March 13, 2007

SILO THEATRE STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPING EMERGENT ACTORS

Over 2003-06 Silo Theatre has strategically developed a pool of emergent actors including Mia Blake, Edwin Wright, Toni Potter, Fasitua Amosa, Kip Chapman and Claire Chitham. During their time with us, these actors worked with a wide range of professional directors, designers and producers within a variety of genres and programming strands including cutting edge contemporary works, devised works and classical texts. More importantly they became an integral part of Silo Theatre’s community. They now hold an appreciation of the meaning of Company, and understand their place within the larger framework of the industry. We are hugely proud of their achievements on stage, on screen and in their ongoing professionalism, dedication and hard work. Whilst by no means closing the door to these individuals, we realise that it is now time to move on.

Silo Theatre is committed to the continued discovery and development of emergent actors. Our core strategy toward assisting this next generation’s professional development is called The Ensemble Project. In November, we held open auditions to young actors aged 18-30 years.

The only entry condition placed on these actors was that they had not previously been employed by Silo Theatre under the current management and production structure. Over the course of two days a panel consisting of Frith Walker, Shane Bosher, Oliver Driver and Michael Hurst whittled 260 auditionees down to 130, then to 44, then to 22. Of these we selected twelve people to become part of Silo Theatre’s 2007 Ensemble. The chosen dozen commenced development in January 2007, and are set to deliver two works in repertory as part of the Auckland Festival AK07:

– the Driver-driven Based On Auckland (devised), and

– the Hurst-directed Tis Pity She’s A Whore (John Ford, 1633).

The core outcomes of this project will be professional discipline, the understanding of company, exposure to potential, exploration of range, development of craft and cross-pollination of skill. It is also anticipated that those selected will become the next generation of professional actors to replenish the industry, as has been the case with the actors who have been developed by Silo Theatre over the last four year period.

SILO THEATRE