The Guildford School of Acting has teamed up with Industry partners to create a unique project that aims to get the lights back on in theatre this autumn and we are inviting you to come and see our finished shows.

The project will harness the talent of our next generation of GSA production students currently in their 2nd and 3rd years (specialising in Stage & Production Management, Lighting, Sound, and Construction and Scenic Arts). We have paired them with professional creative teams to work and produce Covid compliant pieces of live theatre. Our aim was to produce cost effective achievable live theatre that was devised with Covid guidance in mind, in the hope that venues could consider deciding to stage them in theatres.

By facilitating the production process, GSA wanted to take some of the financial risk out of producing live theatre for venues. They  strongly feel that as a university that trains the next generation of Theatre Production Technicians that wanted to do their part in helping the industry to reopen its doors after this unprecedented time of closure.

The aim of the Covid project has been to:

• Leverage the creative talent and expertise of the next generation of production technicians resident at GSA, pairing them with creative professionals to devise, create and tech Covid compliant live theatre shows.
• Prove that innovative and provocative theatre can be produced in a Covid-compliant way, using multiple actors and cutting edge theatre technology
• Provide self-contained performance pieces that can help get the lights back on in theatres up and down the country.  We wanted to bear the financial burden of producing here at our university to help create new pieces of live theatre.  The aim is to gift it to industry in the hope it helps to give our venues some much needed content to get the doors open when we are allowed.

They would like to invite you to come and watch.

Friday 20th November – 3.30pm – 5pm

You will see a complete live streamed version of ‘Cenotaph’ – A 20 min promenade style show

“A triumphant monument to the fallen dead (of theatre)”

“It is the year 2045. The Theatres are closed, what’s life like without Live Theatre? Watch the magic of theatre fight back…. A unique Covid compliant and immersive installation that mourns the loss of theatre but at the same time celebrates its unquenchable flame”

An extract from ‘Blue Christmas’, a fully staged Covid compliant play mixing live action with multiple actors and theatre technology.

“Following on from Fuse’s acclaimed ‘Blackout’ mental health project last year, this new Covid compliant play uses theatrical technology to take the audience on a personal journey through mental health and isolation.  What happens when Christmas and mental health collide?  Lauren manages not only her mind, but work, Christmas and the Elf on a shelf!”

During the seminar you will also hear from the creative teams but also from our next generation of technicians and performers, before opening into a broader discussion and Q&A that explores the challenges and possibilities of working in the current space.  

They would welcome anyone to come and watch our performances and hear from our students and professional creative teams.  But more than that they are asking you to come and consider taking these pieces away and see if they can be performed in your venues.  The students wanted to help the industry they love so much and they would love to share this with you all.  Full tech info, scripts and riders will be available after the showings should you wish to know more.

Please RSVP (gsaevents@gsa.surrey.ac.uk) to be added to our live streaming email list.  The live stream link will be sent to you on the day.

We look forward to seeing you there.

More details on the shows can be found here.