The Directors Lab Intensive

The Directors Lab is a comprehensive mentorship programme led by Massive Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Sam Scott MNZM. It is for emerging directors to learn and practice their craft, incorporating conversations with various industry professionals and allowing for practical experimentation of theories and techniques.   

Tane (Marketing and Development Coordinator and Massive all-rounder) spoke to three of this year’s participants (Millie Manning, Gisele Proud and Cypha Clark) about their recent experience during The Directors Lab Intensive Week. Over five days, six directors worked on developing their own pieces, as well as acting as the performers for each other’s pieces, ending in a showing that was open to whānau and friends.

Highlight of the wiki?
A highlight of the wiki was seeing everyone’s work at the showing; I know that as an artist the process should be the main focus, but let me be frank - the result is always the most exciting thing for me. I loved watching and listening to the audience engage in all of the work.

What surprised you?
We had been working in our separate groups and spaces for the whole week so sharing each other’s work from the week was surprising and satisfying. I loved to watch my fellow Massivians engage in the work they made with pride and a sense of accomplishment.

How was it to show your work to an audience at the end of the week?
I felt nervous and excited to share my work - I didn’t know quite what to expect and to watch and absorb the response to my work was good learning and trialing. People told me afterwards that my facial expression was a performance in itself - I think I care a lot about my work. 

What's something you're taking into your practice as a director?
I know what energies I want to work with. I am inspired by my fellow Massivians to incorporate new practices and focuses into my process as a director. I will continue to be curious and actionable with new ideas because the challenges and pivots I made during the practicing week meant I could work with new material that communicated other ideas I value. I think this whakatauki would support my focus for the future as a director:

Whaia te iti kahurangi ki te tuohu koe he maunga teitei.

(Seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head let it be before a lofty mountain).

Highlight of the wiki?
The highlight of the wiki for me was discovering what it means to follow what feels good. I got a bit lost at the start trying to create something that I didn’t really feel that passionate about but felt like it's what I ‘should’ do. After a little creative breakdown on Wednesday, Sam gave me the beautiful advice of ‘just create something that feels good and feels like YOU.’ Letting myself go to fully explore something without pre-judgement of the idea felt really magical, and that state of excitement and flow was definitely my highlight. 

What surprised you?
The difference between being truly inspired and passionate about what you're making vs. just being interested. I thought that I knew what that meant but when it came to being on the floor as the director, I realised that I didn’t! A surprising learning definitely, but such a great one. 

How was it to show your work to an audience at the end of the week?
Scary! But fun! Seeing what people got from my work was so exciting, there was a lot more laughter than I had expected. Even though it was nerve-wracking, it felt really rewarding to share something that felt so good to me and see the audience enjoying it too. 

What's something you're taking into your practice as a director?
Definitely the following of what feels good and not listening to the annoying little voice in the back of my head that wants to judge ideas before even trying them! Giving myself permission to follow tangents that maybe don’t make sense yet but just feel right feels exciting and important to me. I can’t wait to see how this freedom will impact my practice as I continue to explore as a director! 

Highlight of the wiki?
The major highlight was working with Manu and Gisele who were extremely open to anything I had in mind. You can't undervalue a process where everyone wants to push for the best result and supports each other to get there.

What surprised you?
It seems obvious, but the time surprised me. Even working on a tight schedule, some elements ballooned out and needed that time to develop, but others, such as the explorative segments, which I gave room to test out new things, didn't take much time at all. In the end, this was great because we spent more time building material, which was my main focus.

How was it to show your work to an audience at the end of the week?
I must admit I was on edge. After nurturing an idea and crafting the outcome, it felt like there was more of me on the table to be viewed even if I wasn't on stage. Seeing the audience react to the work was very telling, whether segments hit their intended mark or if I had to rework it to clarify the intention.

What's something you're taking into your practice as a director?
The main one is letting those ideas breathe, not rushing to conclusions when brainstorming. To not judge the first idea that comes out but try it out before culling it too early. I enjoyed working with modelling clay as a base of ideas, it was an unconventional method that I am excited to refine and explore in the future. The Directors Lab gave me reassurance and a fresh perspective on idea gathering, and the space to make those mistakes and not only to not make them again but explore why they came up in the first place.