Calling live performance, theatre artists, actors and dancers in North Wales!
The Bridge Ensemble are excited to invite you to join us for a weekend of ‘quick raise’ creativity.
The ‘Quick Raise’ is a process of making live theatre with minimal rehearsal time. It is an ensemble language inspired by the process used in Elizabethan theatre by Shakespeare and his players, fused with modern techniques.
It is exciting, challenging, thoroughly invigorating and surprisingly effective. Led by Ben Crystal and Andrew Codispoti of The Bridge Ensemble, over this weekend participants will learn the tools to create an ensemble and raise a show in just 2 days.
Access support is available and should you require the application form in another format please contact us at hello@bridge-ensemble.com
12 Places Available
Free to attend (£50 travel stipend provided to each participant)
Key Dates:
Application deadline – 1st October
Participants notified – 4th October
This workshop is supported by Gwynedd council’s seed fund, funded by Shared Prosperity funding. Priority will be first given to applicants based in Gwynedd, then neighbouring counties.
More Information
The Bridge Ensemble is excited to be sharing part of our creative process with artists from all live performance disciplines this October.
What to Expect
The process will involve the practise of a physical language and the devising of a performance. We will return to the physicality of the performance both days and participants will move and play together.
This movement practise will then be used to devise a performance of a text based work. At the end of the day on Sunday, we will perform the piece entirely. There will be an option to invite friends and family in to witness – this will be chosen by the group.
The process is very flexible and can incorporate all physical abilities.
Who is it for
The workshop is suitable for artists who work creating any style of live performance. It is most suitable for creative risk takers and adventurous artists who are willing to try something wild.
Most disciplines and skills can be incorporated and you may find yourself working to your strength one scene and leaping into new territories the next.
While the text focus is Shakespeare, no previous experience is necessary, and the ‘quick-raise’ practice can be applied to any live performance type.
Although this is a led workshop, when it comes to the devising of the performance there will be no ‘director’ telling you what to do. You will be empowered to take as many leaps as you feel comfortable taking. We practise an atmosphere of supportiveness and encouragement which usually results in surprising outcomes for everyone.
Practical details
The day will run from 10-6 on Saturday and 10-8 on Sunday at Y Festri in Llanberis. Llanberis is accessible by bus from Caernarfon and Bangor and we will organise car shares where possible.
There are local cafes and shops for lunch and the venue has a kitchen. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Who is teaching?
The workshop will be led by actor, author and Shakespeare expert Ben Crystal and by actor and ‘quick raise’ addict Andrew Codispoti. Both Ben and Andrew have been honing the craft of the ‘quick raise’ together for the last decade, beginning with Ben’s work at Shakespeare’s Globe over 2014-2016.
They raised Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet in Japan in one week in 2019, and led an ensemble to perform a piece from every Shakespeare play in a week at the Shakespeare North Playhouse in 2023.
As well as being excellent performers they are both also kind, nice people who understand that this work is very challenging and will create a safe room to surprise yourself in.
They will be supported by the third member of The Bridge Ensemble’s team Gwen Thomson who will be participating, supporting and cheerleading the work and the people in the room. Without pom poms unless provided.
