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Workshop Director

The Workshop Director is responsible for running Weekly Drama Workshops, with the New Works Rep and EVC.

Role History

Committee Year
Member
May 2021
Luke McDonald

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  • Weekend Show
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It’s opening night of our first weekend show of It’s opening night of our first weekend show of the term, Hedda, by Henrick Ibsen, adapted by Lucy Kirkwood ! 🎭 Premiering at 7:30 PM tonight in The Drama Barn… ‘Hedda, still mourning the father she adored, returns from honeymoon with a husband she doesn’t love, to a flat and pregnancy she doesn’t want. Trapped by her past and terrified for her future, she finds herself trapped between 3 men. And in the end, something has to give.’ Directed by Ali Moodie & Connie Peel and Produced by Ione Vaughan In-person tickets have sold out, but there is still chance to grab your live stream tickets for tonight, or tomorrow’s showing. 🎟 Link in our bio !!
York DramaSoc Statement on Girls Night In: As a s York DramaSoc Statement on Girls Night In: As a society, we are committed to the safety of our members, the university community and the wider population. Though Dramasoc are not a society that holds regular socials, we are aware of and horrified by the ongoing issues regarding drink spiking and threats to safety both in York and across the country. We are fully in support of the @girlsnightinyork campaign and will be boycotting all nightclubs in York on Wednesday 27th October in solidarity. We strongly encourage our members and other societies to support the campaign by doing the same.As a society, we are committed to the safety of our members, the university community and the wider population. Though Dramasoc are not a society that holds regular socials, we are aware of and horrified by the ongoing issues regarding drink spiking and threats to safety both in York and across the country. We are fully in support of the @girlsnightinyork campaign and will be boycotting all nightclubs in York on Wednesday 27th October in solidarity. We strongly encourage our members and other societies to support the campaign by doing the same.
THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! 🎭 It's looking to be THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! 🎭 It's looking to be a very exciting week, with our first in-person shows in about a year and a half! Later shows in the term are still looking for prod team members, so look out for those opportunities! 🤩 First up this week is tonight’s ODN ‘£9250 a Year’, written and directed by Monica Yell, and produced by Lucy Eddington! This satirical play takes aim at all of university’s most unusual quirks, from Open Days to Fresher’s Week! It’s also our first show in the barn, and promises to be a great start to a term of student-written drama! Virtual tickets are still available at: ticketsource.co.uk/drama 🎓 Next on Wednesday, we have not one but two workshops on offer! In Writer’s Circle, Annabel Lunney will lead a session focused on ‘Structure’, super helpful for anyone struggling to translate ideas into a solid play! Afterwards, Luke McDonald will lead a theatre workshop on ‘Movement’, something definitely useful after a year of zoom acting – both will be in the Dixon Drama Studio on Wednesday! 🎬 Finally, we have our first weekend show of the term, with Lucy Kirkwood’s ‘Hedda’, directed by Connie Peel & Ali Moodie, and produced by Ione Vaughan! This modernised reimaging of the classic Ibsen play is an emotional exploration of isolation, performing on both Saturday and Sunday evening at 7.30pm. Virtual tickets are still available at ticketsource.co.uk/drama ! 🎫 [ID: first image - A burgundy background with teal, black and white bold abstract shapes surrounding a white box which reads ‘THIS WEEK IN THE BARN’. second image- A teal background with burgundy, black and white shapes. It reads ‘ODN Monday’ in a black font, with ‘£9,250 a Year’ in white font below. The above information on the ODN is in smaller black and white font. Third image- A burgundy background with teal, black and white bold abstract shapes. In a bold font it reads ‘Weekend Show – Hedda’. The above information on the weekend show is in smaller white font below. Forth image – A teal background with burgundy, black and white shapes. It reads ‘Workshops’ in a bold large black font. The above information on the workshops is in a smaller black and white font]
