In this episode, London based theatre maker, Kane Husbands, discusses the leadership skill of inclusive language and its importance when leading co-creative practice.

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre . Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Kane Husbands is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Pappy Show. 

X: https://twitter.com/Kane_Husbands
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kane_husbands/

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #patient #letscreate #embodied

In this episode Naomi talks to freelance artist Dan Thompson about the skill of listening and communicating when leading co-creative practice.

Dan talks about the importance of listening first before making any artistic decisions, as he notes that a lot of participatory arts practice revolves around the artist's idea and getting people involved in bringing that idea to life. Deep listening when leading co-creative practice involves having no expectation of what you are going to do, not having your ideas formed already.

The discussion explores how social class impacts people's involvement in the arts; Dan has a working class background and has no expectation that he should be an artist or working in the arts. He really wants to satisfy the people that he is working with. He often checks back in with people a few days after the conversation. For the first meeting he doesn't even take notes or make a recording, so that it feels like a genuine conversation. He is open and curious when listening to people.

Dan starts with doing deep research about a place or subject that he is exploring, before he starts work. He then listens with the context of what he has learnt and it helps to inform the questions that he asks. Dan talks about examples of his own co-creative work in places like Swansea and Stoke on Trent. There is also a discussion about the Settlement Movement and the way in which it takes time for an artist to really listen and really understand a community; the importance of building long term relationships if that is possible.

He argues that listening has to be at the heart of co-created art and that it has to be continuous, not a one off consultation. A constant process of listening and shifting what you are doing as a result of what you hear.

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre. Her AHRC funded research identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here. 
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Dan Thompson is a Freelance Artist. You can find out more about his work here.
X: https://twitter.com/artistsmakers

IG: https://www.instagram.com/danthompson33/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-thompson-397501/

In this episode, Naomi has a conversation with her colleague at Brighton People's Theatre; Jack Parris. Jack talks about how people can suffer if the energy levels in a room are too high or low. He believes managing energy levels is absolutely integral to the process, nurturing an energetic journey that ebbs and flows over a workshop or creative process.

Jack talks about the importance of managing the energy levels in the run up to a co-created performance. They reflect on the potential to unleash a kind of crazy energy and how to then ground this and focus it. In order to manage his own energy levels he plans meticulously and tries to ensure that there is a wide range of activities that might need a different kind of energy level throughout a session. He also notes the importance of observing and taking a breath during the workshop. But even when you are watching and observing you are aware of your energy and the focus that this creates in the room. People want to be seen.

Another thing that Jack does is to model the kind of energy level that might be required for a part of the workshop. He talks about introducing scale in the room, so that a framework can help people to push their energetic boundaries beyond what they might have expected. He also outlines Laban efforts to work energetically in a room and Stanislavsky inspired choices of where to place focus in the space.

If energy levels are not managed properly then it can damage relationships in the room and the quality of the work. There can be less respect and attention given to each other. Jack talks about moments when he hasn't managed his own energy levels so well and the impact of that. He notes the importance of the parasympathetic nervous system to regulate and ground your own energy levels in the room. Jack talks about the need to have mastery over your own energy levels, so that you can be perform the role of leader that is modelling the energy that is needed in the room.

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre. Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here. 
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Jack Parris is the Associate Director of Brighton People's Theatre.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jackparrisd/

In this conversation Naomi talks to Theatre Director Tanushka Marah about how she olds space in the work that she co-creates with young people. Tanushka talks about this skill when co-creating as being like 'foraging in the dark'. She describes the moments of holding space when the energy is potent and not being afraid of emptiness and to hold questions and silence. She talks about the importance of creating a shared vision in advance but not knowing what the content will be. She likes to find the energy, then the content, then the words when co-creating. For her, this is particularly important when working with young people who may be neurodivergent or academically less confident. 

Tanushka talks about holding your nerve alongside holding the space. She talks about being incredibly open and receptive to everyone's ideas, almost like having eyes and ears all over your body. She also talks about the importance of being aligned with what is going on in the room - for her to hold the space she needs to be able to let go of her day and be fully present. 

If the artist as leader does not hold space, then the group dynamics can take over in an unhealthy way. The artist watching and listening is a safe container for play and exploration to take place. Tanushka talks about how you are hyper aware of everyone in the room simultaneously while you are working creatively. She also talks about how exhausting it can be to hold space, particularly when delivering one off workshops. 

Tanushka argues that the skill of holding the space is everything when leading co-creative practice. People need to feel heard, valued and deeply listened to, as that is when we reach our artistry; a playful, brave space where we can awaken all the parts of us. She talks about the way that a culture is established in the space, which lets people know what the norms of behaviour are in that space. 

In this episode, London based theatre maker, Kane Husbands, discusses the quality of patience and its importance when leading co-creative practice. He talks about how embodying the quality of patience in his workshops is very different to the often high energy theatre and dance performances that he co-creates. He notices that it requires him to find stillness in the busyness and that often this quiet reflection time enables him to really find the story that is emerging and explore why the choices have been taken.

