Course Info
Different Every Night is the culmination of a lifetime of work in the theatre; the most complete rehearsal methodology in print since Stanislavsky. In it, Mike sets out:
- His concepts for bold vision for what theatre can be
- Detailed methods in preparing a production for rehearsal
- Thorough rehearsal techniques that release an actor’s spontaneity
It is an invaluable handbook for actors and directors. It offers a vital masterclass, full of sound practical advice and guidance, and is packed with techniques for bringing the text to life and keeping it alive – both in rehearsal and performance. It also builds a vision for what theatre could be, a theatre that is alive rather than dead, that highlights the actor’s spontaneity, impulse, and deeper imagination. A theatre that does away with notions of fixing, polishing, or reducing, and replaces them with liveness, rigour, discipline & a belief that a production can grow, develop and transform each night.
Over the course of three 8-week modules, Mike will take directors through his book online, focusing on a single playtext.
This course is aimed primarily at directors, however, any theatre makers such as actors, writers or producers would greatly benefit from this process.
Mark Rylance in conversation about working with Mike Alfreds
ABOUT MIKE
Mike Alfreds was born in London and trained as a director at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He lived in the USA for eight years during which he worked for MGM Studios in Hollywood, was Artistic Director of Theatre West, Tucson and them of the Cincinnati Playhouse-in-the-Park. For five years he worked in Israel where he became Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Khan Theatre. He has also worked in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, China and Mongolia.
In the UK he was the Founder and Artistic Director of Shared Experience which he ran for thirteen years, He was Artistic Director of Cambridge Theatre Company, later renamed Method & Madness for ten years, and has directed for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Royal National Theatre where he was an associate director, as well as for several regional repertory theatres. He has staged over two hundred productions, some of which have won awards both abroad and in the UK. He has adapted novels and stories for the stage, devised performances and translated the texts of several of his productions.
He maintains a parallel career as a teacher. He was a Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University, on the staff of LAMDA for five years and frequently gives courses on acting, directing, storytelling and dramaturgy. He has written two books, both published by Nick Hern Books and used in most drama schools and theatre departments: Different Every Night which describes his approach to theatre and his rehearsal processes when working on plays and Then What Happens? which describes his techiques when working on adaptations and storytelling.
Times & Dates: MOdule 1
Saturday 30th September
Saturday 7th October
Saturday 14th October
Saturady 21st Octoer
Saturday 28th October
Saturday 4th November
Saturday 11th November
Saturday 18th November
9am - 12pm each day
Price £200
Where Zoom
Module 1: Concepts: Process vs Result (Sept - Nov 2023)
…
Module 2: Preparation (TBC 2024)
Module 3: Rehearsal (TBC 2024)
Modules 2 & 3 will follow in a similar 8-week format over the first 6 months of 2024, and will cost £200 per module.
You are not committed to attending all the modules, but it would be most beneficial to give you the full exploration with Mike leading everyone through Different Every Night. If you choose not to continue onto subsequent modules, your place will be offered to the reserve list.
Participants will be responsible for sourcing a copy of Different Every Night. Lidless will supply an e-copy of the playtext that will be used during the modules.
Places are limited and once full you will be offered a place on the reserve list.
Mike Alfreds discussing an overview of his process.