HELLO

I’m Chris. I’m a teacher of drama, acting coach and director. For 20 years I’ve worked with some of the UK’s major theatres and drama schools. I love facilitating drama training processes that foster learner creativity, collaboration and resourcefulness. I’m also a bit of a technology geek.

Since 2012, I’ve been using online collaboration platforms, e-tools and apps to enrich learning and training experiences for aspirant actors and drama-makers. Many of these e-learning experiences have involved a blend of online and place-based interactions, whilst others have taken place entirely remotely. Some were intense collaborative activities that happened within a short time-frame, others involved longer creative processes.

Although every learning experience is unique, the e-learning models that I design tend to include four ingredients:

You could be in need of an experienced acting coach and drama practitioner to facilitate an existing online project - I’d do so with confidence and creativity. You might be seeking solutions for how a theatre project or module of learning might be enhanced by e-technologies or even wholly re-imagined in virtual form. You might even be interested in inventive ideas for short online acting courses (I’ve lots of ideas that I’d love to share with you). If so, take a look at the samples of my recent work below and, if you think we might spark, do get in touch for a chat: chris@chrismeads.com

virtual technologies enable learners to do AMAZING THINGS…

It’s my passionate belief that virtual technologies aren’t just resources to be used when traditional, place-based interactions aren’t possible. Technology-enhanced learning experiences equip young people with the collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help them thrive in today's world. You can also access wonderful tools that can enhance and enrich any learning process, opening up limitless possibilities and creative resources. As a result, learner creativity and collaboration flourishes.

Here are 14 amazing things that virtual technologies have enabled learners to do within processes that I’ve designed and facilitated:

RECENT e-LEARNINg DESIGN

In April 2020, Gerry McAlpine, Head of First Year Studies and Course Co-coordinator for the Certificate of HE in Theatre at East 15 Acting School, invited me to come up with a plan for how two different practical performance modules could be delivered entirely remotely due to the UK’s lockdown circumstances. Well, as long as there’s a problem to solve or a challenge to puzzle over, I’m happy! These are the two remote learning models that I designed and facilitated in response:

THE BOY UNIVERSE

Cert of HE in Theatre, East 15 Acting School

A multi-platform storytelling experience, made by first-time filmmakers under lockdown. This remote learning model was devised to replace a traditional theatre production module. Using characters from Leo Butler’s play Boy as a jumping-off point, the learners were challenged to re-imagine how they might create performances for audiences using online technologies. Over six weeks, the learners engaged in intensive online collaboration to develop self-taping, screen acting, screenwriting and film-making skills, using their phones or laptops in conjunction with free video editing apps. Watch our 3 min video trailer for The Boy Universe below.

Located in different parts of the country, even in different countries, our collaborative process was facilitated by Zoom classes and by PADLET online collaboration software. The company developed their ‘lockdown' film-making skills within online-media production teams: learners with less experience of, or confidence with, e-technologies were supported by their peers. Organising the learners into problem-solving teams was also super-helpful for the many challenges that lock-down film-making presented us with. Watch the short video (2 mins) below for a lively introduction into our process and to gain an insight into the students’ enthusiasm and resourcefulness.

Moreover, I introduced the group to multi-platform storytelling techniques, which inspired us to create The Boy Universe Online Experience. It’s a web platform that houses all of the short films that were created within the project and so much more: you can take a deep interactive dive into the online world of each character; experience team generated ‘making of’ videos, interactive Google Virtual Tours of character locations and Zoom ensemble games, and learn how the project impacted upon the development and career aspirations of each learner:

LIVING HISTORY PROJECT 2020

BA Acting (First Year) and BA Acting International (First Year), East 15 Acting School

The Living History Project is one of the cornerstones of training at East 15 and a key part of its BA (Hons) Acting course. A specific historical period is chosen and learners engage in intense research. The learners then create this world on campus, each becoming specific characters from the period and improvising around that framework.

The remote learning model that I devised and managed was in response to the problems of how learners could share their research and how they might begin to embody and experience living the life of the character whilst experiencing lockdown circumstances. First, in teams, the learners created inventive research presentation movies using free video making software and shared them to their peers within Zoom classes…

Next, each learner created a short film that focused on a day in the life of their character. All content generated within the process was archived within a bespoke web platform, which I organised and managed…

CROSS-REGIONAL E-COLLABORATION

My experience of using web-based technologies to faciliate new and innovative theatre-making processes began when I devised and led the Arts Council of England funded A Wondrous Place project. Dramatists, multi-disciplinary artists, theatre makers, bloggers and actors from across the North were able to collaborate together to make a new touring production that played to audiences within four North of England cities. Its impact on audiences can be seen in the 2 min video below.

LET’S TALK

Thank you for taking an interest in the work. Please feel free to get in touch for an informal (no commitment) chat about your ideas.

It would be lovely to hear from you: chris@chrismeads.com