Developing & nurturing individualised artistic
practices within collaborative artistic systems

I teach a wide range of subjects within theatre and arts education, specifically concerning the development of individualised performance practices that challenge more universal notions of expertise. The core foundation of this work centres around an awakening of the artist’s awareness of their own practicing of a practice by drawing attention to what they do that makes them a unique and authentic individual. As an acting teacher, my practice is inspired by own Grotowski-based training at New York University’s Experimental Theatre Wing where I was taught Stephen Wangh’s acting method detailed in An Acrobat of the Heart. My classes focus on a more physical-based approach to actor training, providing practical tools that will awaken the students’ natural impulses that guide their imaginations and inner lives, strengthening their awareness of themselves, each other and the playing space itself. 

Italia Conti (Woking, UK) — I served as the Head of 3rd Year BA (Hons) Acting and Head Tutor for Contextual Practice across all BA, CertHE and Diploma courses at Italia Conti. I was responsible for the quality, standards and creative direction of the 3rd Year Acting and Contextual Practice curriculums in collaboration with Course Leaders and Deputy Course Leaders, supporting the design of innovative schemes of work that could be threaded throughout the student journey. I also managed a team of sessional and salaried tutors while supporting students throughout their course of study. As a tutor, I encouraged students to think critically about their training and provided theoretical and practical context that supported their developing practices through a combination of lectures and workshops.

Brunel University London (London, UK) — I am a Visiting Lecturer in Advanced Acting, Theatre Making and Ensemble Production on the BA Theatre course at Brunel University London. Each module combines lecture presentations with practical workshops designed to critically engage students through the development of innovative artistic practices and the application of relevant theory in performance. Students are assessed through a combination of in-class participation, presentations of practice and theoretical essays.

Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (London, UK) — I am a Visiting Lecturer and Dissertation Supervisor on the MA/MFA Creative Producing and MA Applied Theatre courses at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. I have also facilitated workshops for MA/MFA students across multiple courses that encourage students to develop their own individualised disciplines of practice within institutional frameworks.

Abrons Arts Center (New York City, US) — I partnered with The School of Making Thinking and Abrons Arts Center to develop and execute an eight-week course for professional adults looking to challenge their preconceived perceptions of theatre and performance by engaging in collaborative and generative processes. By researching various theories of perception, I was able to practically encourage students to experiment with the ways in which they perceived and thus communicated their artistic impulses. I also executed a general marketing campaign and prospective student search prior to the course.

Theater Reconstruction Ensemble (New York City, US) — As TRE’s Founding Artistic Director, I created and facilitated yearly training intensives geared towards interdisciplinary artists looking to develop new techniques for devising and generating material. These week-long intensives provided professional artists with an opportunity to experiment freely, devise original material centred around a given theme and receive invaluable feedback from their peers. Many of the participating artists have gone on to present their work through commissions from such venues as Ars Nova, Playwrights Horizons and Lincoln Center Theater.

Bespoke Workshops (Global) — I offer bespoke practical workshops that engage participants in my own practice of practicing, which involves exercises in awareness, self reflection, intuition and creative collaboration. Participants walk away with a clearer understanding of how they practice and ways in which the act of practicing can establish individualised disciplines or areas of expertise within their own artistic fields. They also learn practical techniques for collaborating actively and intuitively with other practitioners.

Below is a sampling of testimonials from previous bespoke workshop participants as I’ve continued to build and develop my own practice of facilitation:

Emma Clark (Creative and Projects Associate at New Diorama) —

“John is a skilful and generous facilitator and connector of people. The effects of the pandemic on the theatre industry have laid bare the urgent need for approaches that build more trust, care, and mutual understanding into the working relationships of artists/freelancers and producers/institutions. John's approaches offer a bold, outside-the-box step in that direction, utilising creative practice to translate complex, difficult to articulate processes for the benefit of all artists involved.”

Jef Hall-Flavin (Lecturer on the BA Acting course at Norwich University of the Arts) —

“John makes it possible to re-think my administrative practices from the point-of-view of the artist. Through an effortless series of simple, clear conversations in a safe environment, I emerged more aware of my practice as a producer. John gave me new skills with which to merge institutional imperatives with those of the artist to forge a new way of working that foregrounds shared values.”

Laura Aiton (Development Officer at the Bush Theatre) —

“John encouraged me to think about new ways of collaborating with fellow theatre makers. He is a generous and considerate facilitator, as he created a space in which we could excavate our independent practices openly and safely.”

Marlow Stainfield (independent actor and musician) —

“John has developed a clearly presented workshop that is both self reflective and built around the necessity to communicate with your colleagues. An essential experience for any creative. This workshop got me to identify what I prioritise in my work and practice, something I felt I hadn't articulated in a long time.”