This Master Class with Fiona Shaw is a rare opportunity to meet and work with one of the most influential actresses and directors of contemporary theatre. Participants are expected to prepare a short piece of text of their choice to work on, such as: an audition speech of any kind, a speech from a scene, a poem, any text (classical or contemporary), even their original writing, or - as recommended by Ms. Shaw herself - a compilation of things, which may include, for example: some sonnets mixed with contemporary writing, basically any text that is two-minutes or less in length. Participants will master their skills while performing their pieces and by observing their peers. The class is designed for a variety of styles and approaches. "Once you've done one style, you leave it for a while. Theater is dangerously open to repetition. It's exciting when you hit on a new way. The energy released by it is enormous and it becomes quite addictive, the power between the audience and the actor" said Ms. Shaw.
Fiona Shaw is regarded as one of the finest classical actresses of her generation, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Ms. Shaw has performed on the most prestigious stages, including the
Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in London, winning Olivier Awards for her roles in "Electra," "Hedda Gabler," "Machinal," and "
Happy Days." Her performance in "Medea" garnered her a Tony Award in 2003. Shaw is also known for her critically acclaimed solo productions on Broadway, including "The Waste Land," for which she received a Drama Desk Award, and "The Testament of Mary," nominated for three Tony Awards. In 2013,
Fiona Shaw received the United Solo Special Award in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the art of solo performance. Her list of credits also includes her work as a theatre and opera director. Ms. Shaw is also a star of the screen. She won international recognition portraying Petunia Dursley in the "Harry Potter" films and Marnie Stonebrook in HBO series "True Blood." She was awarded an honorary C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) for her impressive accomplishments in the field of drama.
The Master Class is hosted by United Solo, a New York-based company dedicated to the genre of solo performance. Since its inception in 2010, United Solo has featured nearly 1,000 productions from all over the world. Each year, United Solo presents solo pieces, discovers original scripts, connects theatre artists with their audiences, and expands its new series of Master Classes for theater artists, students, and enthusiasts with all levels of experience. The United Solo Master Series is led by world-class theatre professionals, whose accomplishments and credits guarantee a top-notch educational experience, including Pau Aran Gimeno, a dancer and choreographer with Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch;
James Lecesne, a performer and screenwriter of the Oscar-winning film "Trevor"; and
Austin Pendleton, a renowned actor and director, and recipient of the Drama Desk Special Award.
ACTING STYLES, a Master Class with
Fiona Shaw, will take place on Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 6pm (duration 120 min.) at Theatre Row: Stage Door, 407 West 41st Street, New York, NY 10036. All ages and levels of theatrical experience encouraged. Space is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required in order to participate, and can be done online at
http://unitedsolo.org/us/uedu - where more details can be found as well.
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