Creativity & Navigating Uncertainty
A 6 month practice-based deep-dive, for re-wilding your creative spirit.
November 2022 - April 2023
6 months of experience-based learning and creative experiments, exploring how we can integrate The Creative Principle into all elements of our living in order to grow more robustness & capacity with uncertainty.
'You cannot use up creativity.
The more you use it, the more you have'.
- Maya Angelou
Acting l Producing l Kerri McLean
Kerri McLean is a multifaceted interdisciplinary creative artist working in the film, tv, theatre and audio industries as an actor, director, writer and audio artist.
Starting her career as a stage actress, Kerri has gone on to perform within a vast range of film, tv, theatre, radio and live art productions around the world including Poldark, Bodyguard, Line of Duty, The Ritual, Small Island, and Unforgotten.
Along with her freelance theatre work, Kerri continues to direct for screen, audio and theatre projects. She directed Formula 1 title and promo films for 4-years for worldwide broadcast and ‘Lockdown Town’, London’s first socially distanced immersive performance and music event within vast underground tunnels in London Bridge.
Passionate about sound and music, currently she creates sound designs for theatre and film, and records radio, voice, computer games and audio projects.
Kerri wrote her first play ‘Memories of Mermaids’ in 2014, whilst artist-in-residence at London’s Bernie Grant Arts Centre, which she went on to stage and direct in London and Brighton.
Kerri continues writing commissions and new projects, and to date has written several scripts for stage, screen and radio. She is currently in development for a new long form TV series, a feature film, and podcast series.
What are you into at the moment, Kerri?
"I’m loving the James Webb Space Telescope images currently beaming back to us, I find them so mind blowingly exciting, and an excellent way of putting everything in perspective, it’s always good to look at the bigger picture."
Dave is a prize-winning spoken word artist and storyteller, and a conscious writing, speaking and performing arts teacher. He's worked with thousands of people, including award-winning comedians, actors and inspirational figures, as well as alternative communities, asylum seekers and teens. Dave's teaching has included authentic speaking, storytelling, creative writing, comedy, comedy improv, freestyling, conscious creativity, Laughter Yoga, visualisation, secular ritual, conscious communication, leadership and team skills, conscious relationships...... and other stuff he has since forgotten!
Dave's mission is to help his clients feel their greatest selves and act from their greatest potential, stating, "When we start to embrace and express everything alive in us, magic happens on the page and the stage, and everywhere else in our lives".
What are you into at the moment, Dave?
"Something I've been falling back in love with lately is the way creative energy plays its own musical movements through the body. We've all seen musicians' bodies ripple and pulsate as they play - it's an extra composition, unwritten and unrepeatable, coming through completely of its own accord. Well, sometimes when I'm writing, or rehearsing spoken words, this dancing pulsation comes through me too, so my body is swaying, hips pulsing, arms upraised playing imaginary instruments all around me, as the words take shape....I love how vital, and extra, and somehow smuggled in this is...."
Antonia Grove l Probe Projects
Antonia is an Independent Dance artist working in contemporary dance, dance theatre and all it's related forms and cross artform collaborations. Her roles have included choregrapher, lecturer, performer, dramaturg, mentor and artistic facilitator.
"I have always been a shapeshifter and continue to thrive on adapting to the many roles I practice. These include Choreographer, lecturer, performer, dramaturg, mentor and artistic facilitator."
Antonia's present research practice centres around her lived artistic experience in relation to chaos, disorientation, rebellious thinking and risk-taking, and explores the relationship between her biology and creativity.
"I am interested in playing with opposing binaries of empathy and anarchy and stereotypes of the carer and enfant terrible within the power dynamics of the performer."
As a mother of 3, having a family has become part of Antonia's professional journey and an important part of life to be integrated into her working practice. Recognising the organisation, resilience and determination necessary to balance work and family, she is a firm believer in organisations or companies working alongside independent artists to find solutions to the issues faced by parents.
"I am not just interested in being a responsible human, but in carving out the space to keep life playful and usefully unpredictable. This is naturally present through my work as an artist, but not so easily kept alive within the challenges of everyday existence!"
What are you into at the moment, Antonia?
"I’m writing up my research project for my masters at the moment, transcribing interview conversations with women creatives and weaving them into the bigger picture around the female experience. It feels such a privilege. Most of the interviews are not dissimilar from the honest, impassioned chats I might have with friends, but seeing the words in front of me in black and white has given them a whole new sense of weight and charge…it has been an unexpected surprise, watching how the words concretise, strengthening their intention and power. I'm curious about this transformation, and about how we hear words differently..."
Photos by: Jo Thorne, Stephen Wright, Zoe Manders, Tim Copsey
16 x live workshops, including sessions with visiting professional artists, practice weeks, Creative Practice gatherings, optional Maker's Exchange drop ins, Creative Ally support teams, support to develop your own creative habit - and more...
