Our coming events

From Exhibit to Props, Weekend Workshop in Germany, 15th & 16th May 2010

15 May 2010-16 May 2010

A Spring weekend workshop with the actors and directors who stage museum theatre at the open air Freilichtmuseum Hessenpark.

Participants will be able to explore techniques drawn from the masters of acting and theatrical theory, Stanislavski and Chekhov, in a wide range of indoor and outdoor heritage settings. The workshop leaders are all highly experienced in museum theatre, and offer this opportunity to both beginners and those who wish to refresh their established skills.

Further information will appear here soon, but for queries please contact board member Oliver Klaukien M.A. on the following email.

museumtheater@hessenpark.de

or write to
Oliver Klaukien M.A.
Freilichtmuseum Hessenpark GmbH
Theaterpadagogik and Museumstheater
Laubweg 5
61267 Neu-Anspach

More information >>

Previous events

(More of) Less of the Verbal - in London

22 January 2010

(More of) Less of the Verbal
A Training Day In Non-Verbal Communication Within Museum Theatre

Friday 22nd January 2010
at the Museum of Docklands, London
10am - 4.30pm

Following the success of “Less of the Verbal” held in Manchester last spring, Alison Hale and Emily Capstick of Peoplescape Theatre will be running another training day.

For all those interested in providing heritage interpretation with and for people to whom spoken text can be a barrier - such as overseas visitors, the hearing impaired, the very young, second language speakers or those with learning difficulties.

Alison and Emily will focus on elements of non-verbal communication to help you tell your story. Puppets, imaginative and creative object manipulation, movement, lighting, touch, music, sound and song can all help audiences understand the mood and tone, as well as the content of any heritage interpretation.

The day will include lots of opportunities to try out ideas, and to see extracts from Peoplescape Theatre's performances
Over the Sea to London
Darwin Stories
Seeking

What people said about “Less of the Verbal” last time.

“So often courses will talk about projects that have been undertaken… but you rarely get to experience the activities first hand”  

“[We saw] …how percussion and props can totally change the delivery of a session”

“I thought this was a really good course- a good balance between the theoretical and the practice”

“Thanks once again for a truly inspiring and joyful day”

Everyone welcome, whether you joined us in Manchester or not, as new material and activities will be incorporated.

£60 for IMTAL Europe members
£90 for non-members
(This fee includes lunch and tea/coffee)
For booking and information contact: board@imtal-europe.com or click here (as a Word document) or here (as a pdf) to download an entry form.

Manchester Christmas Exchange

16 December 2009

Insights editor Emily Capstick and Treasurer David Mosley will be lounging in the glorious cafe of the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester on Wednesday 16th December from 11am to 1pm. All IMTAL members and potential members in the North West of England are welcome to join them for a chat and to network with other IMTAL people. The cafe sells soup, sandwiches and scrumtious cup cakes!

London Christmas Drinks

10 December 2009

Board member Chris Gidlow will be upstairs at the Round Table Public House, 26-27 St Martin's Lane (off Charing Cross Road by Wyndham's Theatre) in London on Thursday 10th December from 6.30pm onwards.

He is promising to dispense information about IMTAL, seasonal cheer, and optional snippets of Arthurian lore.

Bristol Seasonal Social

06 December 2009

Chair, Anna Farthing will host a brunchtime gathering for members and potential members of IMTAL in the shiny new gold foyer of The Colston Hall in Bristol from 11am to 1pm on Sunday 6th December. Coffee, drinks and food will be available to purchase from the café bar. Come and meet like minded people, show pictures of your work, have a chat about your plans, and hear what lies ahead for IMTAL in 2010. Email board@imtal-europe.com to say that you are coming, or just turn up.

Christmas Social, Guernsey

28 November 2009

IMTAL members are gathering at the Guernsey Museum in Candie Gardens
for coffee and mince pies on November 28 at 11am. Anyone in the area
is welcome to join board member and membership secretary, Lynne Ashton, friends and colleagues. Please send a Christmas message to: Lynneashton@googlemail.com to say whether or not you can come.

