I am truly delighted to be offering a day with Marj McDaid exploring the transformative possibilities of the voice.

In this workshop we will be using voice qualities as a way of exploring character, drawing on the technical work of Jo Estill and the shamanistic approach of Nelly Dougar-Zhabon in which you will see a synchronicity with the work of Laban. For further information please see Marj’s writing on this work in Breath in Action, Chapter 9 Transformative Breath.

These workshops are offered as ongoing professional development for actors, movement and voice practitioners and directors. Open to those who have experienced our workshops as well as newcomers.

• Please prepare a speech of not more than 25 lines from a play that you know well.

• Wear clothes in which you can move and bring layers to keep warm.

• Please bring notebooks and pens.

Comments from previous workshops:

“Such a great day and such an amazing group of people! Thank you all for being so amazing and wonderful..It was so helpful and amazing and I have learnt so much. It was an extremely valuable experience.”

A.M.S.

“Thanks a lot for your generosity and knowledge! I had a really good time.

Looking forward to exploring more with you.”

L.B.

“Found it so informative and clarifying!!”

M.C.

If you have any questions or wish to book on the workshop, please email Ita at itaobrien@gmail.com.

Marj McDaid’s voice work is designed for all those who have the need or the urge to express themselves vocally in speech or singing: creatively, assertively, informatively, in their work, their leisure or their relationships. Despite the underlying need for authenticity, the voice we use needs to be appropriate to the situation.

It is particularly valuable to those who run the risk of taxing or straining their voices through over-use. Safe use of the voice underlies all her work. Your voice may be the only instrument you don’t have to buy, but you can never replace it!

Marj obtained the postgraduate diploma in vocal studies from Central School of Speech and Drama in 1993 and has taught in a number of drama schools, including Drama Studio, Arts Ed and RAM (Music Theatre). She has also coached voice for numerous productions, from the West End to the fringe, including several times for Arcola and Out Of Joint, as well as in commercial situations, including for the BBC. She is a singer in many styles. She is unusual in having pursued equally the two parallel strands of voice teaching – the therapeutic and the technical. She has been involved with numerous workshops in Wolfssohn-based voice work and is a sensitive and supportive teacher who can be challenging where appropriate. She was one of the pioneers of Voicecraft (which provides very precise physiological techniques for adjusting vocal quality) after training with its American creator Jo Estill when she first introduced the system to the UK in 1994.

Ita O'Brien is a director, movement director and theatre maker, working in theatre, television and film. Her recent movement direction includes, Theatre: Low Level Panic (Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond), Silver Linings (English Touring Theatre), Food (Finborough Theatre), A Better Life (Kings Head Theatre), Sea Fret (Old Red Lion Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Southwark Playhouse), After The Heat We Battle For The Heart (Vault Festival). Television includes Atlantis, Humans 2 and the forthcoming Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams - The Impossible Planet. Film includes The Girl With All The Gifts and The Terrible Tale of Henrietta Tate. Commercials and Interactive Video include Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise Of The Demon (Thorpe Park Resort).

Ita teaches at some of Britain's premier drama schools, has published research, and devised her own work. She is currently working to establish better practice for actors and directors working with scenes of sexual content.