*Please note that dates/themes of sessions are subject to change
What it's All About Really...?
Welcome Video and Orientation
Lesson One: Attention As A Creative Resource
Noticing Where We Are Placing Our Attention - Creative Task - PRE WORK
Focusing tools - Asking the body for creative idea generation - Live Zoom class - 1st November 2022
Recording of Lesson 1 Session
Audio Only Recording of Lesson 1 session
Body Listening for Creative Practice
First Creative Ally meet up.
Lesson 2: Vulnerability and Discomfort
Neurosis Cocktail Party: All The Reasons Why You Can't, Daren't, or Probably Shouldn't - PRE WORK
Creative Ally Meet Ups
Feeling Like An Idiot Practice / Failing at Something that Matters - Live Zoom class - 8th November 2022
Recording of Lesson 2 Session
Audio Only Recording of Lesson 2 session
Beginning a Habit Breaking Habit Practice - daily practice
Intro to Lesson 3 - Video
Different forms of Conscious Attention - Pre session reflections & Writing exercise
Ways In And Down - Not Knowing As Creative Opportunity - Live Zoom Session - 15th November 2022
Recording of the Live Class - Lesson 3 Session
Audio Only Recording of Lesson 3 session
Home Enquiry: Go to Sacred Space and use it as a starting point to generate some creative material
Creative Ally Meet Ups
Lesson 4 - Pre-session reflection - identifying sources, lineages and limmerance (the erotic)
Lesson 4 - Pre- session Exploration - Opening to the Ordinary & Non Ordinary World
Lesson 4 - Intro - Genies, Guides & Muses
Genies, Muses & the More than human world - Live Zoom Session - 22nd November 2022
Recording of Lesson 4 session
Audio Only Recording of Lesson 4 session
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 23rd November 2022
Lesson 4 - Home Enquiry - Support from the Human and More than Human World -
Genies Guides and Muses - Creative Ally Suggestions
Break Week - No material this week
Home Enquiry - Taking Your Wonder For A Wander
Lesson 5 - Pre- Work and week's exploration - Take Your Wonder for a Wander Date
Lesson 5 Intro - Opening to The More Than Human World
Taking your wonder for a wander - Live Zoom class - 6th December 2022
Recording of Lesson 5 Session
CNU lesson 5 - Wonder & lending your - 'I' - recording audio only
Date With The Artist's Work - Intro Video
Lesson 5 - Home enquiry - Being another 'I'
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 8th December 2022
Pre-Session Prep & Reflections for the session with Kerri Maclean.
Jayme & Rachel talk you through the changes to Mighty Networks
Lesson 6 - Fiction and the Real World - Weaving Our Real World Encounters Into Story - Live Zoom Session with Kerri McLean - 13th December 2022
Recording of Lesson 6 Session - PART ONE
Recording of Lesson 6 Session - PART TWO
Recording of Lesson 6 Session - Audio Only
Fiction And The Real World - A Writing For Performance Workshop with Kerri McLean
Intro to your first Creative Practice Experiment
Photographing what pleases, intrigues or fascinates you
Extra Zoom Call to set up / clarify the Practice Week Invitation
Recording of Zoom Session
Recording of Lesson 7 Session - Audio Only
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 21st December 2022
Being a Transmitter and Receiver - Recorded session with Darvish Fakhr - Part 1
Being a Transmitter and Receiver - Recorded session with Darvish Fakhr - Part 2
Giving Less Fucks Practice - Set up
Home Enquiry: A Giving Less Fucks Practice - Creative Task
Fiction and the Real World - Kerri McLean's Writing For Performance Full Workshop
Christmas & New Years Break - No live calls these weeks.
Date with the Artists work - prep SAARA
Christmas bonus lesson: Recorded Guest Artist Session, with SAARA
Lesson 8 - Navigating Obstacles & Road Blocks - Intro
Intro video 2 - Lesson 8 Navigating Obstacles & Road Blocks
Lesson 8 - pre session exploration... Taking a line for a walk - inside a life obstacle
Navigating Obstacles and Road Blocks - Live Zoom session - 10th January 2023
Lesson 8 - Home Practice Experiment - Cultivating Curiosity for What is in your way at the moment
Recording of Lesson 8 session - Navigating Obstacles and Road Blocks
Lesson 8 - Navigating Obstacles & Road Blocks - Zoom call - audio only
Lesson 8 - Creative Ally Meet up suggestions
Date With The Artists Work - Dave Rock
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 12th January 2023
Lesson 9 - Pre-session reflections...
