ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT LABS
A cornerstone of PCS’ remit is to try and create a safe nurturing space for young theatre makers. Working across very wide regions with very poor transport networks, accessing young artists who have little-to-no existing provision of support… We've found the best possible way to do our work is to get everyone in the same place, at the same time, keep them overnight and intensively develop their artistry in short bursts, connecting digitally outwith this time.
Our Labs are run by our Artistic Director Sarah Rose Graber and our Associate Artists Drew Taylor-Wilson and Fraser Macleod, presented in association with Wigtown Book Festival.
Our Lab Programme is growing, with PCS completing seven successful labs to date.
The Labs are fully open access and so far we have had artists join us from across Southwest Scotland…
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A LAB?
Each Lab is for 3.5 days duration - arriving Thursday night, leaving Sunday afternoon
When you arrive on a Thursday, you’ll get checked in and orientated into your accommodation - you’ll eat together and rest up for the busy weekend ahead
Lab Fridays and Saturdays are session days rammed with workshops on theatre practitioners, specific techniques, devising workshops, warm-ups, text explorations… and Mini Labs
Each Mini-Lab is a 1.5-2 hour long session with all Lab members exploring an idea for a performance created by one participant - the idea will be in any shape - and our Lab staff work hard to create various tasks based on the ideas given to try and progress current thinking on the project.
Lab Sundays are a time for reflection and refinement…
We work long hard days, each evening we eat together, have our own beds to sleep in and leave feeling exhausted and creatively fulfilled.
LAB #7 - SEPTEMBER 2023
In this lab we explored the topic “How to Human” and looked at what makes us human and how we see and display our humanity.
Led by Artistic Director Sarah Rose Graber and associate Drew Taylor-Wilson, the cohort wrote poems, worked in the recording studio to capture our voices to then create physical movement to accompany the audio piece. We also made solo audio journeys that audiences experienced one-on-one while wearing headphones. We played with making sound effects and learned how to create foley. And we also looked at using our voices together to create harmony and a full sonic experience through sound circles.
LAB #6 - FEBRUARY 2023
For Lab#6, we were back at the Wigtown Print Room, and this time had a whole bunch of new faces to join us. Led by Artistic Director Sarah Rose Graber and associate Drew Taylor-Wilson, the cohort spent time developing a performance titled ‘Instructions for How to Get Around’.
The cohort also experienced a very special exclusive mime workshop led by artist Becky Baumwoll, Founding Artistic Director of Broken Box Mime Theatre.
LAB #5 - AUGUST 2022
At our fifth lab, it was the first time since before COVID that the PCS cohort re-entered the familiar space of the Wigtown Print Room, where three other labs were held.
This lab brought together 9 cohort members, including 3 new faces, and was led by our Artistic Director Sarah Rose Graber, and associates Drew Taylor-Wilson and Fraser Macleod. Over the weekend, we worked on voiceover techniques, poetry, working as an ensemble and camera work.
LAB #4 - FEBRUARY 2022
Our fourth lab was the first time PCS members could come together again after COVID. This took place in Stranraer at the Millennium centre. Lead by Sarah Rose and Drew, we worked with 9 young artists from across Scotland.
This included a workshop around our production of ‘Bippity’.
LAB #3 - JANUARY 2020
Our third Wigtown lab had 6 new artists, with 7 of our regular members. Lead by Drew, Sarah Rose and Fraser, we worked with 13 young artists from Dumfries, Stranraer, Ayr, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas, Glasgow, Stewarton and Girvan.
LAB #2 - MARCH 2019
Our second lab also took place in Wigtown, solidifying our collaboration with Wigtown Book Festival. We worked with 13 young artists from Dumfries, Stranraer, Ayr, Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas, Glasgow, and Thurso.
Our 2nd Lab was lead by previous Artistic Director Drew Taylor, Theatre Artist/Facilitator/Director Fraser Macleod and current Artistic Director Sarah Rose Graber.
This lab included a workshop which led to the development of ‘Unsupervised Adulting’.
LAB #1 - DECEMBER 2018
Our first lab took place in Wigtown, at the Print Room, supported by Wigtown Book Festival, December 2018. We worked with 10 young artists from Dumfries, Stranraer, Ayr, Newton Stewart, Glasgow, and Thurso.
Our first Lab was lead by previous Artistic Director Drew Taylor and theatre artist/facilitator/director Fraser Macleod with a Clowning Masterclass lead by performer/director Melanie Jordan