Illuminate: Dialogue
The Art of Playwriting in a Culturally Diverse Scotland
Thursday 25 June 2009
CCA, Glasgow
1:30pm-6:00pm
Illuminate investigated varying aspects of contemporary theatre practice, as part of the Playwrights’ Studio’s commitment to exploring and developing the art form of theatre.
Please click here to dowload a copy of the Illuminate Report
This successful event comprised an afternoon of debate and new thinking on the subject of cultural diversity in Scotland’s theatre industry; open to established and aspiring artists, decision-makers, and opinion formers in theatre writing, commissioning, programming, and casting.
To start the afternoon Kwame Kwei-Armah, Playwright, Director and Actor was in conversation with the Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland’s Playwriting Fellow Tanika Gupta. There were also smaller discussion groups and a chance to pose questions. After a final panel session, the evening was rounded off with drinks, light refreshments and the opportunity to continue conversations or start up new ones.
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Discussion groups:
Telling stories
hosted by Cheryl Martin with Oladipo Agboluaje and Paven Virk
It has been suggested that a ‘narrative instinct’ is fundamental to human nature. And there’s been speculation that the invention of language has a lot to do with the role of gossip in human evolution. So Cheryl Martin, Oladipo Agboluaje, and Paven Virk will be gossiping: about the stories they’ve been telling in their own work and considering whose stories might we, should we, do we want to be telling next.
Speaking aloud
hosted by Pamela Carter with Michael Bhim and Alan Wilkins
Beginning with Martin Crimp’s suggestion that ‘all dialogue is inherently cruel’ Michael Bhim, Pamela Carter and Alan Wilkins will be talking theatrical dialogue. They may or may not be nice to each other; but they will be looking at each others’ work and plays like David Harrower’s ‘Knives In Hens’, asking why characters speak, and considering what they do to each other and say about their worlds in the process.
Voice
hosted by Julie Ellen with Annie George and Leann O’Kasi
When we identify an artist as ‘having a voice’, what we’re perhaps talking about is their singularity and exceptionality and maybe even their saleability. Having a voice in a public, political sense is, amongst other things, about commonality and inclusiveness as well as radicality and challenge. Julie Ellen, Annie George and Leann O’Kasi will be asking what does having ‘a voice’ as a theatre artist mean and how does one develop it. They’ll also be considering what it means to speak on behalf of others and wondering where, in doing so, silences might fall.
Speculating
hosted by Femi Folorunso with Vicky Featherstone and Kwame Kwei-Armah
Theatres are public spaces written over historically and where audiences and theatre-makers encounter each other in the here and now to examine the world. Femi Folorunso, Kwame Kwei-Armah and Vicky Featherstone will rummage through past, cast an eye over the present and think about the future. They’ll be talking about theatre canon, adaptation and new writing; they’ll be imagining what might be the ‘best of worlds’ and asking what, in that best of worlds, would we see on stage.
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Contributors:
Oldadipo Agboluaje, Playwright ● Michael Bhim, Playwright ● Pamela Carter, Playwright and Director ● Julie Ellen, Creative Director - Playwrights’ Studio, Scotland ● Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director - National Theatre of Scotland ●Dr Femi Folorunso, Arts Development Officer (minority ethnic) - Scottish Arts Council ●Annie George, Artistic Director - the Wave Theatre ● Kwame Kwei-Armah, Actor and Playwright ● Cheryl Martin, Director in Residence – Traverse Theatre ● Leann O’Kasi Actor and Director ● Paven Virk, Playwright and Actor ● Alan Wilkins, Playwright
Click here for biographies of contributors
Funded by the Scottish Arts Council
Also supported by: 
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Playwrights' Studio, Scotland
CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD
Telephone: 0141-332-4403
Textphone: 0141-332-3208
E-mail: info@playwrightsstudio.co.uk
Charity Number: SC036767
Top image : John Paul McCue in NTS proudction of 365 by David Harrower: photo by Mark Hamilton