Currirculum Vitae

Laura Suzanne Davitt
07845659907
laura_davitt@hotmail.co.uk

I am an out going individual who very confident and passionate about what I do. I'm a dedicated and enthusiastic person, who works very well as a team player and individually. I am creative and open to new opportunities and achieving new goals.

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Pervious/ Current work

Cock and Dragon Pub Ltd
Cockfosters
Bar Staff May 2007 to present
Challenge 21 certificate
I serve customers food and drink while creating a welcoming and friendly environment. I also have responsibilities to handle money and look after stock while keeping the work space clean and tidy.

IPOP
Borough of Barnet
Play support worker April 2008 to present
A Support play-worker entails being partnered with a disabled child/young person on a one-to-one basis, and placed in a local club that caters for children of all abilities. The role of the support play-worker is to enable the disabled child/young person to access & join in the activities on offer.

Stage Arts Theatre Company
Barnet
Workshop Assistant Jan 2009 to April 2009
In one school term I co-directed a performance called ‘A Mid Summers Night Dream’.
As a workshop assistant I had to support and lead drama exercises for a class of 20 students (aged 7 to 10 year olds). I had to stimulate the children’s ideas and focus with high energy and creative fun activities.

Chickenshed Theatre Company
Southgate
Bar Staff and Kitchen assistant Nov 2007 to Jan 2009
I would serve customers food and drink. I also worked in the kitchen preparing food.

Tkmaxx
Enfield
Customer service assistant Sept 2006 to Jan 2007
I would deal with any customer queries. Answer the phone and cash up tills.

Coffee Primo
South Mimms Welcome Break
Batista March 2006 to May 2006
Fully Barista trained
I served customers a variety of hot and cold drinks and also snack food in a fast passed service while creating a welcoming and friendly environment. I also had to keep the work space clean and tidy.

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Skills and achievements

· Workshop Leader and Supporter
· Drummer
· A puppeteer
· BSL sign language level 1
· Computer Literate

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Academic Qualifications

Sept 2007 – Jul 2009
Middlesex University Chickenshed Theatre Company
Fda in Inclusive Performance
First

Sept 2005 – Jul 2007
Enfield College Chickenshed Theatre Company
Btec National Diploma in Performance
Distinction

Sept 2000 – Jul 2005
Queen Elizabeth’s Girls School North London
G.C.S.E’s
A – Drama, A – Religious Studies, C – Science C – Business Studies
I formed a dance club which I ran for two years with 30 members. We performed in Dance festivals and street parades across Barnet.
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Training

A full valid driving licence
First Aid trained
NSPCC child protection trained

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Interests

Dancing, directing, acting, script writing and reading

Links of interests

Directing

I have a very creative nature and this coupled with my love to directing, has allowed me to fully blossom in the fields of theatre and specifically theatre production. For over nine months, with the aid of an extremely talented and hardworking team of fifteen cast members, I devised and performed in the successful production of ‘Heads or Tales’. Throughout the course of this production my range of tasks varied stretching from organising workshops, rehearsal and structure, up to of course script writing. Although I delegated many tasks and responsibilities to team members I made sure to maintain an active involvement in order to ensure a positive atmosphere. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire production experience and it helped me to challenge the perceptions we portray through our thoughts, ideas, actions and speech. Deep analysis within these different frameworks allowed me to add great depth to the characters personalities and give true meaning to their roles within each storyline. I always encouraged initiative and tried to involve everyone’s ideas and opinions into the production where possible. This type of direction has allowed me to be very relaxed in my approach, because I prefer to create a scenario and a set of characters and let the production be a story of their interactions. This differs from direction which aims to lock down performers to strict guidelines and doesn’t allow them to have the greater involvement they deserve.

