Please note: Online tickets sales have now closed. You can still buy tickets for the event on the door from 10:00am onwards for a 10:30am start. If you have any queries please feel free to call Melanie on: 07834 546 379. 

Event Invite & Details: 

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Do you love theatre?

Do you find it frustrating?

Do you wish it were different?

Do you feel like an outsider in your own profession?

Do you want to help change things for the better?

Have you just started out and need support?

Have you been in the profession for years and feel jaded?

Is your sector always left out of the discussions?

Do you usually dread discussions and meetings?

Are you looking for a sense of: community, eldership, mentorship?

Are you looking to change things?

DEVOTED AND DISGRUNTLED 5

What are we going to do about theatre?

"The annual Devoted and Disgruntled open space will be on the last weekend in January-  keep the dates free; it's the most energizing event in the theatre calendar." 
Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

Five years ago I sent out the first invitation to “Devoted & Disgruntled”. I’d become aware that, passionate as I was about theatre, I found myself frustrated at how we make it, how we communicate with each other and how little the existing structures supported us to feel part of a genuine community. Since that first invitation to others who were devoted and disgruntled, this has become an extraordinary annual event.

From each of the previous four D&Ds have come an amazing number of projects and initiatives. Some of them very tangible, others, equally important, are more subtle and tangential. Whatever they are, from new theatre companies to individual projects, from pressure groups to artist’s salons, D&D has helped bring them to fruition. Perhaps most importantly for me has been the gradual and growing sense of community. I have to say I was astonished by the number of people who turned out for the first D&D event and I’m incredibly excited that here we are – in our fifth year!

So if there are things you are passionate about or things you are pissed off about, projects or proposals you need support on, or if you want to connect with your community, all are possible because in Open Space you set the agenda. Nothing is off limits.

If you feel like this event might not be for you then that is a sure sign we need your input! If you feel that the issues that affect you or your sector never get discussed so what’s the point of turning up? This is the event for you.

On past experiences of D&D, the more diverse our group, the more creative and exciting the work has been. All sectors and genres; Fringe, West End, Off West End, London based, regional etc etc are invited. If you’ve never been to D&D we need your voice, if you’ve been to every D&D we need your voice. Whatever your connection to theatre; on stage, back stage, off stage, in the audience, you are invited.

In it’s fifth year we still don’t know where D&D is headed – and I think this uncertainty is exciting and I am passionate about opening the space again. I’m excited by the opportunity D&D5 gives me and you to reconnect with UK theatre and the wider arts community. To continue building on the work we have begun and generate new initiatives. And to reconnect without cynicism and lethargy but rather with renewed energy.

I hope to see you at this, our fifth D&D.

Phelim

Phelim McDermott

Co-Artistic Director, Improbable

Please distribute this invite and the information below to practitioners, colleagues and anyone else who you think might be interested.

ACCESS INFORMATION: 

Improbable’s Open Space Event

At York Hall, Bethnal Green

DEVOTED AND DISGRUNTLED 5

What are we going to do about theatre?

Facilitated by Phelim McDermott

A 3 day event.

30th and 31stJanuary 2010, 10am - 7pm

1 February 2010, 10am - 2pm

York Hall, Bethnal Green, Old Ford Road, E2 9PJ

FOR ALL THE LATEST INFORMATION ON D&D JOIN OUR SOCIAL NETWORK: 

http://devotedanddisgruntled.ning.com

Although Open Space may be new to you it has been used successfully all over the world. It is an exciting open-ended event that enables a self-organising group to use its collective imagination to deal with complex issues and it will achieve this in an incredibly short space of time. By the end of the event the following will have occurred:

• Every issue of concern to anybody will have been raised, if they took responsibility for doing that.
• All issues will have received full discussion, to the extent desired.
• A full report of issues and discussions will be in the hands of all participants.
• And YOU will have taken part in making it happen.

ACCESS

Improbable are committed to ensuring that Devoted and Disgruntled 5 is a democratic and accessible event so please contact Melanie Rashbrooke, to discuss your access requirements.  

SMS: 07834 546379

Voice: 020 7240 4556 

Email: melanie@improbable.co.uk 

• Devoted and Disgruntled 5 is wheel chair accessible
• We are offering sign language interpreters 
• Our information is available in a range of formats 
• Assistance dogs are welcome

TICKETS

We ask all participants to commit to the Saturday and Sunday. We do hope that you will return for the Monday morning but understand that the beginnings of weeks bring new commitments. 

£20, £15 concession (student, unemployed, dsl). All support workers / access assistants are free. 

Group discount: five tickets for the price of four. A group of five gets five tickets for £80. 

(All proceeds are to cover direct costs of this event including the hire of the space, refreshments and equipment hires.)

Box office

Order tickets online here: event brite. 

Tickets will be offered on a first come first served basis so please book early to ensure your place. We regret that we will be unable to offer a refund if you are unable to attend.

Improbable, 4th Floor, 43 The Aldwych, London, WC2B 4DN

devotedanddisgruntled@improbable.co.uk

020 7240 4556

www.improbable.co.uk