When our histories are stolen, how do we reclaim our narratives?
Join award-winning playwright France-Luce Benson for a four-part series of revolutionary writing - the debut course in the Global Voices Theatre Anti-School. Drawing upon her innovative process for the three-part epic, Deux Femmes on the Edge de la Revolution, France-Luce will guide participants in an exploration of Revisionist History, and methods of subverting and reclaiming narratives through the writing of new historical drama. Over the course of four weeks, participants will engage in practical writing exercises, lively discussions and research; taking the first steps in writing their own play based on an event that has been erased or revised as a result of colonization, white supremacy, and/or misogyny. Workshops will take place weekly via Zoom (with live captioning), and participants will receive short assignments/writing tasks between workshop sessions.
Who is this course for?
Anyone whose histories have been erased, oppressed or displaced, and who writes or is interested in writing theatre. No prior writing experience is required. Due to the sensitive nature of material included in this course, participants must be aged 18 or over.
When will the workshops be?
Workshop 1: November 25, 2020
Workshop 2: December 2, 2020
Workshop 3: December 9, 2020
Workshop 4: December 16, 2020
All workshops will take place 6pm-8pm UTC.
How much does it cost?
One of the foundations of the Anti-School is a commitment to open access for all - and this includes the removal of financial barriers. Therefore places are offered on a basis of 'Pay What You Can'. According to UK/US industry standards, a place on a four week course similar to this would ordinarily cost 80 GBP / 111 USD. We ask that prospective participants offer a fee that honestly reflects their ability to pay (considering their average yearly income, social barriers to access and current circumstances). All fees will contribute to the fair pay of our artists, and future Anti-School initiatives.
Access
All of the sessions will be live captioned via Zoom. Participants will receive a welcome email where they can detail any individual access needs. If you would like to discuss this before booking a ticket, please contact robin@globalvoicestheatre.com. Please note: because of the limited number of places on this course, participants must be available for all sessions.
Global Voices Theatre: The Anti-School
Inspired by the Antiuniversity movement of the 60s and the Free University of Liverpool, Global Voices Theatre initiated the GVT Anti-School. The Anti-School is a response to the failures of the existing drama education structure, and we want to look closely at how a digital programme of non-hierarchical learning can provide a remedy to the monolithic, mono-cultural approach of existing institutions. The concept of the Anti-School is rooted in the idea that theatre is a tool to view and change the world around us, and that knowledge is reciprocal. If we disrupt how we learn to make theatre, if we change the ways we understand it, then new ways of understanding the world can emerge; new, different links can be made between communities who take part in the theatre experience.
About France-Luce Benson
As a playwright and arts educator, France-Luce Benson was named “Someone to Watch” in 2019 by American Theatre magazine, and her play Talking Peace topped the list of most impactful plays in the Together L.A.: ATLA Virtual Theatre Festival. Tigress of San Domingue, the second in her trilogy about the Haitian Revolution, was named a finalist of the Bay Area Playwrights Festival 2020, and was selected for The Playwrights Center’s Afro Atlantic Playwrights Festival. She is a recipient of a Miranda Family Foundation grant for her play Detained, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation New Play Commission for her play The Devil’s Salt, and a Princess Grace Award runner up for Boat People.
Registration
To register, please book your ticket on the anti-school eventbrite page.
This pilot course is supported by the Language Acts and Worldmaking Small Grants scheme.