The Bold Ensemble will help groups of actors and devisers to develop key collaborative skills in order to work together most effectively.

Trace the word “ensemble” back far enough, and you’ll find it means “having survived together”. This workshop ensures teams don’t just survive, but have the tools to thrive, becoming far more than the sum of their parts.

Deliverable as a short residency or a longer module, this workshop is ideal for new cohorts of actors-in-training at drama schools or universities, as well as groups of professional actors and devisers embarking on work together for the first time. Existing ensembles who would like to invigorate their practice and explore different approaches would also find lots here to benefit from.

I first developed my approach to teaching ensemble practice when I was invited to lead the Storytelling module for Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s MA Acting course. Over several years, and in response to the evolving needs of actor training, I reframed the work to become more ensemble- and collaboration-based. This work has since informed all of my teaching and directing with artists-in-training.

Often implemented at the very beginning of their time together, The Bold Ensemble prepares the group to have a healthy and productive relationship with their peers throughout the rest of their training or period of work. It provides foundational principles around generosity and listening, nurturing a sense of collaboration over competition that they can take with them throughout their careers as they work with different people in different settings.

CONTENT & OUTCOMES

An effective introduction to The Bold Ensemble can take place over a week-long residency.
Longer modules and courses are available for drama schools and universities.

During the week-long introductory residency, participants will:

  • Get to know one another and build trust through a series of increasingly strategic games and exercises.

  • Explore key guiding principles behind effective ensemble work — each guiding principle is explored through practical exercises, building on what has come before, providing a structured approach to the learning.

  • Develop key skills in improvisation and explore how these skills intersect with the guiding principles.

  • Learn some basic devising tools and discover how these tools intersect with the guiding principles.

During longer modules and courses at drama schools and universities, participants will also:

  • Deepen their knowledge and application of the guiding principles.
  • Build on their improvisation skills and use the devising tools to create a new piece of theatre.
  • Apply the guiding principles to contemporary and classical texts.

  • Discover strategies to maintain the health of the ensemble beyond the module or course, and explore how to adapt this work when entering new ensembles in the future.

DETAILS & LOGISTICS

  • Who is the workshop for?
    — It’s ideal for new cohorts of actors-in-training at drama schools or universities, as well as groups of professional actors and devisers embarking on work together for the first time. Existing ensembles who would like to invigorate their practice and explore different approaches would also find lots to benefit from.

  • How many participants can take part?
    — To ensure everyone can have the fullest experience of the practical exercises, workshops are capped at a maximum of 20 participants.

  • How long is the workshop?
    — The five-day deep-dive residency is made up of two 3-hour sessions with a break in between on each day.
    — For longer modules or courses at drama schools and universities, the work is best explored as an intensive, full-time module, which can be scaled to span anything from two to six weeks.
    — At drama schools and universities, a showing of the work explored can be scheduled for the penultimate session of the module.
    — Other schedules can be accommodated to suit a group’s particular circumstances.

  • Where can the workshop take place?
    — The workshop is practical and needs to take place in-person; it cannot be delivered online.
    — The booker is responsible for finding a suitable room or studio for the workshop to take place in.

  • What space or equipment is needed for the workshop?
    — A space that is large enough to comfortably accommodate full-group practical work and exercises.
    — A chair for each participant.
    — Participants should wear clothes they are comfortable moving in.
    — Participants should bring something to take notes with (as no handouts are provided.)

  • What is the cost of the workshop?
    — Workshop costs vary depending on length and location. Please enquire about the cost by filling in the form below or emailing directly.

  • Can the workshop accommodate participants with specific needs or who require specific adjustments?
    — Absolutely! It is very important that everyone can participate fully in a way that is comfortable and positive for them. Please provide as much detail as possible when booking and I’ll arrange a time for us to have a conversation in advance of the workshop date.

INTERESTED IN BOOKING A WORKSHOP OR LEARNING MORE?

Get in touch to secure your dates or to arrange an informal chat about your ideas and plans. You can contact me using the form below, or email me directly:

hello [at] garethjnicholls [dot] com.

Which workshop (s) are you wishing to enquire about?

AVAILABLE WORKSHOPS

EXPLORE MORE

The Box

A powerful devising, writing, improvisation and scene study tool rolled into one.

The Funhouse

Enter The Funhouse to devise work in front of an audience in real-time.

The Bold Ensemble

A workshop to help groups of actors and devisers nurture key collaborative skills in order to work together most effectively.

Effortless Devising

A stress-free approach to developing narrative-led work.

Improvisation Without Fear

A step-by-step approach to eliminate dread when improvising.

Audience Collaboration — For Actors & Devisers

An approach that invites audiences to be your most important collaborator.

Audience Collaboration — For Directors

An approach that invites audiences to be your most important collaborator.