Let’s introduce our new committee members !! ☀ Let’s introduce our new committee members !! ☀️ A big congratulations and well done to all of the candidates that came to elections… it was definitely a tough one ! But let’s introduce our new committee members 🎉 Introducing our wonderful new Marketing & Events Officer, Ali Moodie ! Then, we have our fabulous new Costume & Props Manager, Connie Peel ! And finally, we have a new tech manager !!! It’s the amazing Anouk Veltman ! Again, a big congratulations to them and everyone who got involved… 🥳🎉 There is still a chance to be on committee - don’t miss our announcement for a new History Officer (coming soon)… 👀
THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! 🎭 First things first, THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! 🎭 First things first, congratulations to everyone who was cast in shows over the weekend, and well done to everyone that auditioned. We can’t wait to see the talent across the term !! 🤩 Fresher’s Play auditions start today for ‘Dear Brutus’, so if you are a fresher or a new post grad to York, get involved by looking at the details on our most recent post 📱 Today, we have Open Barn from 12 - 2 PM. So, come and visit the Drama Barn and have a look at our space and what we have to offer, or even get tech trained ready for your shows !! Coming up on Wednesday, we have our amazing Writer’s Circle, led by Annabel Lunney. This weeks workshop is on ‘Plot’. This is a great way to try your ideas and get creating in a comfortable space. Come along to the Dixon Drama Studio at 4 - 5 PM Following this in the same space, from 5 - 6 PM is our Theatre workshop, exploring ‘Voice work’. So, if you want to enhance your performing skills, this ones for you !! There will also be an announcement soon to introduce our NEW committee members too ! ☺️
FRESHER’S PLAY EXEC TEAM !! It’s time to ann FRESHER’S PLAY EXEC TEAM !! It’s time to announce the Exec team for this years Fresher’s Play, ‘Dear Brutus’ By J. M Barrie. Introducing the Director, Alicia Oldbury, our Assistant Director, Ciaran Mates and the Producer, Thomas McCarthy. We can’t wait for them to get started. 🎉 Thank you to everyone who applied and got involved, it was such a tough decision to make. But, there’s still chance to be involved behind the scenes, with more production roles being announced soon. ☺️ Auditions start tomorrow for this wonderful play… It is a great opportunity to meet new people and get involved. (See our most recent post for more details on the auditions). And we will see you tonight at Elections ?? Could you be on the committee soon ? 👀
CALLING ALL FRESHERS 📣 Auditions are starting CALLING ALL FRESHERS 📣 Auditions are starting next week for our amazing Fresher’s Play: Dear Brutus, By James Matthew Barrie. We are so excited to announce that auditions will be held by our Exec team (which we will announced shortly🎉). Times and rooms detailed 👇 Monday J/P/003 6pm-10pm Tuesday J/P/003 6pm-10pm Wednesday PZA/022 6pm -10pm Thursday J/P/003 6pm -10pm Stay tuned tomorrow to meet our Exec team !! We can’t wait for them to get started. And also don’t forget, Fresher or not, we have our Elections tomorrow, so come and vote or run to be on the committee. See our elections post for more details !! 🗳 We can’t wait to see you tomorrow !! Good luck 🤞🏻
THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! It’s audition week, an THIS WEEK IN THE BARN !! It’s audition week, and if you haven’t already, go ahead and check out our shows social media pages or the link in our bio for all of the information on how to get involved… good luck ☺️ We start with our Open Barn today @ 12-2 PM. Come and get tech trained or have a nosy at our space… we have biscuits 🍪 Next up, is our Writer’s circle which has now moved to Wednesday 6th October, at 4 - 5 PM in the Dixon Theatre. This is on ‘Character’ and is ran by the wonderful Annabel Lunney. Following this in the Dixon Theatre at 5 - 6 PM is the fabulous Luke. Luke is leading a workshop on ‘Production’. We can’t wait to see you there !! To conclude this week, it’s our Elections !! Come prepare a speech or pop a long and listen and vote for your new officers… check out our post to see what you can run for 👀 Let’s go 🎉