Lesson 9 - Crazy-Proof Creativity: Living Our Gifts In real Ways In Our Real Lives - Live Zoom session with Dave Rock - 17th January 2023
Recording of Lesson 9 session
Recording of Lesson 9 session - Audio Only
Lesson 10 - Project Prompt for your Practice Week
Lesson 10 - Details of your Practice Week Project & Considering Your Audience Experience
How to create an Unlisted YouTube video
Extra Zoom Call to set up / clarify the Practice Week Invitation - 24th January 2023
Lesson 10 Recording of Zoom Session
Lesson 10 - Recording of the Live Zoom Call - Audio Only
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 25th January 2023
Break Week - No material this week
Lesson 11 Pre Session Exploration
Lesson 11 Intro - Problems, Irritants & Injustices
Moving Big, Difficult or Stuck Emotions - Creation as transformative medicine - Live Zoom Session - 7th February 2023
Recording of Lesson 11 session
Recording of Lesson 11 - Audio Only
Home Enquiry for Lesson 11
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 9th February 2023
Date With the Artist's Work - Antonia Grove.
Lesson 12 - Intro - Anotonia Grove - What is Enough? Finding an Every Day Courage
Lesson 12 - What An Artist Knows, with Antonia Grove - Live Zoom Session - 14th February 2023
Lesson 12 - Recording of the Live session - What is Enough? Finding an Everyday Courage
Lesson 12 - Antonia Grove - What is Enough? Finding an Everyday Courage - Audio Only
Lesson 12 - Home Enquiry - following on from Antonia's session
Lesson 13 intro: Final Practice Week - Making an Offering
Lesson 13 - Final Practice Week - Nourishment - Making an offering
Lesson 13 - Creative Allies meet up
Extra Zoom Call to set up / clarify the Practice Week Invitation - 21st February 2023
Lesson 13 - Final Practice Project - Nourishment - Recording of Zoom Session
Lesson 13 - Final Practice Week - Nourishment - recording of the live class - audio only
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 22nd February 2023
Break Week
Extra Date with the Artist - Brooke McNamara - prep
Being on a Useful Edge - with Brooke McNamara (Pre-Recorded Session)
Home enquiry for Brooke's session
Additional Home enquiry - (for Brooke McNamara's session) Working Creatively With Tension
Manifestation & Envisioning - Pre-session Exploration
Lesson 14 - Manifestation and Envisioning - Intro
Manifestation and Envisioning - Live Zoom class - 7th March 2023
Recording of the Live Class - Lesson 14 Session
Audio Only Recording of Lesson 14 session
Lesson 14 - Manifestation - Post Session Home Enquiry
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 9th March 2023
Life Application Intro - prep for next week.
Lesson 15. Introduction - Co-creating what is already becoming
Lesson 15 - Pre session Reflection - Death and Dying as part of the creative cycle
Alchemy - Your Life as Raw Material - Live Zoom Session - 14th March 2023
Recording of Live Class - Lesson 15
Recording of Live Class - AUDIO ONLY - Lesson 15
Creative Practice Room - on Zoom - 15th March 2023
Supported Practice Space
Lead In Recording from 21st March 2023 Practice Room
Intro to the Supported Practice Spaces
Supported Practice Space
Lead In Recording from 28th March 2023 Practice Room
Supported Practice Space 3 - Rachel
Lead In Recording from 4th April 2023 Practice Room
Supported Practice Space
What's In Store For Our Final 3 Weeks Together - dates for your diaries!
Check In's and Lead In Recording from 11th April 2023 Practice Room
Clare's Makers Exchange Prep - Weds 12th April 2023
Clare's Makers Exchange - Recording
Supported Practice Space
Check In's and Lead In Recording from Practice Room - 18th April 2023
Heather's Maker's Exchange - Prep for Weds 19th April 2023
Heather's Makers Exchange - Recording
Marta's Maker's Exchange - Prep for Monday 24th April 2023
Intro to Lesson 16 - prep and what to expect
Revisiting our Journey Together - pre-session reflection questions
Ritual for Ending And Commitments to Continue - Live Zoom Session - 25th April 2023
Recording of Live Session - Lesson 16
Recording of Live Class - AUDIO ONLY - Lesson 16
CNU4 - Reflection Survey
'Magic doesn't sweep you away; it gathers you up into the body of the present moment so thoroughly that all your explanations fall away: the ordinary, in all its plain and simple outrageousness, begins to shine -- to become luminously, impossibly so. Every facet of the world is awake, and you within it.'
- David Abram, Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology
The short answer is 'what you put into it'... but the long answer is:
(scroll right & left to see more)
How do I know if this course is for me?
'The most interesting moment of a person's life is what happens to them when all their certainties go away. Then who do you become? And then what do you look for? That's the moment when the universe is offering up an invitation saying, 'come find me.'
- Elizabeth Gilbert
Time, Money and Process...