A write up of Brigshaw's visit to West Yorkshire Playhouse to take part in the workshop "Off Stage Choices" Friday 15th of October.

On Friday the 15th of October a group of people interested in the arts attended a workshop put together by West Yorkshire Playhouse to promote Off Stage work in theatre.



We arrived at The Play House and registered in the foyer and bar area at 9am.

9.30am-10.20am;

We then proceeded to the the quarry theatre for a welcome speech which was very interactive and enjoyable.



9.50 - 10.20;

We began the backstage tour !

Backstage set work: The West Yorkshire Play House is a producing theatre which means every component of the show is created on site by people employed by the theatre.

Costume and props: The designers and seamstress's' are located in the floor above the wardrobe where all the costume wigs and props are created.



10.30-11.00am;

Workshop one was Special effects make-up led by Jules Greenan ( wigs supervisor, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Kim Wray, Programme manager, production arts, Leeds city college). During this workshop we learnt how to create very realistic looking bruises with a few colours and some hard concentration to create extremely believable shiners !



11.10-11.40am;

Workshop two was Writing for theatre led by Jodie Marshall (Playwright). In this workshop We created role plays based around the upcoming Christmas show "Aladdin" which will be running in December. We learnt how to hold an argument and create a story line.



11.40- 12am;

Break - where refreshments we're provided in the foyer/ bar area.



12-12.30am;

Workshop three was a Sound workshop led by Martin Pickersgill (Head of sound, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Richard Lee, programme manager, acting and dance technical theatre, Leeds City College). In this workshop we we're taught the creative process of sound and taught where things are on a soundboard and shown how to mix and put together sounds tracks to coincide with a performance.



12.40-1.10am;

Workshop four was marketing a show led by Joanna Loveday (Audience engagement officer, West Yorkshire playhouse). Within this workshop we learnt about different types of marketing such as pressing, magazines and merchandising.



1.10-1.45am;

Lunch-Brown seated area in bar.



1.45-2.15am;

Workshop five- Scene painting led by Barney George, Designer for "Aladdin" at West Yorkshire Playhouse. In this workshop we created various components to go on the scenes of "Aladdin". such as fruit (market sign) and lamps (lamp shop sign).



2.15-2.40am;

We then took part in a speed date session with the Play House staff to find out more about their work in the playhouse.



2.45-3.15am; Final session in the quarry theatre.