and David Rosenberg. In this episode, we uncover an unfiltered account of Kate's journey from student to Director, from journalism to producing award-winning theatre. Kate also sheds light on what she has been doing since lockdown started, how it has affected her and her company, and what she and the Freelance Taskforce have done to support freelancers in the arts.

Why is it always the way that contracts are written FOR freelancers and never the other way around? How do we go about addressing this power imbalance? Here, Alex sheds light on a real event which happened to Riptide during the COVID pandemic, it shows the importance of having the right things in your contract clauses and the importance of semantics.

In our heads we sometimes elevate the consequences of getting something wrong, and this fear of failure becomes one of the main obstacles when making work. In Chapter 12, Alex talks about his mindset when making work and how to overcome the fear of failure but also the fear of success.

How do we keep going in the face of lockdown, or a massive mountain of a project? Alex talks about tactics he uses to tackle how to keep moving, how to build habits and how to slowly move the needle. Here he also discusses the 'freelancer guilt' of not working and has an interesting provocation for all listeners.

Ryan is an actor, film-maker and videographer. Here he talks openly about his own process, specifically how to get and use mentors and tactics he uses to diversify his skillset as well as how to stay creative and productive. A must-listen for any performer or artist forging trying to get their own work out there.

In Chapter Nine, Alex opens up about what it has been like in lockdown and offers advice and finds positives to what can be a very stressful and troubling time.

In Chapter Eight, I interview actor and writer, James Underwood. Interestingly James works across traditional mediums of art and writes for comedy, theatre and film. James is also the co-founder of Arts at the Arms, a performing arts platform for local artists which champions new-writing and work in progress. Here James talks about his own process. He opens up his own diary and we take a look at how he starts generating ideas, and how he gets his work seen by others. @ArtsattheArms

It is the beginning of a new year and what better topic than how to start? This chapter covers key questions that Alex feels are important when starting a project. It also covers the topic of hiring and Alex illuminates his process as Riptide seek new people for their latest project.

In Chapter Six, I interview a director, who is a good friend and someone I have admired for a long time. Tyrrell Jones is a director, producer and writer as well as the co-artistic director of Knaive Theatre. Here Tyrrell opens up honestly about what it is like to set up a theatre company from scratch. 
He gives details of what it was like to create and tour their award-winning show Bin Laden: The One Man Show which has had tours in America and Australia.
 Tyrrell also talks about how to make the most out of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, as well as the potential pitfalls for young companies.

 www.knaivetheatre.com

In Chapter Five, Alex talks about real-life events that have provoked discussion within the company. This chapter explores questions such as; when does something become plagiarism and theft, and when is it taking inspiration?

In Chapter Four, I interview a good friend and talented writer Chris O'Connor to talk about his journey of becoming a writer. Chris writes for the likes of BBC Radio, Red Ladder and Riptide and here shares the reality of freelance writing.

This chapter explores what it is like as a freelancer in the arts through the lens of personal finance, and tries to offer up tactics and solutions to one of the hardest things to deal with in freelance life.

The Director's Diary continues with Chapter Two: Funding. This explores how to fund yourself in the arts, specifically talking about Arts Council funding, local council funding and crowdfunding.

This podcast is simple, every week I'm going to share my personal diary with you. I want to give you an open-source insight into what it's like to make work as an artist, as a director - what it is really like. This is not scripted, this is direct from my diary. I have no agenda. I am not selling anything. This is about being open and honest and sharing my struggles and the difficulties I face on a day-to-day basis and how I look to overcome them. My name is Alex Palmer, this is the Director's Diary. It's no one's intention to share a diary, so if you're listening to this keep it close and use it well.