Professional Attachment

On August 22, 2020 I began a professional attachment via an internship with COLAB Theatre Productions. While attending a performance of Crooks 1926 in February, I immediately recognized the energy, creativity, and craftsmanship that I wanted to learn for myself. After networking with Larissa Nugroho, a former classmate who worked as a producer for COLAB, I contacted Bertie Watkins, founder and artistic director of COLAB, and inquired about an internship. Unfortunately, days later, the UK was placed under lockdown due to the pandemic, and I was forced to return to the US. During the following period of isolation, I kept in contact with Bertie, nurturing a relationship I hoped would thrive when live theatre returned. After half a year of patience and planning, I finally began working with COLAB, assisting with the new covid-safe version of Crooks 1926 and creating content for Flicker, an immersive halloween production.

Flicker’s development process was already well underway by the time I joined. Most of the narrative had been created, tech planned, and marketing designed. However, the team was struggling with the ending, as they couldn’t justify the presence of the ghost, the main antagonist. Working with Larissa, I proposed an alternate ending, that the ghost was not Elizabeth Kent (who had supposedly been murdered, but had actually escaped), but her mother Esther, who had been abused by her husband. The change was accepted, and altered the remainder of the project. I also created a variety of content for the production (see Appendix B). The production was very well received, garnering 5-star reviews, and a nomination for Best Original Concept (Scarecon, 2021).

The UK then entered a second lockdown, and I was forced to return to the US a second time. However, I continued working for COLAB, developing a board game version of Crooks 1926 (see Appendix B) and developing proposals for new productions. In March, 2021, I was promoted to a full-time position as an Artistic Associate, and entrusted with taking over directorial roles for Crooks 1926 in the director’s (Bertie Watkins) stead. I created new content for a second covid-safe run of Crooks 1926, which is currently still running, and selected as the creative lead for a one-night event in Kempsford commissioned by Cara Delevingne. I wrote and directed the production, Among the Leaves, over a period of two weeks, and performed on site at Kempsford Manor (See Appendix B).

While I learned an enormous amount of new skills, such as creating content on a professional level, facilitating large audiences, maintaining safety regulations, tech, and sound design, the true value of my internship was the connections I formed. In working with seasoned professionals like Bertie Watkins and Ben Chamberlain (who earned 5-star reviews and an Offie award), as well as rising stars like Charlotte Potter (now COLAB producer) and Esme Cooper, I managed to add valuable support and skills to my community. Through COLAB I was also able to expand my network of collaborators, and have since worked with other industry titans like Tom Black (Jury Games, Parabolic Theatre, Exit Productions), Owen Kingston (Parabolic Theatre), and Alex Wright (Immersive LDN). COLAB would go on to host Sovereign Song, providing valuable support, with Bertie Watkins serving as mentor for the project.

Bibliography

Scarecon (2021) SCARs - 2021 Winners, Scarecon, visited 11 July, 2021 <http://www.scarecon.org/scars---2021-winners.html>

Flicker Reviews

Ayaydin, B. (2020) ‘Flicker: an immersive horror experience by COLAB theatre’, Cub Magazine, October. Available at: http://cubmagazine.co.uk/2020/10/flicker-an-immersive-horror-experience-by-colab-theatre/

Morley, C. (2020) ‘Flicker’, Sidetrack London, 28 October. Available at: https://www.sidetrack.london/experiences/41?fbclid=IwAR3FOiwx-7XK1UVjculcFa-6aLgxi0OHij3oIsy7NY8g7PVousvMB4wCgxY&utm_campaign=experiences&utm_content=stage-7-1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=chase-up

Murray, J. (2020) ‘An engrossing immersive experience: Flicker - COLAB tavern, london’, My Theatre Mates, 28 October. Available at: https://mytheatremates.com/an-engrossing-immersive-experience-flicker-colab-tavern-london-review/?utm_campaign=an-engrossing-immersive-experience-flicker-colab-tavern-london-review&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

Ross, B. (2020) ‘Flicker: a socially distanced immersive horror experience’, LondonTheatre1, 24 October. Available at: https://www.londontheatre1.com/reviews/flicker-a-socially-distanced-immersive-horror-experience-review/

Scare Tour (2020) ‘Flicker by COLAB theatre’, Scare Tour. Available at: https://www.scaretour.co.uk/review---colab-theatre-productions.html?fbclid=IwAR2kOKohl8TR9WsMT0Bml5CwJEawcEDYt-sjyw216Epo-ehXsY_GTj5JmGc

Appendix A

Mitsis, M. (2020) Flicker, digital image, Sidetrack London, London.

Potter, C. (2020) Meet Danny, digital image, COLAB Theatre Productions, Instagram.

Potter, C. (2020) Flicker Cast and Crew, digital image, COLAB Theatre Productions, COLAB Tavern, London.

Romeo, D. (2020) Back in the flatcap, digital image, Instagram, COLAB Tavern, London.

Watkins, B. (2019) Crooks 1926, digital image, COLAB Theatre Productions, COLAB Tavern, London.

Appendix B

Romeo, D. (2020) Gallery of Flicker Content, COLAB Theatre Productions, London.

Romeo, D. (2021) Gallery of Crooks 1926 Content, digital image and audio, COLAB Theatre Productions, London

Potter, C. and Romeo, D. (2021) Gallery of Crooks 1926: The Game Content, digital image, COLAB Theatre Productions, COLAB Tavern, London.

Romeo, D. (2021) Gallery of Among the Leaves Content, digital images with audio and video, COLAB Theatre Productions, London.