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PROPOSAL FOR SPONSORSHIP MA APPLIED THEATRE STUDENT, WILL HUDSON

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London

CONTENTS

2. INTRODUCTION 3-5. BACKGROUND 6-8. THE FUTURE 9-10. BECOMING A SPONSOR 11. YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT! / CONTACT 12. “CIVILISED” SOCIETY – SUZUKI 13. USEFUL LINKS

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INTRODUCTION

First and foremost, I thank you for investing valuable time in reading this

document. I am approaching you for assistance because I feel

passionately about my chosen field of research and I believe that your

organisation also places a focus on communication as a means to

develop skills and resolve conflict within a business or community. As an

emerging practitioner in the field of Applied Theatre, my aim is to take

full advantage of theatre’s potential as a forum for discussion and

cooperation in order to strengthen relationships between individuals

and groups.

My hope is that, having read this document, you will find sufficient cause

to contribute towards this key area of research in both a financial and

collaborative sense

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BACKGROUND

I have been working as an international theatre practitioner, translator, teacher and workshop facilitator for the past 15 years. During this time I have been exposed to a wide variety of customs and cultures that have

become the catalyst for my research in the area of cross-cultural communication and team-building in the theatre and in non-theatre

environments.

I have had key work experience in three major metropolitan hubs:

LONDON

In 2000 I accepted a place at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama

to study on the BA (Hons) European Theatre Arts programme, working in

a dynamic environment alongside students from a wide range of cultural

backgrounds. Here I formed links with practitioners in Madrid and

Barcelona that would later influence my decision to move to Spain.

LONDON: 2000-05

MADRID: 2005-14

NEW YORK: 2014

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Enthused by the challenge to find a common language that could

communicate to an international audience, the multicultural theatre

company Zecora Ura Theatre was formed - a diverse ensemble that

brought together artists from the degree programme and of which I was

a founding member. The company mission was to create original work

that would address the themes of “transit” and “language” and to create

a network of organisations for the purpose of collaborating on

educational outreach programmes.

Between the years 2000 and 2005 I participated in a number of projects

with the company that included tours to the Edinburgh Fringe and

Tampere Fringe Festival, Finland. In 2002 I coordinated workshops for the

company with schoolchildren at St. John’s School, Marlborough, as part of

our theatre outreach programme.

The company still operates as ZU-UK to great acclaim, under the direction

of Brazilian practitioner Jorge Lopes Ramos.

MADRID

In 2005 I moved to Madrid on a permanent basis in order to immerse

myself in the language and culture and gain a wider perspective on

international communication. Operating as a freelance practitioner in

Madrid, I initiated a series of workshops entitled “Inter-Action” in which

Spanish and South American actors worked with text in English as an

investigation into how foreign vocabulary and expression affects the

body and how this foreign angle sheds new light on the native language.

The fascination in language as a base for social cooperation has also

led me to run in-company workshops for the logistics company Cacesa

where I focused on language learning as a means to widen social

interaction and encourage equality in the workplace between

employees of different nationalities.

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My experience in the area of cross-cultural communication as an

interpreter, translator and facilitator has involved collaborations with

leading international theatre practitioners such as Declan Donnellan and

Anne Bogart during their visits to the Spanish National Theatre (CDN) and

the Bridge Project at Teatro Español.

At the CDN I assisted Declan and Anne as they worked intensively with

groups of approximately 30 actors and was responsible for

simultaneous translation during the entirety of the masterclass

between the students and the practitioner. At the Teatro Español I

facilitated communication between the Spanish technical team and the

technicians and actors of the Bridge Project in their touring productions

of As You Like It and The Tempest, directed by Sam Mendes.

I have also been responsible for the organisation and project

management of large scale theatre projects, such as “Fuego Artico”. The

project involved over 20 actors in a production based on The Cherry

Orchard, transposed to modern-day Spain in the midst of the financial

crisis and political upheaval. The piece was directed by the celebrated

Theatre du Soleil artist, Jeremy James.

NEW YORK

In September of 2014, I was invited to New York by celebrated theatre

actors Joan Shepard and Evan Thompson1 to perform a non-profit theatre

piece inspired by the life of the cult literary icon, Jack Kerouac. The aim of

the project was to emphasise Kerouac’s tireless search for the links

between communities in his own native land of America. The piece,

entitled Burn, Burn, Burn was performed in Manhattan in November at a

private theatre venue and later as part of the event “The Beat, The Root

and the Soul” at Artes Liberales in Heidelberg, Germany.

1 Sadly, Evan Thompson passed away earlier this year at the age of 83. Out of respect, a link will not be sited.

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THE FUTURE

After a 15 year international career I now have the opportunity to

return to London on a leading MA programme in order to consolidate

my skills.

I have been recently awarded a place at the prestigious Royal Central

School of Speech and Drama to study on the MA Applied Theatre

programme, currently considered to be a world-leading postgraduate

degree in this particular field.

In the field of Applied Theatre I will be undertaking practical research

projects in non-theatre environments, such as youth referral units or

hospitals and working with a wide variety of individuals that have

suffered marginalisation in the UK and abroad as a direct result of their

gender, race, sexuality or social standing.

LONDON 2015 -

MA Applied Theatre

cross-cultural communication:

dissolving conflict increasing

cooperation

LONDON

NEW YORK

MADRID

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I may be, for example, devising projects with young offenders, or

improving communication skills between persons of different

ethnicities in UK businesses. The overall objective of the programme is to

implement projects that can utilize theatre’s potential as an agent to

increase social wellbeing and expose injustice.