He talks about the importance of being patient in really enabling everyone who is in the room to be fully present and show up as they choose. And he remembers other artists who he has had the experience of role modelling patience with him and how powerful this can be; a sense that there is all the time in the world.

Kane also explores how patience plays out over the course of a whole co-created project, not just within a workshop. He thinks it is important not to rush people to the next stage of a process, as harm can be done to people by going too fast. He asks who projects are serving, the funder, arts organisation, or the people who are participating. It's okay to say that something is not ready, that more patience and time is needed for something to reach its full potential.

He talks about how important the quality of patience is to him in the choices he makes about the work he takes. Co-creating takes time and rushing it is disrespectful and care is lacking. He talks about the importance of being transparent about the pressures on a producer or commissioning company that might not have got all the money that they needed for a project. Professional and non-professional artists can get on board with the struggle facing a project if they understand the bigger story or context.

Kane also explores how people's personalities show up in the room and how some people might need to learn about how to be more patient when they are either leading or participating in a co-creative process. He talks about the importance of therapy as a support mechanism for artists that lead co-creative processes. Where do artists get support from when leading these processes? And how to artists learn to be patient and learn to be patient with themselves?

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre . Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here. 
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Kane Husbands is the Founder and Artistic Director of The Pappy Show. 

X: https://twitter.com/Kane_Husbands
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kane_husbands/

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #patient #letscreate #embodied

In this episode, London based theatre-maker Conrad Murray talks about the importance of being true to himself. He asks himself, 'would my younger self like me right now? Would this be real to him?'. He wants to ensure that he hasn't changed himself to adapt to the dominant culture of arts buildings and the culture of the arts world. He wants to make art that appeals to the people he grew up with and to stay grounded in his community. He thinks it is important to be really true to yourself and to really know yourself and your local community.

He reflects on the feedback that he has had over the years and how challenging this has been due to a lack of understanding of what he (or the people he is working with) are bringing into the room. Much of his practice is built around the young people that he co-creates with; their talents and limitations that they bring to the work. He talks about the importance of people being real and true to themselves, not pretending to be something they are not. He noticed a calmness in people who are able to be who they really are and talks about how vital this is for artists leading co-creative processes.

Conrad talks about the importance of being able to reveal something of who he is through the co-creative process. He might write lyrics that say something about his class or ethnic background and knows that this can build trust with the young people he works with. Like many of the artists interviewed in this podcast, he talks about how dangerous this work can be if it is not done properly. If artists do not fully embrace the trust and significance of the work in the lives of the young people he works with. He really cares about the young people he works with and their development and sees this dedication as central to the success of his work. He reflects on the privilege and responsibility of holding these relationships with young people he co-creates with.

He thinks that people are intuitive and can sense when an artist is not true to themselves, or bringing their whole selves to a process. He talks about how important it is for venues to really be a part of their community. For him, being part of his community in Battersea, has been perfect. He doesn't want to leave and 'develop' his career. He has developed deep knowledge and craft through the stability of doing one project for 15 years. He reflects that because of this, his presence at Battersea Arts Centre has changed the venue. It's not easy to be yourself in an institution that has different expectations and speaks a different language. He talks about when he was at youth theatre, some adults gave him a second chance and also really took the time to listen to him and understand who he is.

For years the Beatbox Academy did what is now known as 'relaxed performances' and got criticism for it. But he just did this because he was true to himself and his knowledge of what it takes for people to make it to see a show at the end of the day. Because he had the strength to be true to himself, the impact of this on the whole of Battersea Arts Centre and beyond has been huge. He now goes to deliver workshops at Drama School exercises that he made up in his bedroom. He believes 'Your power is being you.'

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre . Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Conrad Murray is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Beatbox Academy which runs at Battersea Arts Centre

X: https://twitter.com/rODIUMrECORDS
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rodium/ https://www.instagram.com/bac_beatbox_academy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conrad-murray-a4b4ba183/

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #truetoyourself #letscreate #embodied

In this episode Naomi talks to the freelance artist Kelly Green. Kelly reflects on how she is constantly being adaptable and flexible in her practice when co-creating. She talks about how she is in a state of high alert, observing and anticipating what is going on in a group. There is a discussion about how being adaptable and flexible shows up in the body; what happens when things go wrong and feelings of panic or dread show up for the artist leading the session. She is constantly ten steps ahead in a session, anticipating what might happen.

Kelly talks about the use of taking a break during a session when things start to go in an unanticipated direction, or the feeling in the room changes to something that doesn't feel safe. She reflects on the importance of having a tool box of things that you can do in any given moment that you can freely dip into, as things shift and evolve in the room.

There is a discussion about the importance of this quality in order to lead co-creation effectively, in order to really listen and really co-create in a community setting. There is a risk that if everyone tries to do co-created work that the quality suffers and the impact on people participating can be bad. Kelly argues that it is hugely skilful to co-create and that you are embodying more than one quality simultaneously, that it is a hugely skilful role to play.

