Slow Tech Week: Roundtable Discussion
In this discussion we will examine different models and schedules for how we put shows into theatre spaces. Can productions be staged without 10/12s? What happens if there isn’t time to complete all notes? Can we make this most complex of production periods more humane and less taxing?
Means of Production
Means of Production is a collective of Managers and Technical Directors who have been working together to reexamine the way we build shows.
Laura Philipps is a Producer and Production Manager of theatre, dance and multimedia works. She is the lead producer of extended reality app-based works ‘Henry G20’ and ‘Rellas Cambrian Dream’. Upcoming projects include ‘Perceptual Archaeology’ for blind and sighted audiences with Fire and Rescue Team at Crow’s Theatre and ‘Anahita’s Republic’ with Bustle and Beast at Factory Theatre. Laura is working with Pratibha Arts to pilot a shared producing model for independent diverse dance artists.
Crystal Lee has worked at the National Arts Centre on the management team, and began her independent career in 2018 as a freelance Production Manager in Toronto where she received a Harold Award for her contributions to the community. Crystal currently works full-time with Why Not Theatre as their Production and Technical Manager.
Pip Bradford is an independent producer, production manager, and stage manager who works with many companies in Toronto, including Anandam DanceTheatre, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, 7a*11d Performance Art Festival, SummerWorks, Luminato, Red Sky Performance, Nightwood Theatre, and Theatre Passe Muraille. You’ve probably seen something she’s done, but you almost certainly didn’t see her do it. Pip also creates installation art with Rebecca Vandevelde as Art is Hard Productions, most recently reprising their installation BLANKET FORT for The Bentway for Family Day 2020. In her spare time, Pip works as a member of the Means of Production, a collective of freelance production staff seeking to promote values-based production work while advocating for equitable working conditions and providing resources to the independent production community.
Rebecca Vandevelde is an arts worker based in Toronto, working mainly as a freelance lighting designer and production manager, often taking small indie shows on tour, and sometimes making/curating events, spaces and installation-based experiments with Art is Hard.