Music

From an infantile age music has been a key element within my family. I grew up listening to my dad’s band, which has influenced me to play the drums and to also learn the piano and guitar. Every morning I was woken up by the sound of my dad’s radio, heart fm mainly, to the majority of people the sound of loud music is not a nice wake up call but for me it started my day of in an up beat, I’m ready to go mood. But then he started listen to classic fm, which did not get me up in the best of moods. But I have learnt to like classical music over the years. I enjoy lots of different genres, but especially rock and roll (Irish style) this is through my cousins band ‘The heart beats’. They take modern day songs and jazz them up into rock and roll songs. I love the way how two completely different styles or genres can be combined; this to me is really clever and exciting. I tend to use this inspiration of blending styles of music, movement or styles of acting when devising theatre. I tend to work with my boyfriend on producing music for small devising pieces or shows using Cubase and Reason Software programmes. Currently we are working on a song from the ‘Oliver’ musical and developing it into a dub-step beat. This is going to be for a five minute abstract piece which is still in the ‘drawing up ideas’ stage. When I listen to live bands it brings back memories from when I was young and I get a feeling which says I am home.

People / Organisations I admire...

Chickenshed

‘We are a theatre company. We make theatre. Extraordinary, pioneering, challenging, dynamic, moving, groundbreaking, genuinely inclusive, beautiful theatre.’ Chickenshed Theatre Company, No date stated. About Chickenshed. Chickenshed(Online). Available from:< http://www.chickenshed.co.uk/about/main> (8 October 2009).

Chickenshed produces unique theatre using an inclusive creative process which means that everyone is welcomed and valued as equals. Chickenshed runs many different courses and groups from children's and youth theatre workshops, education courses, community outreach projects and a network of satellite 'Sheds' across England with two in Russia. Being a member of Chickenshed from the age of twelve I have experienced children and youth theatre groups, even though the theatre has so many people coming through their doors each day I still feel I have an important role which is valued within the company.
Chickenshed then inspired me to further my education in A-levels and a Foundation degree in inclusive performance.
Over the years I have been able to develop and teach my findings of inclusive theatre to others through outreach programmes and a variety of workshops. Chickenshed’s inclusive process has opened my eyes to working outside the box and allowed me to integrate my ideas with those of my fellow artists, thus creating a truly inspired performance. I feel Chickenshed has given me the ‘tools’ of time and space as an individual to express myself through inclusive theatre, this has allowed for my consistent personal development into a budding performer. Chickenshed has given me the confidence to be able to move out of my comfort zone and achieve beyond the general level of expectation.

August Boal

Boal is a practitioner within performing arts who has taught and influenced many actors with his unique style. Boal believes and teaches that “Everyone can do theatre - even actors. And theatre can be done everywhere, even inside theatres” - Augusto Boal. David Farmer, 2007-2009, Introduction to Augusto Boal. Drama resource creative ideas for teaching drama (Online). Available from:<> (Accessed 8 October 2009)

Boal has inspired me through his unique method of working and general approach to theatre as a whole. He believes that, “Everyone can do theatre”, and that theatre can be used as an excellent medium to portray any given message and to educate people. Boal wrote, “The theatre of the oppressed”, which is essentially based on the concept of freedom; more specifically about the freedom of the spectator. It aims to differ from traditional theatre in that it is not simply a show but an experience which is intent on provoking a freer level of thought amongst the audience.
I believe everyone should have the freedom to express themselves and to think freely whether it is to convey their own personal message or a political one, such as an anti-war message. Boal was more of a political expresser who became a cultural activist. I have adapted many of his exercises and techniques to help me devise theatre productions and create workshops. Boal’s genius becomes apparent when his theatre techniques are fully analysed because they don’t feel like acting techniques but just simple and fun games. This clever creative approach to devising activities and exercises allows every individual to access theatre, with out them thinking, “I’m rubbish at acting I cant do that”, etc.
Through using some of his improvisational techniques I have developed a passion towards improvisation which at first I used to hate, because I wasn‘t very confident and felt that it lead to me being forced out of my comfort zone. This lead me to believe that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to improvisation, but just creativity. This new school of thought has now led to me relishing being thrown into activities where I have to think quickly on my feet, I love the excitement of it.
Boal has used improvisation in some of his pieces where the emphasis is on the setting primarily and on the actors secondarily, for instance when he rehearsed a piece to be performed in a café with the public who were actually unaware that a performance was going on. This is called Forum Theatre. This for the actors, must have been so exciting as you don’t know the reactions of the public in what they would say or do, you would have to use your improvisational skills to make the performance work and not come out of character.
Boal’s work is all about turning things on its head, fighting for justice and educating people to express themselves, I think Boal is a very clever and strong man who does care for what the people want and believe in and this is why he inspires me.