MY SPECIALISM – TACKLING RACIAL TENSION / IMPROVING

COOPERATION

I intend to specialise in the area of theatre and cultural integration. My

aim is to learn and implement dynamic new techniques in order to

improve communication and understanding between persons

of contrasting cultures.

We, in the UK and elsewhere, are still struggling to address the ethnic

differences within our societies. With racial tension on the rise between

Christian and Muslim communities we must constantly be reminded of

the urgent need for dialogue, as opposed to alienation and

scaremongering. It is the physical, face-to-face communication at both an

international and local level that I consider to be a gateway towards

resolving conflict between opposing communities or individuals.

Theatre can teach us key communication skills that can aid the process of

such a resolution.

My aims throughout my course of study will be the following:

to identify the “patterns of conduct” that must be

observed if one is to become a fully-fledged member of

society. Follow-up question: where is the line between

integration and conformity?

to examine the level of discrimination prevalent in

society. Follow-up question: have attitudes in society

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towards immigration become more open or closed-minded

over the last fifty years?

to expose “identity” as a transient concept and that

our sense of belonging should attempt to reach beyond the

limitation of national status. Follow-up question: Where

does then, that sense of belonging originate?

to heighten cultural awareness. Follow up question:

how can communication be improved between

communities in order to reduce tension and mistrust and

prevent violence?

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BECOMING A SPONSOR

I believe that with the skills I have developed through working in theatre,

teaching and translation, I have the potential to become a leading

practitioner in the area of cross-cultural communication. The MA

Applied Theatre at Royal Central is the springboard that will enable me to

consolidate these skills and offer me, upon graduation, the employment

opportunities I need in order to work effectively with communities and

businesses. However, my only obstacle is that I cannot currently meet the

total cost of one year’s study in London.

I am currently approaching individuals and organisations that are in

favour of backing artistic initiatives for the purpose of social change and

are keen to participate in my development as an emerging practitioner in

this field.

If I am unable to cover the course fees and living costs I may have to

defer my place at Royal Central and as a result will not be able to take

full advantage of the remarkable placements that the school is currently

offering.

Detailed below is an estimation of the expenses I will incur over a 12-month period as a student in London

Type of expense Estimated cost over 12 months

Course fees £7,424 Housing £8,120

Travel £1,320 Food £3,968

Telephone £660 Bills £1,320 Medical expenses £220

Course materials £2,200 Other £2,398

TOTAL £27, 630

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I intend to meet the total costs using the following strategies:

personal savings (I intend to raise £10,000 myself)

grants and bursaries (I have already been awarded a £2,500 grant from Equity towards my course fees)

private sponsors

loans

crowdfunding campaigns

A percentage of my living expenses will be covered by my own

personal savings. I receive no financial support from family or friends

and therefore must find alternative sources of funding to reach my

target amount of £27,630 that should be achieved by November 2015.

SPONSORSHIP – WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL?

an individual or organisation that officially supports my development as a practitioner in the field of Applied Theatre

offers financial support

will actively back my proposal in the form of recommendation

letters or emails

will receive updates about my projects and progress

WHAT I OFFER IN RETURN FOR SPONSORSHIP

free workshop for your organisation on cultural integration / team-building / communication skills

visible acknowledgement of support via social media / blog (under construction)

commitment to providing updates of progress to sponsor

commitment to ongoing collaboration beyond graduation

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YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT!

Your support can make a difference. It is my pledge to carry out

theatre and arts initiatives as a force for social justice and change. I am

committed to projects that provide creative solutions for communities

and businesses; that improve cooperation between individuals and

groups of opposing beliefs and backgrounds. Gaining access to my

programme this year will provide me with the key pedagogical skills I

require in order to carry out this important work at the highest

possible level.

CONTACT

For more information or to become a sponsor please do not hesitate to

contact me at william.a.f.hudson@gmail.com or call on 07534 935 774.

Once again, thank you for your time, interest and support with this project.

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“In my opinion, a ‘cultured’ society is one in which the perceptive and expressive ability of the human body is fully potentiated; that in which the aforementioned ability constitutes the standard level of communication. A civilised country is not always a ‘cultured’ society.”

Tadashi Suzuki

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USEFUL LINKS

Rose Bruford College, European Theatre Arts https://www.bruford.ac.uk/courses/european-theatre-arts-ba-hons/

ZU-UK http://zu-uk.com/

Cacesa, forwarding and logistics http://www.cacesa.com/

Declan Donnellan http://www.cheekbyjowl.com/declan_donnellan.php

Anne Bogart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bogart

CDN – Spanish National Theatre http://cdn.mcu.es/

The Bridge Project http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-features/5296859/Sam-Mendes-and-Kevin-Spacey-The-Bridge-Project.html

Jeremy James / Fuego Artico (In Spanish) http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2014/03/12/actualidad/1394648675_091404.html

Joan Shepard http://performancereviewed.com/rada-festival-confessions-of-an-old-lady-2-with-joan-shepard/

Royal Central School of Dramatic Art, Applied Theatre http://www.cssd.ac.uk/course/applied-theatre-ma

Artes Liberales / The Beat, The Root and the Soul (some German) http://hejevent.se/event/o7eb5656zcfosa/the-beat-the-root-and-the-soul

Tadashi Suzuki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadashi_Suzuki