Play Days are back, come play!
Play Days are moments where Bradford creatives from all disciplines come together to explore, play, and inspire one another all while learning something new.
Beatmotion x Akeim Toussaint
Beatmotion
with Akeim Toussaint
Wednesday 29 May, 2024
9.30 - 16.00
Kala Sangam
Beatmotion is a practice of dance and vocal play.
We will be exploring the expressive possibilities of this practice and how it supports clowning, choreography and character development, with further playing with the musicality elements this practice draws on.
This relaxed and fun session is aimed at dancers, actors and musicians interested in performing arts. Both professional practitioners and emerging artists are welcome to join us to grow their skills and try something they haven’t done before.
Please wear comfortable and loose clothing, and bring a notepad and a water bottle.
Akeim Toussaint Buck is an interdisciplinary performer and maker, born in Jamaica and raised in England.
After graduating from The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2014, Akeim began making work in 2016 creating moving, thought-provoking, accessible and free-spirited projects. Akeim explores a variety of themes that challenge, enlighten and viscerally entertain audiences by calling on multiple art forms to weave a spectacle. Audiences are invited to not just observe but to feel the experience. His work aims to reflect on the past, present and a hopeful future of our reality; looking at ongoing socio-political issues with a humanitarian intention.
Akeim’s work has been supported by Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Inspired, Geraldine Connor Foundation, The Arts Foundation Futures Award, IRIE! Dance Theatre, Spin Arts, RJC, Deda, Fabric, Streatham Space Project, Serendipity, NSCD, Sadlers Wells and Arts Council England.
Let's Have a Brew
Let's Have a Brew
Thursday 30 May, 2024
11.00 - 14.00
Displace Yourself Theatre's, The Place
Join us for a brew!
Drop by for an informal gathering where you can sip on a cuppa, mingle with BPH staff, connect with fellow creatives and share what’s been brewing in your world lately.
Feel free to bring your lunch along, the biscuits and cuppas are on us.
Worlds of Curiosity and Play x Pady O’Connor
Worlds of Curiosity and Play
with Pady O’Connor
Friday 31 May, 2024
9.30 - 16.00
Mind the Gap
Enter MeeMee Theatre’s magical visual world of wonder in Worlds of Curiosity and Play where we transform spaces to create environments that ignite imagination, curiosity, and play by using the elements of mask, commedia dell’arte, clown, games, play, and storytelling.
MeeMee Theatre believes that the elements of games and play, curiosity, discovery, risk-taking, trial and error, and social interaction are essential aspects of learning and living.
By interweaving games and play throughout Worlds of Curiosity and Play, we encourage people to explore their innate playfulness to promote collaboration, interaction and connection in a fun and positive environment.
Aimed at anyone with an interest in theatre and an openness to play and discover. No need to bring anything other than yourselves, some water, and comfortable clothes you can physically move around in.
Originally from Manchester Pady O’Connor is a performer, director and international teacher of theatre. He is also the founder and artistic director of MeeMee Theatre, a company that generates worlds of high-quality theatre, workshops, masterclasses and projects that ignite imaginations and create spaces to empower, transform and connect people.
Since starting his creative journey over 22 years ago, Pady has travelled and lived in many different countries training with some of the world’s most renowned theatre teachers and companies such as Antonio Fava, Philippe Gaulier, Complicite, Angela De Castro, David Glass and Nola Rae, among many others. Through his training, he has honed his passion for mask, clown, commedia dell’arte, directing and visual theatre, alongside exploring using the physical movement of the body to tell stories.
Directing & Play x Sameena Hussain
Directing & Play
with Sameena Hussain
Tuesday 4 June, 2024
9.30 - 16.00
Kala Sangam
Step into the world of theatre directing and play!
In this engaging session, we’ll delve into the essential skills that directors need to create and hold space and foster an environment where creativity flourishes. From guiding actors to orchestrating the flow of a performance and how directors craft the theatre experience.
Using games and warm-ups, we’ll unravel the significance of play in the theatrical process; from the initial interpretation of a script to the final, polished production. Come explore playful processes that transform words on a page into captivating performances that resonate with audiences.
Sameena Hussain is a theatre director based in West Yorkshire. She is the Associate Director at Leeds Playhouse and has worked with various theatres, arts organisations and communities over the years.
Her work is rooted in community and connection; it has always been about getting to know people and endeavouring to remove barriers (both invisible and visible) which prevent them from engaging with theatre.
Sameena is passionate about making theatre a safe and brave space, enabling dialogue and connection.
Build a New World x the Art Doctors
Build a New World
with the Art Doctors
Wednesday 5 June, 2024
9.30 - 16.00
Kala Sangam
We invite you to come and build a new environment around us using scrap materials, which we will then animate and explore.
The materials we use – cardboard, paper, sticks, tape, pipes, foam – will encourage collaborative and playful making, challenge perfectionism and look for the creative possibilities in perceived failure.
Whilst the session will predominantly use visual art techniques to create the new environment, it is aimed at any creative person, especially as we will actively avoid perfection! The nature of the animation and exploration will be influenced by the creative interests and skills of the group. We’ll make it up as we go along, so just bring your imagination and your willingness to get stuck in!
The Art Doctors playfully break down barriers to participation in art and culture and explore the positive role of creativity in all our lives.
“We gather near art galleries and museums, at events, in workplaces and online, wearing our paint-splattered coats and stethoscopes, and often with prescription pads at the ready. We may prescribe art to look at or everyday creative activities. We make films, we write, and we work with all sorts of different people; from social prescribers and healthcare professionals to radio presenters, students, artists, people just hanging out on the street, and YOU!
We love thinking about art and creativity as a starting point for conversations, and we firmly believe that every response is valid and important – whether you see yourself as an expert or not. We don’t teach, we explore. We believe in the power of FUN.
The Art Doctors were founded in 2015 by Leeds-based artists Alison McIntyre, Liz Stirling and Tom Bailey and are now a collective of around 12 artists.
FAQs
Play Days are free to attend. Booking essential via the links above.
We always do what we can to reduce any barriers to participate in our events and programmes to make these opportunities as accessible to as many people as possible.
If you have any access needs to attend our events, please let us know when booking and we will do what we can to accommodate. We can provide interpreters for those who require it.
We have funds available to help towards any access costs you may face. This may include support towards childcare, other caring costs, disability support, or travel costs. If you need to apply for financial support, please complete this form.
We can’t offer a bursary for these events, but if you need access funding we can help with that. Please complete this form.
Places are extremely limited. We would therefore ask that you only book if you can attend. If you can no longer attend, please email hello@bdproducinghub.co.uk as soon as you can so that we can allocate your place to someone else.
If you fail to attend on multiple occasions without notice, we may need to restrict you from booking future events.
