Workshops
Participating in a Workshop
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You need to sign up if you want to come to a workshop.
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You can come to as few or as many workshops as you want to.
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All workshops are koha.
Workshops are only open to disabled, neurodivergent, and/or d/Deaf people, and those with long-term health conditions (mental or physical), disabilities, etc. We don’t gatekeep, and you don’t have to identify as disabled, if you have lived experience you are welcome. Please see the FAQs for more info.
DAT Ground Based Circus Workshop
Tuesday 5th November
1pm-3pm
Te Auaha
Audio Described
Tickets $5-$40 (Pay what you can)
Ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Well Rain Renor is here to help, no running required! This ground based circus workshop will incorporate skills such as hula hoop, spinning plates, contact juggling and tricks with mobility aids. There's a trick and skill for every ability and disability, so pile into the clown car and come on down!
Rain is a local non binary performer who often uses their mobility aids in their drag, burlesque and circus performances. Rain has a degree in Circus and Dance and has a special interest in how Circus can be adapted for every body and ability.
Buy tickets here: DAT Ground Based Circus Workshop
Write DAT Story! Workshop
Wednesday 6th November, 10:30am-12pm
Online
$5-$40 Pay what you can
Always wanted to write fiction, but don't know where to start? Tutor Helen Vivienne Fletcher will help you create an original character, and plan a story about them. Suitable for writers of any level, including very beginners.
Helen Vivienne Fletcher is a queer, disabled, children’s and young adult author, storyteller, and award-winning playwright. She has been a creative writing tutor for over ten years, teaching adults through the Wellington High Community Education Centre, and children in her own business, Brain Bunny Workshops.
Tackling heavy subjects with a healthy dose of humour, Helen describes her writing style as “funny tragedy” and invites you to decide for yourself whether you want to laugh or cry. She lives in Wellington with her disability assist dog, Bindi.
Buy tickets here: Write DAT Story! Workshop
Building Accessibility into our Arts Practice: a Blindness Perspective
Thursday 7th November
2pm-4pm
Online
Tickets $5-$40 (Pay what you can)
We are all experts on our own accessibility requirements. We know what we need to make our Arts spaces accessible. But we're not always great at understanding the accessibility requirements of our disabled colleagues.
In this workshop, Lauren will talk about her access requirements as a blind person. You'll learn about audio description, and talk about how you can incorporate it into your work, either using traditional methods, or experimental methods such as integrated audio description.
You'll learn about digital accessibility, and how blind people use assistive tech to navigate digital spaces. You don't need to be a digital accessibility expert, but it's important to think about your digital presence as an artist, and whether everyone can access your content or book tickets to your shows.
Bring all the questions you have about blindness, but were too afraid to ask.
Buy tickets here: Building Accessibility into our Arts Practice
DAT’s Unexpected! Intro to Improv workshop with Susan Williams
Saturday 9th November,
2:30pm-5:30pm
Te Auaha
$5-$40 Pay what you can
For anyone wanting to explore making theatre up on the spot, along with more experienced improvisors who want to have some fun, and get back to basics.
A fun, spontaneous time for all, no experience needed.
Susan is an experienced improvisor, actor, and comedian. They have taught Improv workshops in New Zealand and Australia, and their solo-ish theatre show Illegally Blind (Bat's co-pro, and touch compass) was nominated for multiple Wellington Theatre Awards. Susan is also proudly disabled, blind, and neurodivergent. As co director of DAT-Fest, they aim to create a fun, low-stress environment where everyone is free to be themselves.
Buy tickets here: DAT's Unexpected! Improv Workshop
DAT's Technical! Tech Workshop
Wednesday 13th November,
1pm-4pm
Te Auaha
Tickets $5-$40 (Pay what you can)
Knobs! Dials! Lights! Sound! Whizz! Bang! Flash!
Want to be a gremlin in the corner and learn how to work a tech desk? Come learn with Em Maguire!
Emma is a Wellington-based theatremaker, specialising in writing, directing and choreography. Emma runs the theatre company Tempest Theatre Co, which strives to take theatre outside of traditional theatre spaces; using digital, street performance and performance in found spaces.
Buy tickets here: DAT's Technical! Tech Workshop
Get DAT Act Together! Workshop with Trent H Baumann
Wednesday 13th November
6pm-8pm
Te Auaha
$5-$40 Pay what you can
A workshop in developing your own unique acts and characters for performance.
Discover a greater awareness of your individual style to communicate your world to the audience. Suitable for performing artists of many mix of forms, genres and styles.
(Participants are encouraged to bring an idea for an act, though if not we will just make one up.)
Trent H Baumann, The Birdmann is a highly regarded comic variety performer having graduated from QUT, the Rock 'n' Roll Circus, and has completed ten world tours. He has two half-finished education degrees and has taught at the National Circus Festival, Wollongong Women's Circus and the Miyazaki English Kindergarten in Japan. He was nominated for ‘Most Original Comedy’ at the Edinburgh Fringe, has performed at The Sydney Opera House and is the co-producer of Monfu.
Buy tickets here: Get DAT Act Together! Workshop with Trent H Baumann
Write DAT Song! Songwriting Workshop with Maggie Cocco
Saturday 16th November, 11am-1pm
Te Auaha
Tickets $5-$40 (Pay what you can)
Learn the art of songwriting with Maggie Cocco!
Hailing from metro Detroit, Maggie Cocco’s dedication to exploring the depth, breadth, and profundity of music has seen her perform in stadiums with legacy artists, galleries with avante garde expressionists, and many people, places, and musics between. Driven by a commitment to her global community, Maggie Cocco Music offers patron subsidized Pay What You Can services and contributions to various arts and social justice movements and organizations, weaving her passions into the fabric of her work. An independent artist, Cocco is based in Northland, New Zealand where she composes and runs community music programming between tours.
Buy tickets here: Write DAT Song! Songwriting Workshop with Maggie Cocco