The Red Line
If you are involved in making performance – as a choreographer, maker, dramaturg, producer or performer – then this is the place for YOU.
THE RED LINE is the brainchild of South East Dance’s Dramaturg in Residence Lou Cope and is inspired by the French phrase ‘le fil rouge’ (which is used to describe the ‘common thread’ that runs through the heart of a show,
or in this case – a making process).
A place to spark dramaturgical thinking as you experience the preparation, making and presentation of performance work.
A place to blast open the studio doors
delve into the how, rather than the what
reveal process, rather than ideas
challenge
demystify
share and learn…
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An introduction to The Red Line by Lou Cope, South East Dance’s Dramaturg in Residence
This section of The Red Line is all about what you do before rehearsals begin.
What is the preparation process like for you?
How do you begin?
Where do your ideas come from?
How much, or how little, do you know on Day 1?
How do you prepare – alone, or with someone?
What does R&D mean to you?
What do you do outside of the studio?
You sharing aspects of your practice might enrich mine. But it won’t make me you. It’s nice that we can support and evolve each other don’t you think?
Artists work in an ‘overly silent land’ of intuition and private activity.
The idea that my work might be judged by people who have seen the hour long show that purports to represent the last 6 months of process seems ridiculous to me. I wish I could show them my process instead.
This section of The Red Line explores what happens during rehearsals.
As we all know, it can be the best and worst of times.
What is the making process like for you?
Do you have a methodology or is every process different?
Is there a part of the process that you particularly enjoy, or feel particularly good at?
What mistakes do you most often make?
How do you adapt to different styles of performers?
How do your works get structured?
How do you get through blocks/over hurdles?
How do you get feedback on what’s developing?
This section of THE RED LINE is about show time:
how to give your work to an audience and how to
articulate it.
What is the presenting process like for you?
How do you cope with technical and dress rehearsals?
How do you prepare performers for performance?
How do you feel about articulating what it is you have made?
How do you gather feedback, and what do you do with it?
How much does your work change by being repeatedly performed?
Do you always, or ever, like your work?
In spring/summer 2019 I made a film as part of Urban Myths, a research and development project funded by the Arts Council and supported by South East Dance. The premise was, “Can urban movement emerge from and resonate with the natural landscape?” The research project followed the process of the creation of a site…
” Kids are really difficult, innit” – Sam Butler, Artistic Director of Fevered Sleep and our project mentor. At the beginning of 2019, we had the pleasure of working with Sam Butler for several days over the course of the development of our first performance work, one of which was supported by South East…
Miss High Leg Kick Puppet Workshop with Sophie Ellen Powell, Brighton, 9th April 2019. With many thanks to South East Dance Flourish Bursary