Adam Richard Sandler

Adam Sandler is mainly known as an American actor within film, he is also a comedian, musician, screenwriter and film producer. And he is also the founder of Happy Madison Productions, a film production company, producing twelve films with a consistent core group of friends and colleagues from “Mall Cop” to “Hot Chick“. Every film he is in or has produced is one worth watching, they are never a disappointment. Even though in the majority of the films he plays a funny character he always manages to create a completely different and original character in each film. He inspires me because he has become so successful in the film industry. I personally think he has made it to where he is because he does not take himself too seriously in the roles in which he has to play and just concentrates on having a good fun time.
I have always said that I have always wanted to be a versatile actress who can portray different characters and genres, but I have also always wanted to develop my skills and be talented in all different areas like Adam. I have a lot of experience with theatre and I have started to venture out into the massive scary world of TV and film. Adam started off as an extra and worked and worked until he got the opportunity to be noticed and credited as an actor and now look at where he is. Adam inspires me to keep on trying and to not give up.

My five top resources

These top 5 resources (plus two small extra ones) will not only help me within my professional practice course, but will also help me in my day to day life as a performer. All of these resources will develop my knowledge and my career:

The Stage Newspaper http://www.thestage.co.uk/

As an actress the stage newspaper is one of the main resources I use to access daily news updates within the entertainment industry, opening my eyes broader issues within the industry, this has inspired when devising theatre to exploring certain issues. The stage focuses primarily on theatre which is brilliant for me as this the area I mainly want to achieve my career in. The newspaper also contains reviews and auditions which is one of the ways I can find jobs through.

Equity Union http://www.equity.org.uk/

As an ‘equity student’ member I will be able to find information that can help me when performing, not only through the website but also the magazines that is sent to my door. Equity is a form of support whilst a working artist, with accident insurance, tax and welfare support and representation etc. Also it is a great way to gain information on workshops and news updates within the industry.

Arts Council England http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

This site will be a resourceful site for me to research information and reviews of theatre companies/ shows within England. Through this site I can access 'A night less Ordinary' which is a scheme to get under 26 year olds to watch theatre / film or to take part in workshops all over the country for free. I have used this promotion many times which has opened my eyes to new creative theatre from smaller companies. This will also help me within my studies and also develop my knowledge about these companies and the filed that I am in.

IMDb http://www.imdb.com/

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information related to movies, actors and television shows. Using this site will enable me to research and also develop my knowledge with the listings of actors and actresses within TV and film. Also finding information on directors and producers to increase my knowledge on their styles of working and keeping my updated with new work they may release. IMDb is like a massive library which will definitely help me to be inspired when devising or learning from other actors styles or methods of performing.

Starnow http://www.starnow.co.uk/

As a member of Starnow I use this resource to receive auditions, casting and job information. This will help me to gain experience within my chosen field. This is also a great site to network with casting directors and other performers as it has a massive community site.

Here are two extra resources I will use:

Facebook http://www.facebook.co.uk/

Although this is a site to have fun with friends and publish your life on. I am going to use this site to network with other performers and using this resource to join and follow 'groups'. With these 'groups' I will be kept updated with bands, performers, shows, news and organisations with theatre.

Youtube http://www.youtube.co.uk/

I am going to use this resource for research and inspiration for my work, ideas and knowledge within my field. Also I will be able to use Youtube to demonstrate or show my work on my blogs.

Laura and Rosina's Day at the campus...


Our Reflective KOLB cycle of todays events.



1. (Concrete) We all grouped in a classroom and Paula and Alan began explaining KOLBS reflective cycle. We completed a few tasks splitting our own blogs into the four stages, and then filled any gaps.

2. (Reflective Observation) Having been told about this cycle for the first time today we now understand the format needed for our work and the route our learning has taken.

3. (Abstract Conceptulisation) Once we had dissected our blogs as they were we now understand how to fill the gaps to make, in conclusion we now know how to kreate a solid reflective piece of writing and fill any gaps making the words flow.

4.(Active Experimentation) Writing this blog has put our learning into action by reflecting on what we have learnt today. In the long run we can apply this process to Task c , our reflective diarys, the rest of our writen work and our practical adventures.

FIRST POST

hey just set up my first blog page and heres....... my first post!