November 2006 HITN Profile: Dogdazetheatre

Dogdazetheatre came about in response to a funding opportunity and a ‘cultural audit’ of Moray schools. The audit was carried out by the Cultural Co-ordinator and created a snapshot of what was happening in schools and what schools would like more of.

High up on the ‘wants’ list was drama in primary schools. At this time SAC were offering project grants to Cultural Co-ordinator programmes. Moray Council was successful in obtaining funding for a primary schools tour of 'Dr Dog' (hence the name of the company).

Because the production had a health message there was much interest outside Moray and a grant from Highlands & Islands Producers fund enabled a second tour to Orkney, Highland and Edinburgh venues.

Our second production, ‘It’s a Wasteful Life’, followed an approach by Waste Aware Moray. WAM wanted to use drama as a way of reinforcing the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ message. What’s more WAM were prepared to find the funding (the majority of which came from the private sector). Dogdaze were shortlisted for the Eco Prize for Creativity 2006 in Glasgow.

Essentially Dogdazetheatre is Moray Council’s occasional TIE company, an Arts Development project that can promote the use of drama to support the curriculum and issue-based theatre.

Current Production or Work-in-Progress

We have been approached by Trading Standards to look at using drama as a way of raising awareness with older people of the problem of doorstep crime. Using a professional director we will work with people from local Age Concern groups to present a piece to peer groups.

Fantasy Theatre

It wouldn’t be an all-singing, all-dancing production. If the resources were available a full-time, resident company (with venue) that could plan and create a whole raft of work, creating projects and productions that would become a regular part of the school timetable, at all ages and levels, rather than the occasional production being dropped in.

In this way schools could be exposed to good theatre practice, new and innovative methods, a range of styles and approaches. At the moment productions are booked on the basis of their relevance to curriculum or issues of the day rather than the merits of bringing in good theatre to schools.

I know this sounds like I am arguing against what Dogdazetheatre has been doing, but it is possible to combine the message and the method.

It's a Wasteful Life.

Golden Moment

The first day the company came together to begin rehearsals for ‘Dr Dog’, the great review it got in ‘The Stage’, and the debate about ‘It’s a Wasteful Life’ that flew around the HITN smartgroups email.

And Not So Golden Moment

Having got development funding, then failing to get support from the Producers Fund for our ‘Othello unplugged’ project despite a lot of interest from promoters. One day…..

Nick Fearne and Eco Trust's Laura-Mae Browne at the Eco Award for Creativity 2006.

Highland Theatre – Is There Such A Thing, and If So, What Is It?

There is, and I think it’s all been said before by other companies featured. The fact that HITN exists and discusses the question means there is. Perhaps the question that we are more hung up on is this – is it recognised outside the Highlands?

The answer is probably not as much as it should be, but it’s moving that way. Is there an equivalent of HITN anywhere else in Scotland? Where is the first festival of Scottish theatre being held (ie, Dràma Na h-Alba), and who initiated it?

© Nick Fearne, 2006

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Dogdaze

Dogdazetheatre is Moray Council’s Theatre in Education company

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