Neil Gaiman on life in the arts
“…break rules, make the world more interesting for your being here, make good art!”
A fantastic speech from Neil Gaiman that address the creation of art, life in the arts, from early career to later career to a graduating 2012 class of the University Of The Arts. Everything he wishes he knew starting out and all the best advice he failed to follow.
Jack Paterson Newsletter, Spring 2012 and Magnetic North
The Magnetic North Festival
I have just landed in Ottawa as my next theatre adventure is starting up. May and June will be split between here and Calgary, as I do a residency in National Festival Production with Brenda Leadlay and The Magnetic North Festival.
This is the final phase of self created Artistic Director Mentorship program designed to understand the production, administrative and artistic needs of different theatre organizations with different mandates in different regions of the country. Over the last season, this has included time with The Centaur Theatre and Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal in Montreal and Theatre Conspiracy in Vancouver and has covered topics ranging from season planning and subscriptions, grant writing and reporting, flying squads, dramturgy and new play development, casting and production.
This a final leg along with developing practical production experience with this important national organization is also a wonderful opportunity to explore the Ottawa and Calgary theatre scenes while also taking in the exciting new work from across the country.
A special thank you to the BC Arts Council for making this part possible.
Vancouver: Jan. to April
I started 2012 by teaming up with director Richard Wolfe (PI Theatre) as we formed the Plan B Collective for the west coast premiere of Marius von Mayenburg’s international sensation The Ugly One. Plan B Collective featured David Beairsto as Lette, the man with the face, Amber Lewis, Brian J. Sutton and myself as Scheffler.
Lighting Design was by Jergus Oprsal, Sound Design by Jordan Watkins, Set & Costumes by Roxana Chapela, Stage Managed by Wren Handman, Assistant Stage Managed by Jocelynn Mortlock and Assistant Directed by Michael Gunion.
“…Jack Paterson(s) performance made the darkness and the comedy reverberate…delightfully weirdly ominous show of quirky wit and stylish production… a great cast… this unique play… hugely funny… Bravo to director Richard Wolfe” – OutTV
“…excellent production…a strong ensemble…Hats off to the designers…Directed crisply by Richard Wolfe… I really appreciate seeing Canadian productions of contemporary plays by foreign writers…” – Plank Magazine
Other Highlights included participating in GVPTA Unified General Auditions as a coach, pre-screener and Auditor. Further theatre adventures involved catching up on the many exciting new and old Vancouver theatre talent. A few stand out productions I was able to catch included Amarillo and Club PuSh (PuSh Festival), Waiting for Godot (Blackbird Theatre), The Last Days of Judas Iscariot ( Pound of Flesh with Rumble, NeWorld and The Pacific Theatre) and new works like Solo Flights (Solo Collective) and the upcoming youth playwrights of LEAP (Arts Club).
See you at the theatre.
Jack Paterson