AUDITION & PRODUCTION ROLE INFORMATION 🎬🤩 T AUDITION & PRODUCTION ROLE INFORMATION 🎬🤩 Thank you to everyone who came and saw us at Freshers Fair, it was lovely to meet so many lovely faces !! ☺️ 🎉I bet you’re now wondering how you can get stuck in this term ? Well, we’ve got you covered ! Go and follow the link in our bio for all of the opportunities regarding performing and production within the society this term so far… ** Please make sure you are using your YORK EMAIL to view this document ** The document will be updated when more shows production roles come out in the next week or so, so keep checking back. Also, make sure you are following all of the social media’s for our plays this term - it’s such an exciting way to keep in the loop and stay notified on more upcoming opportunities…📱 And if you haven’t already, go get your membership on the YUSU website, or go directly from our website and click, Join Us. The more the merrier 💫
ELECTIONS - SUNDAY 10TH OCTOBER 7 PM IN THE BARN ELECTIONS - SUNDAY 10TH OCTOBER 7 PM IN THE BARN 🗳 Its that time again… and we have a grand total of 3 roles available for you to get stuck in with: Costume & Props Manager, Marketing & Events Officer and Tech Manager !! Come along to the barn and give a minute speech on why you think you will be great for your chosen role… we may ask a few questions too !! 🎤 👚First up, we are looking for a wonderful Costume & Props Manager. The C&P Manager is responsible for keeping an inventory of all costume and props… meaning you will be in the barn a lot !! They also keep the upstairs of the barn clean and tidy, working with the IVC and Barn Manager to decide on the loan of anything from the Barn to non-members. 🥳Secondly, we are looking for a brilliant Marketing & Events Officer to join Ellie… They are responsible for publicising all shows and events organised by the society and incontrol of our socials. They also organise society social events for our members !! 💻And lastly, we are on the hunt for a fabulous tech manager to join Nat… The tech managers ensure that every show has an appropriately trained technician who has been briefed on the safety procedures. They also train other members on how to use our Barn technology. Any questions, please message our page and we will get back to you… Good luck 🤞🏻 And see you at Freshers Fair tomorrow (We will be in Central Hall)
📣 FRESHERS PLAY ANNOUNCEMENT !! We are super 📣 FRESHERS PLAY ANNOUNCEMENT !! We are super excited to announce that the Freshers Play this year will be ‘Dear Brutus’, by James Matthew Barrie. ‘A bizarre and puckish host (Noble Shropshire) has invited a group of strangers to his country estate on a midsummer's eve. When a mysterious forest suddenly appears outside the mansion, they are invited to enter and walk down the paths they could have chosen earlier in life.’ The play will be performed on the weekend of Week 8 : Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November… If you’re a Fresher at the University of York (first year or post grad) you can get involved with the show. Applications for Exec Roles will be opening soon… Roles available: Director, Assistant Director, Producer and Assistant Producer. Audition information will be out in the next few days, so keep your eyes peeled. Over on our social media stories, we will be posting an FAQ’s on Wednesday regarding the Freshers Play, and don’t forget pop along to Freshers Fair to see what other things you can get involved with and so we can answer any questions you may have. See you soon Freshers 👋🏻
THIS WEEK IN THE BARN (sort of) 🎭 That’s rig THIS WEEK IN THE BARN (sort of) 🎭 That’s right, it’s time to find out what we have in store for you on this very busy Freshers week… (how exciting !!) Get a cuppa, it’s a long one… First up, we have the first Writer’s Circle of the term with the theme ‘Inspiration’, lead by the wonderful Annabel Lunney. If you are new to DramaSoc these workshops are such a chilled and safe space to explore writing and give it a go. So, don’t forget to pop along at 6-7 PM today as it’s such a great stepping stone into DramaSoc. (The room will be posted over on our Instagram story and our York DramaSoc 2021/22 Facebook page). Following this, on Wednesday 29th September at 5 - 6 PM, we have the amazing Luke MacDonald running our first Theatre Workshop of the term, which will be on ‘Auditioning’. And with auditions coming up in weeks 2/3, this is the place to get all the tips and tricks in order to ace your auditions. So if you’re thinking of auditioning this term, this workshop is not one to miss… Then, on Thursday 30th October, we will be at ‘Accessival’: the Disabled students welcome event 2021. Meet us at the Physics Exhibition Centre from 11 AM - 4 PM for more information. We can’t wait to see you ! And here comes the busy Saturday… First up we have Freshers Fair, where you can meet and chat to members of our committee and see what we’re about. Meet us at the Physics Exhibition Centre Saturday 2nd October : 11 AM - 4 PM (accessible hour- 10 AM - 11 AM). And finally, we’re back with Open Barn at 12 - 2 PM on Saturday 2nd October. Whether you want to get tech trained, have a nosy around our amazing space, or have a biscuit or two, we will be there to show you around. Thank you, and if you got through all of that info… you deserve a medal 🥇 We can’t WAIT to see all your amazing faces !! It’s been a while 🎭 (Image descriptions on our Facebook Page)