Live Interpretation Training for Senior Heritage Managers - Presenting the Past

10 November 2009

Past Pleasures Ltd is the oldest and largest freelance live interpretation company in Europe. They can be seen daily at Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London. Also regularly at The Service Wing, Audley End House and The Great Keep, Dover Castle.

Location: Hampton Court Palace, Surrey.
Time: 9.00am - 5.00pm
Fee for this course, which includes tea, coffee, lunch and all materials
£144 inc. VAT.

Contact the Past Pleasures office for further information on this training opportunity and to book your place.
01428 685755 or email: info@pastpleasures.co.uk

Kate Howard
Creative Director
Past Pleasures Ltd

IMTAL AGM, Agenda and Study Day - Hampton Court

30 September 2009

IMTAL members are invited to Hampton Court Palace on the outskirts of London, England for the Annual General Meeting and to see presentations from companies currently working with the site.

Wed 30th September 2009
10.15am - 4.30pm
Western Room, Clore Education Centre, Hampton Court Palace
(Please arrive at the main entrance, from where you will be directed. Click on "more information" below for travel details)

10.15am Coffee & welcome

10.45am ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - AGENDA
1. Apologies for Absence
2. To Confirm minutes of the 2008 AGM held in Bath
3. To Receive Director’s report to year ended May 31st 2009
4. To Receive Financial report for period to year ended May 31st 2009
4a To authorise Board to appoint an accountant for the current Financial year and fix his/her renumeration
5. Board matters
5a. Summary of present position
5b. Election of Board members
5c. Election of Officers
5d. Explanation of Board responsibilities
6. Closing Remarks /A.O.B.

A summary of the annual report can be downloaded from the "news" section of this website. Former Chair Robert Forshaw and Secretary John Paul Coyle have decided to stand down so we will be looking for new people to take on various roles on the board. Do please consider getting involved.

After the AGM our Study Day will begin. There will be a break for lunch (own cost or bring picnic) The presenters will include:

Chris Gidlow, Live Interpretation Manager for The Historic Royal Palaces which includes Hampton Court.

Peet Cooper and members of The Misfits Theatre Company presenting their FOOL PROJECT exploring the role of learning disabled adults in the development of court fooling.

Mark Wallis, Director of Past Pleasures, one of the largest and most successful live interpretation companies in Europe, discussing their latest projects and approaches.

Should delegates wish to explore the site, and see the Past Pleasures procession, a special reduced entry fee of £5 has been arranged.

Please put the date in your diary.

Please contact us at board@imtal-europe.net to let us know you are coming so we can organise refreshments

If you cannot come, please fill in the SURVEY below.

Conferences and Get Togethers - MA coming up

07 September 2009-05 October 2009

If any IMTAL members are planning to attend the heritage industry's upcoming conferences, and would like to meet up with fellow IMTAL members, please email us using the contact page and we will try to arrange something.

Museums Association Conference
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London
5-7 October 2009
www.museumsassociation.org

If you hear of other events that IMTAL members should know about, please get in touch and we will add them to this diary.

IMTAL Membership Survey

01 September 2009-31 October 2009

If you were unable to come to the AGM, please take just five minutes to answer six questions and share your thoughts with us.

Your input will help the board to shape how IMTAL can best support the membership.

The survey will be open until the end of October, after which we will share the thoughts and ideas that have come in.

So put the kettle on, and click the link below to get started.

IMTAL 2009 Global Conference

23 August 2009-27 August 2009

Museum Theatre on the Edge

Hosted by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, CA.

The 2009 Global IMTAL conference promises to be an exceptional program full of thought-provoking sessions, enlightening discussions, exciting performances, and of course, the breathtaking scenery of the California coast.

The program includes a keynote address by Luis Valdez, founder of El Teatro Campesino, a field trip day in which attendees will visit the Steinbeck Center and historic San Juan Bautista, a festive Fandango event, and a Gala Dinner.