WORKSHOPS
Work with two decades worth of experience in arts education and facilitation.
I am certified in Emergency First Aid with CPR Level C, have VSS clearance, am a preferred vendor with the TDSB, and have worked with such companies as: Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto Parks & Recreation, Sheatre, Rexdale Community Hub, Youth Elevating Youth, St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare in Action, Suitcase Theatre, Watermark Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Mirvish Productions, and the Shaw Festival.
Below are workshops that I’ve created and facilitated including: THEATRE FOR CONVERSATION, mySELF my CONFIDENCE, SHAKESPEARE? FORSOOTH! and YES! IMPROV! However, workshops can be custom made and tailored to suit your needs, like specific groups (directors and coaches, actors, performing arts students) and time frames (1-hour introduction to weekend session to weekly study sessions).
Contact me to discuss details, please indicate your group, preferred workshop, date and time. While I am based in Niagara, Canada, I love to travel! No matter where you are in the world and whatever your budget, we can work together.
THEATRE FOR CONVERSATION WORKSHOP:
This is welcome for those with any level of theatre experience.
Drawing on different theatre techniques including from Augusto Boal’s ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’ (incorporating interactive theater and improvisation for social change and personal development), ‘Image Theatre’ (in which one person, acting as sculptor, moulds people acting as statues), and ‘Theatre for Living’ (a marriage of Theatre of the Oppressed and Systems Theory), this fun hands-on workshop will introduce participants to creation-based learning for community-based dialogue.
“…The evening of November 12th was inspiring to say the least…”
“…appropriately titled ‘Theatre for Conversation’ through a series of fun, yet thought-provoking exercises. We navigated together through a narrative of sorts. A journey of activities beginning with getting all our limbs loose and culminating in a game that really challenged and brought to light the ways each of us communicates truths and lies. There were moments of tenderness and vulnerability and a ton of silliness. There were boiling points where Warren was able to watch over us as a sort of neutral evil, watching us all dissolve into the chaos of the game he had facilitated.Activities that seemed simplistic and light-hearted were concisely analyzed and applied to the reality that is our humanity, communication (and miscommunication), and systems of oppression.”
-Youth Elevating Youth – YEY Collective – Re: Theatre for Conversation Workshop
mySELF myCONFIDENCE WORKSHOP:
This workshop was originally created because I had the opportunity to create and facilitate a two-hour workshop on the theme of Self Confidence at Rexdale Community Hub with Albion Neighbourhood Services. The resulting session was full of brave conversations through arts education with forty youth aged twelve to eighteen talking about subjects that affect their community.
mySELF myCONFIDENCE is not just for young people. Through a series of theatrical explorations we will examine what it is to be confident, what the blockages are that stop us from being confident in ourselves and our choices, and navigate external pressures to empower ourselves.
SHAKESPEARE? FORSOOTH! WORKSHOP:
Shakespeare can be daunting. Let’s make it fun!
This is an engaging and interactive workshop that gives participants the opportunity to make sense of Shakespeare’s text. Explore the language and characters, find clues in the script, and make acting active. Request to customize this workshop. How about an introduction to Shakespeare’s language? Delve into a monologue workshop? Book a script analysis of a play you’re currently involved with? Shakespeare? Forsooth!
YES! IMPROV! WORKSHOP:
What is improv? Saying YES. Saying YES, AND. This fun and active workshop encourages participants to listen and accept each others ideas, problem solve with teamwork and peer support, and think quickly and creatively. This is a fast paced workshop that combines both training and technique with performance exercises. At the core, Yes! Improv! Is about strengthening self-confidence and building respect for others.
TESTIMONIALS:
“…Warren brought it to another level this past Monday by presenting to the University/High School course on Theatre of the Oppressed. I was so happy that you were able to bring your knowledge and expertise to the class. That class is groundbreaking in the overall structure and again, thank you for helping to support the initiative. All this to say…THANK YOU for your openness, kindness and sharing of your experience.” – Bernie Leger, Creative Arts Consultant /Indigenous Studies Support, Ottawa Catholic School Board
“Hello Warren… I really enjoyed watching the students engage, participate and respond to the activities presented! I spoke with several students after your presentation and they said it was fun & enjoyable! It was nice to meet you both and I wish you all the best!
–Giovanna Varano, ESL/FSL/P.T., Our Lady of Providence
“Thank you so much for the workshops Warren. Ms. Kent and her students can’t rave enough about the one they had last week! I’m so jealous I’m missing it!”
-Cristina Di Censo, LTO Teacher, Driftwood PS TDSB
“…We really appreciate that you were able to facilitate this inspiring workshop! We took away so much from the experience that we will bring forward as we grow as a collective.” Youth Elevating Youth – YEY Collective – Re: Theatre for Conversation Workshop
“…I think they got a lot out of it and I was very impressed by their hard work and focus. Thanks very much for the workshop and I would definitely be interested in participating in another one some day.”
-Joanna Furley, Gr 5/6 Teacher, Regal Road School TDSB
“Great workshop today Warren!!! It was perfect for my students. Thank you.”
-Caroline O’Connor, Gr 2/3 Teacher, St. Marcellus School TCDSB
“…bravo”! And Warren you are so good at hooking it all up at the end. You are an authentic, caring, knowledgeable host. No easy feat. All the actors were strong.”
-Paul Cane, Safe Schools, TIPSS