TAHI Workshops 2021

UPDATE: Due to differing alert levels throughout the country, a number of digital alternatives have been organised for our wonderful workshop leaders outside of Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Workshops from Cian Parker, James Penwarden and Beth Kayes will continue with workshop participants in person at Wellington’s Thistle Hall with digital magic allowing facilitators to host from their homes throughout Aotearoa. The workshop from John Davies has been cancelled and will now be offered as a free seminar via Facebook.

Current ticket holders will be notified about these changes but in the meantime, tickets are on sale now for these workshops - upskill your storytelling from home or join us at Thistle Hall.

TAHI offers six workshops over the festival season and you are warmly invited to join six of our main-bill artists behind the scenes to learn from their creative development process. All workshops are held at the Thistle Hall Community Venue and tickets can be purchased through the TAHI Festival website.

EXPLORING THE PHYSICAL IN SOLO PERFORMANCE
Presented by Cian Parker and Laura Haughey.
Wednesday 20 October, 12:30pm

Join award-winning actor Cian Parker and multi-award winning international director and actor-trainer Laura Haughey as they guide you on an exploration of physical storytelling using autobiographical stories to generate material. Please come with an idea for a short solo scene that can be autobiographical in nature. Don’t worry about ‘scripting’ anything, we’d prefer if you don’t. Just bringing an idea to play with will work for now.

USING COMEDY IN YOUR SOLO WORK
Presented by Samantha Hannah.
Wednesday 20 October, 2:30pm

From the creator of How to Find a Husband in a Year and How To Win @ Life, Samantha Hannah brings you a workshop about bringing comedy into your work by using lived experiences to generate comedic material.

KĀ RĀKAU AUAHA - STICKS OF CREATIVITY
Presented by Kahurangi Bronsson-George.
Thursday 21 October, 12:30pm

Kahurangi Bronsson-George (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Porou) has been studying Mau Rākau, the art of Māori Taiaha for over 3 years now, and is a Pou tahi (grade one) in Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa, a Mau Rākau form that has been restored to Aotearoa by the work of Tā Pita Sharples (Ngāti Kahungunu).

This workshop is for whānau Māori who are looking to reclaim a cultural taoka, and whānau Pākehā/Tauiwi who are looking to learn about an ancient form of Māori weaponry.

I CONTAIN MULTITUDES
Presented by John Davies.
Thursday 21 October, 2:30pm

John Davies—with 30 years of experience working as a director, performer and tutor in the performing arts—will take us back to the roots of creating work in his workshop, ‘I contain Multitudes’.

The title of the workshop refers to the notion that we each have within us many aspects, attitudes, contradictions and eccentricities. The aim of the workshop is to access these 'multitudes' and turn them into characters. Through the use of imagination, body, voice a range of 'characters' can be made manifest by one actor. However, there also needs to be an awareness of basic acting techniques involving intention, objective and physical actions.

HOW TO WIN AN AUDIENCE
Presented by Jamie Penwarden.
Friday 22 October, 12:30pm

Jamie Penwarden, creator of Them Fatale and fabulous non-binary comedian, is here to teach us about audiences. How does one win them over and keep their favour?

PHYSICALISING YOUR STORY
Presented by Beth Kayes.
Friday 22 October, 2:30pm

This workshop will look at how to inject more physicality into your work. With Beth, you will unpack your stories and explore how to use movement and space to show physical landscapes and action. Bring your story and a few simple useful props. Wear your movement clothes and get ready to play.