TNB Announces New Training Opportunity for Theatre Artists

Suzuki Method of Actor Training and Viewpoints – June 1 – 6, 2015

Thomas Teaching - web res — Thomas Morgan Jones

Theatre New Brunswick’s artistic director, Thomas Morgan Jones, invites theatre artists from the Maritimes and across Canada to participate in a workshop where he will share the training he received from SITI Company (New York City) and the Suzuki Company of Toga (Japan).

The Suzuki Method of Actor Training, created by celebrated Japanese director Tadashi Suzuki, is a rigorous physical practice of actor training that places focus on the body in relationship to and in support of speaking in performance. It demands complete commitment to each moment on stage, and offers a company of actors an opportunity to work individually and as a group with incredible discipline and focus.

“A SITI company member said to my group in training that Suzuki is about finding freedom in form, while Viewpoints is about finding freedom in freedom,” said Jones. “Both are challenging, and both help us as artists to grow through that challenge.”

The Viewpoints, originated by Mary Overly, is an improvisational training discipline that explores the use of Time and Space in performance. Actors learn to listen to their impulses, to their surroundings and to each other. Viewpoints is about noticing, both what is happening and what is constantly changing…and then acting.

“Training with SITI Company and SCOT has been the greatest gift to me as an artist, and has completely and forever changed how I work. The world class instructors at both of these companies are models of excellence, and are so giving in the sharing of this training with artists from around the world. At TNB, I would like to give back to our community by sharing this training, and in the future will be dedicated to finding ways to bring those who have trained me to Fredericton and the Maritimes. In my experience, the profound effect that these two different and complimentary systems of training have on artists who train in them is undeniable. I look forward to welcoming artists interested in training to Fredericton, and to entering the training room together.”

Instructor Bio- Thomas Morgan Jones

Thomas is currently the artistic director of Theatre New Brunswick, and an acclaimed director, playwright, dramaturg, instructor, and movement coach. His productions have received eleven Dora Mavor Moore Awards and eight nominations, he received the 2011 Dora Mavor Moore Guthrie (Stratford Festival), and has been nominated twice for the John Hirsch Award (2008 & 2011) and for the Pauline McGibbon Award.

He has collaborated with companies including: Theatre Direct, The Stratford Festival, Theatre Passe Muraille, Cahoots, Theatre Rusticle, Project Humanity/Theate Centre, Buddies, Carousel Players, Theatre Jones Roy, The CULTCH, The Charlottetown Festival, Cia Enviezada (Brazil), and many others.

He holds a B.A. from the University of Guelph, an M.A. from the University of Toronto, and has trained with SITI Company in NYC, Madrid, and Paris, and SCOT in Toga, Japan. He is a former playwright in residence with Shakespeare in Action and Cahoots Theatre, an artist educator in residence with YPT, and is currently an associate artist with Theatre Direct.

As an instructor he has taught at The National Theatre School, The Stratford Festival’s Birmingham Conservatory (three seasons under the direction of Martha Henry, and a fourth upcoming), Sheridan College, The Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, the University of Guelph, the University of Guelph-Humber, CBC’s Triple Sensation, The Playwrights Guild of Canada, as well as with many theatre companies nationally and with Cia Enviezada (Rio and Barra Mansa).