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 And final 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 And finally, it’s now time to meet our final member of our committee, our phenomenal Chair of DramaSoc, Stevie !! Stevie’s job is to make sure everyone feels supported and happy within our society. They run the society, chair meetings and ensure the society is running well. Catch them running our open meetings every Wednesday ! Thank you for stopping by everyday to meet us all… Now, we can’t wait to meet you !! There is a lot coming up to get involved with, whether you’re new to the University, a keen member, or you’ve never got involved before.. there is really something for everyone. So keep posted on our socials, you’re not going to want to miss what we have in store… 🎭
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 It’s ou 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 It’s our penultimate meet the committee post, and what better way to meet our tremendous Internal Vice Chair, John Cherry !! John is responsible for looking after the health and safety of our members and closely supports every show in the Drama Barn. He looks after the Barn to make sure everything can run smoothly… 🎭 Now, we have only one more committe member left to meet… guess who it is ?? 🪑
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Next up, 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Next up, it’s our marvellous External Vice Chair, Lorn Suzanne !! Lorn is in charge of everything that occurs outside of the Drama Barn. Recently they were involved with sending DramaSoc to the Edinburgh Fringe which went down a treat. 🎉 Lorn also helps manage the image of the society externally and helps to bring in professionals from the industry for our amazing workshops. We now have only two members left to meet… who could they be ??
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Time to m 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Time to meet another fabulous member of our Exec committee, our very own Secretary, Sophie Burton !! Sophie is the one always on hand to take the minutes in our meetings, as well as being the person behind our Newsletter. She is also in charge of all of our emails, which allows us to connect with our amazing members, but also outside of our society.📓
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 It’s ab 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 It’s about time we meet our superb Treasurer, Dan Sinclair !! Dan deals with all of the finances within the society, while also helping weekend shows deal with their budgets and manage their ticket sales. 🎟 He ensures our society and our shows are as brilliant as they can be…
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Time to m 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Time to meet our sensational Barn Manager, Emma Prestedge !! Emma keeps the barn in tip-top condition and is always on hand to assist our shows in the amazing space. Come down to Open Barn (every Monday) to see the Barn and ask Emma any questions you may have. You can also get your biscuit fix too 🍪
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Meet our 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Meet our magnificent Tech Manager, Natsuko Noguchi !! She helps shows in need of any technical assistance and ensures each show has a trained technician. And if you too would like to get up to speed with all things technical, Natsuko can train you on all of the Drama Barn technology at Open Barn (every Monday in term time). 💻
🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Starting 🎭 LET’S MEET THE COMMITTEE !! 🎭 Starting the week off right, it’s our incredible ODN Representative, Cole Green !! Every Monday night we hold Open Drama Nights (ODNs), allowing students to get their original writing seen by an audience. Cole guides the ODN teams along the way to stage a sensational play of their own… Whether it be a production role or a performing role, ODNs offer it all… Keep an eye on our social pages to get involved in this terms ODNs. 🎬
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