Kelly describes the way that she responds to people in the room and what they offer. Their stories, the images they bring and their desires for what they want to do. She responds to people each week and really enjoys the process of collaborating in this way.

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre . Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: https://twitter.com/naomi_ontheatre

IG: https://www.instagram.com/naomi.ontheatre/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomiontheatre/

Kelly Green is a Freelance Artist. You can find out more about her work here: https://www.kellyg.net/

X: https://twitter.com/kellygCHAV
IG: https://www.instagram.com/kellygchav/

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #adaptable #flexible #letscreate #embodied

In this episode Naomi Alexander talks to Tashi Gore about the quality of Empathy and Care for Others; how artists as leaders of co-created art embody this in their work. 

Tashi reflects on how she embodies care and empathy in the different contexts that she works in, whether working with 2 people or 100 people. 

She discusses the importance of the context and people feeling heard within the group both at the start and end of each session. She talks about conventions that she establishes in her practice that she comes back to as a way of generating care and empathy within the group.

Tashi talks about how she has to enter a different state of being, turn off her phone and be completely present in the space. She embodies a way of being that is relaxed and alert at the same time. She listens with her body, sensing the energy in the room in order to embody care. She talks about being open, soft and approachable in order to be able to care for others.

They talk about physical contact and the importance of fully understanding the context within which work is taking place; how taking care is carefully expressed through establishing boundaries. This might be different in a young offenders institute, or an open drop in workshop, or in a setting working with older women. 

Tashi also talks about the importance of having excellent Producers who also contribute to the care of the artistic process and participants as the artists. She also talks about the concept of self-care and how easy it is to forget this as artists that are focused on care for others. How do we encourage ourselves not to over-work and to care for ourselves? She talks about budgeting for recovering time for artists after leading a co-creative process, to reflect and recover from what has been achieved. 

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre. Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: @naomi_ontheatre

IG: @naomi.ontheatre

LinkedIn: @naomiontheatre

Tashi Gore is the CEO and Artistic Director of Glass Performance. 

X: @glassperform
IG: @glassperformance
LinkedIn: @tashi-gore-12371898 

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #empathy #care #letscreate #embodied

In this episode Naomi Alexander talks to Dr Sita Thomas about the quality of being Grounded and Energetic; how artists as leaders of co-created art embody this in their work. Sita reflects on how she generates energy in a room and how she channels energy by being grounded. 

Sita reflects on how important it is to be grounded, to be calm and rooted in her practice so she can pick what kind of energy she would like to generate in a session. She also talks about the importance of self-care; enough sleep, good food and not putting all your energy into work. Alongside this she connects with the purpose of the work to generate energy even when she is exhausted.

Sita also talks about how to observe the different energetic states of people who are co-creating with you. How do artists see each individual's energy and let them know they are seen and accepted before shifting everyone into a collective energetic state. She talks about observing Jude Kelly in action and the way she shifted her energy to work with different groups of people; how grounded she was in doing this. 

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre. Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: @Naomi_ontheatre

Insta: @Naomi.ontheatre

LinkedIn: @naomiontheatre

Dr Sita Thomas is the CEO and Artistic Director of Fio. You can find out more about Dr Sita Thomas on her website here.
X: @wearefio @SitaThomas5

Insta: @wearefio @sitathomas5
LinkedIn: @dr-sita-thomas-frsa-422b1795 @fiocardiff

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #grounded #energetic #letscreate #embodied

In this episode Naomi Alexander talks to Ned Glasier about the quality of being Open and Humble; how artists as leaders of co-created art embody this in their work. Ned reflects on how being open manifests in the room and in the body of the artist leading the room. They discuss how an artist's body is almost porous in order to receive and respond during the creative process.

Ned reflects on how important it is to be genuinely open, to genuinely not know the answer when exploring a question creatively with a group of young people. Alongside this sits a humility to be influenced and shaped by the people in the room. Part of the discussion covers what happens in an artist's body in order to absorb other people's ideas and where in the body this happens.

What do artists need to do for themselves to get into a flow state in order to be open and humble? How do artists prepare psychologically to hold an open state of being when leading a creative process? And how do artists manage the moment of collision between being open to people's ideas and the need to make decisions in order to make a show/work of art? Why is it so important to be open and humble when leading co-creative practice?

Naomi Alexander is the CEO and Artistic Director of Brighton People's Theatre. Her AHRC funded research Let's Create: Do we know how to? identified 20 qualities, skills and responsibilities that are important for artists leading co-creative practice. The report and illustrations are available here.
X: @naomi_ontheatre 

Insta: @naomi.ontheatre

LinkedIn: @naomiontheatre

Ned Glasier is the former CEO and Artistic Director of Company Three. He now works freelance. To find out more about his work visit his website here: http://nedglasier.com/
X: @ned_glasier

Insta: @nedglasier 

#co-creation #theatre #leadership #arts #artist #open #humble #letscreate #embodied