Directing
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Elsewhere, I describe my own current work directing, devising, singing and performing. Below is a small selection of directing and devising work with others chosen from around 50 productions & represents a cross-section from main stage to touring, from promenade to studio, text-based to cross media devised collaboration
“The productions she directs and devises have notable artistic integrity. Her understanding of theatre leads to striking and innovative work which sticks in the mind creating something of beauty and meaning” Theatre Editor and Critic – Edinburgh Guide.com The Censor by Anthony Neilson Edinburgh International Fringe “Under Morna Burdon’s direction this enjoyable production captures the essence of Anthony Neilson’s claustrophobic and controversial play.” 4 star review British Theatre Guide I Vant to Be Alone by Ailie Cohen Edinburgh International Fringe “It gets weirder by the minute but it works. It was the actor’s vaudevillian capacities and director, Morna Burdon’s harnessing of them that captivated” 4 star review Scotsman Also Creative Consultant on “Mongrel” co-written by Ailie Cohen and winner of New York Fringe Best Drama/Comedy Award I Will Not Die an Unlived Life Horsecross / Perth Theatre “Morna has an amazing ability to draw creative responses from her cast. Her directorial decisions are creative and bold, staying true to the material and allowing it to live in the time and space it requires”. Jennifer McGregor, Associate Director, Horsecross Mothers, Daughters and Wild, Wild Women Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh International Physical Theatre Production Combined script, trapeze, acting, acrobatics, music, fire-swinging, sword-fighting and live painting onstage. “Under the creative direction of Morna Burdon, this production made for the best evening I have spent in a theatre all year” Raymond Ross Reviewer Director and Playwright An Ancient Calling Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline “A highlight of our season was the performance project “An Ancient Calling ” written and directed by Morna Burdon combining theatre, music and film to produce a remarkable and distinctive piece of music theatre”. Thursa Sanderson, Director, Drake Music, Scotland Dance Base Residency Scotland’s National Centre for Dance Edinburgh Laboratory work with a Choreographer and 3 Dancer/Actors exploring the adaption of a novel into a dance piece incorporating script and leading to an invited audience performance.. A hugely exciting and rewarding process arising out of Morna’s expertise and collaborative approach benefiting the performers, the piece and audience alike. Megan Kennedy : Dublin -based actor and choreographer. Media Star by John McGrath Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Director of this specially commissioned play and collaboration with the late John McGrath, founder of 7.84 Theatre Company & Visiting Fellow in Theatre , Cambridge University “Unusually sophisticated theatre for young people”. Drama Advisor, Scottish Tour. Twa Mock Weddings and a Henna Night Dundee Rep Female preparations for marriage in different cultures working with Dundee Rep and Dundee International Womens Centre. Later reprised and toured by Dundee Rep. Office Interiors North Edinburgh Arts With playwright Michael Begg created this stylised piece where main character Dead Files dreams of being a drag artiste, where the tea lady determinedly wears her evening dress to work and where the ex-army office manager sings songs of beautiful tenderness and regret. “Exciting and innovative approach to creating theatre” Michael Begg, Playwright Intenz Gallery 37, Edinburgh Lead Artist ( Drama) on this project brought to Britain from Chicago by Birmingham Rep. Devised & directed this stylised production featuring 17 young adults and performed in marquees at the International Conference Centre, Edinburgh International Festival Fringe The Brave, the Quick and the Foolish Produced and directed this piece devised on the day with 17 professional and community performers from Canada, Scotland, Spain, U.S.A. and Thailand. Aimed at re-igniting original spirit of the Fringe! Full house. “Uplifting” Artistic Director The Citadel, Edinburgh Hands Across the Water Scottish Catholic International Aid Foundation Director & Writer of this collaboration with Ghanaian musician, story teller & television actor, Gameli Throdzro “I saw students transformed before my eyes” SCIAF National Education Office Peeling Onions Cat. A Theatre Company Collaboration Directed and co-wrote this 30 minute curtain-raiser in 5 days to accompany Cat.A’s production” Bird”. Peeling Onions examined different women’s experience of prison-from visitor, to thief, to political imprisonment including women prisoners’ blanket protests in Ireland. “A remarkable achievement in such a short space of time” Cat. A playwright. Tipping Point 7.84 Theatre Company, Scottish Tour Invited to join the company as Assistant Director for this Davey Anderson piece timed to coincide with the G8 meeting in Scotland. Mainstream venues and schools. Invited to join the company as Assistant Director to Lorenzo Mele for this Davey Anderson collaboration timed to coincide with the G8 meeting in Scotland. Scottish Tour 1994 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Badenheim A promenade performance throughout the entire building and dealing with the Holocaust. The audience was divided into three and saw the scenes in different sequence to lend to the notion of disorientation. Badenheim Co-director Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh I worked with Andy Cannon (now of Wee Stories)and Adrian Harris on this large scale site specific project which divided the audience into three groups all experiencing the piece in differing sequence in different parts of the theatre building. They were in the role of citizens of the Austrian town in the 1930’s , and the scenes took place in a town square, a café, a spa, with the full audience coming together for the final scene and final stages of history’s journey towards the Holocaust. Birds of Passage Co-director Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh A range of playwrights were brought together to create different stories of Scottish émigrés over the years, from the Clearances to Fifties £10 passages and beyond with each director working with two playwrights. . 2009 Fiendish Plots New Writing Festival Centre for Contemporary Arts Glasgow Gut Television producer Ciaran Cruikshank’s play “Gut” directed by Morna Burdon 2008 Centre for Performing Arts, Dundee Unmasked A piece devised with 17 student actors aged 16 to 35. Played to local senior schools and in the Space. “Your encouragement and passion for directing have helped me so much this year” “A life – changing experience” Student Actors. 2005 7.84 Theatre Company Turning Point Assistant Director for this Davey Anderson piece timed to coincide with the G8. I also advised on workshops. Scottish Tour. 2004/05 Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh A Madman Sings to the Moon Workshop director and leader for a series of script-based theatre workshops. Devised and led similar for Sharman MacDonald’s Girl with Red Hair. 1994 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Birds of Passage Three professional directors and six playwrights worked together on this play about Scottish émigrés over the years. I was one of the directors on this main house production. 1993 Theatre Workshop, Edinburgh Badenheim Co-directed this promenade piece about the Holocaust. The Barking House A one woman play by Wilma Stark written for the people of Lochranza on Arran and performed to the music of Duncan Chisholm and the rhythms of the sea. Theatre Workshop Edinburgh Breaking Free A play about how three people in the same family fight first each other then fight back against threats to diminish each of them through western society’s obsession with age. Scottish Tour Theatre Workshop Edinburgh Badenheim Co –directed this large scale promenade performance about the Holocaust with the audience split into three and experiencing the different aspects of the piece in rotation. In addition to the above, I have directed several youth theatre productions, devised student productions in Dundee and Edinburgh, devised and directed other productions with adults with learning differences, and with mental health problems. Also,T.I.E. as well as children’s productions and several with Witch Theatre Company mentioned elsewhere. I have also acted in devised and script based productions and readings including at Edinburgh’s Traverse in a programme dedicated to giving opportunities for new writers to have their work read. |