Category Archives: Blog

PokeImage1

Preview of Poke Debrief

I’m currently developing the project page for Poke, to include comments on the process, the critical and public reception of the piece, images and other media. Hang tight, though. For now check out what I’ve got  and read some of

PokeImage1

Preview of Poke Debrief

I’m currently developing the project page for Poke, to include comments on the process, the critical and public reception of the piece, images and other media. Hang tight, though. For now check out what I’ve got  and read some of

Reviews

Well, Poke has been a total success. It’s saying what needs to be said in a theatrical style unlike any other, in part because the show experiments with the boundaries of form. It has come under heavy fire from the

Reviews

Well, Poke has been a total success. It’s saying what needs to be said in a theatrical style unlike any other, in part because the show experiments with the boundaries of form. It has come under heavy fire from the

beaver-2_2533418b

Wah wah wah wabbid

If I posted every article that made me pessimistic about the beginning, middle and end of human existence I’d be a  newspaper. But this one just felt like it needed special attention. The 60-year-old former serviceman, who has not been publicly identified,

beaver-2_2533418b

Wah wah wah wabbid

If I posted every article that made me pessimistic about the beginning, middle and end of human existence I’d be a  newspaper. But this one just felt like it needed special attention. The 60-year-old former serviceman, who has not been publicly identified,

20130404_152256

Poke Rehearsal Diary: Week 1

“Poke” Rehearsal Diary: Week 1 I think I’ve made my collaborators understand what it’s like being me in process – pained. It’s like drudging through mud, really, striving for the edge of the quicksand you’re in. I kept promising them

20130404_152256

Poke Rehearsal Diary: Week 1

“Poke” Rehearsal Diary: Week 1 I think I’ve made my collaborators understand what it’s like being me in process – pained. It’s like drudging through mud, really, striving for the edge of the quicksand you’re in. I kept promising them

Ennui

Check out the first 5 minutes to experience my utter defeat – Hensen got their first. Post modern puppetry:

Ennui

Check out the first 5 minutes to experience my utter defeat – Hensen got their first. Post modern puppetry:

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/ Blog

Twilight: A postmortim

I am not one to apologize for my fascination with and use of popular culture in my work. I think it is important to not only know about to use popular culture references because popular t.v., films, and music speak

imgres
/ Blog

Twilight: A postmortim

I am not one to apologize for my fascination with and use of popular culture in my work. I think it is important to not only know about to use popular culture references because popular t.v., films, and music speak

245938829620943515_gmWpOMpL_f

Re: There’s always someone better

But of course, who the fuck cares? Maybe I’ll be “the best” post apocalypse…yeah.

245938829620943515_gmWpOMpL_f

Re: There’s always someone better

But of course, who the fuck cares? Maybe I’ll be “the best” post apocalypse…yeah.

245938829620943515_gmWpOMpL_f

There’s always someone better

I’m pretty sure that I was never meant to be successful in the theatre – that is, not to reach the top. So I’ll just satisfy myself with being proud for the time being. But this image is a good

245938829620943515_gmWpOMpL_f

There’s always someone better

I’m pretty sure that I was never meant to be successful in the theatre – that is, not to reach the top. So I’ll just satisfy myself with being proud for the time being. But this image is a good

imgres

Next!

When I finished drama school I was fairly sure I didn’t want to be an actor. I’d spent 3 years trying to get tutors and fellow students to tell me I was good enough to be one and because they

imgres

Next!

When I finished drama school I was fairly sure I didn’t want to be an actor. I’d spent 3 years trying to get tutors and fellow students to tell me I was good enough to be one and because they

The Battle of My Life

Well, it’s finally happened. I’ve put it off and I’ve put it off, but when I least expected it it happened. Money has won over art. For more than four years I’ve been making theatre in this country and I

The Battle of My Life

Well, it’s finally happened. I’ve put it off and I’ve put it off, but when I least expected it it happened. Money has won over art. For more than four years I’ve been making theatre in this country and I

20130120_131941

I could make a show out of that.

Apropos of nothing… Shopping always makes me think “how could I use that in a show.” Especially lately as I’m considering the benefits of found objects versus hand made puppets. But when I imagine what various things would look like

20130120_131941

I could make a show out of that.

Apropos of nothing… Shopping always makes me think “how could I use that in a show.” Especially lately as I’m considering the benefits of found objects versus hand made puppets. But when I imagine what various things would look like

amandamonfrooePOKE

Casting Notice for “Poke”

Audition Dates: February 11th and 12th, 2013 Audition Location: The Arches, Glasgow Audition Contact: Amanda Monfrooe amandamonfrooe(at)yahoo(dot)com Production Title: Poke Production Company: The Arches/Traverse Theatre Paid Work Writer/director Amanda Monfrooe (“The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta,” “How Keanu Reeves Saved

amandamonfrooePOKE

Casting Notice for “Poke”

Audition Dates: February 11th and 12th, 2013 Audition Location: The Arches, Glasgow Audition Contact: Amanda Monfrooe amandamonfrooe(at)yahoo(dot)com Production Title: Poke Production Company: The Arches/Traverse Theatre Paid Work Writer/director Amanda Monfrooe (“The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta,” “How Keanu Reeves Saved

DSCF5234

Frog Prince R&D Day Four/Five: Let’s review.

For the last two days we spent time reviewing some of the of documentation created over the last week and distilled the questions we’ve been pursuing. We also used this review to organize those questions most pertinent to the show

DSCF5234

Frog Prince R&D Day Four/Five: Let’s review.

For the last two days we spent time reviewing some of the of documentation created over the last week and distilled the questions we’ve been pursuing. We also used this review to organize those questions most pertinent to the show

DSCF5251

Frog Prince R&D Day Three: “What’s my motivation?”

Day three of the Frog Prince research and development process saw a diverse group including puppeteers, musicians, designers, and dramaturges explore the ways various objects could represent the same character and how this informs the spectator’s understanding of perspective, or,

DSCF5251

Frog Prince R&D Day Three: “What’s my motivation?”

Day three of the Frog Prince research and development process saw a diverse group including puppeteers, musicians, designers, and dramaturges explore the ways various objects could represent the same character and how this informs the spectator’s understanding of perspective, or,

DSCF5236

Frog Prince R&D Day Two: Me me me!

Day two of the Frog Prince R&D at the Norwich Theatre saw us hit the ground running in terms of the research Rene wanted to delve into this week. In particular we paid special attention to the focus of the

DSCF5236

Frog Prince R&D Day Two: Me me me!

Day two of the Frog Prince R&D at the Norwich Theatre saw us hit the ground running in terms of the research Rene wanted to delve into this week. In particular we paid special attention to the focus of the

20130114_165028

Frog Prince R&D Day One: Sugar and Spice

Day one of the R&D at Norwich Puppet Theatre produced a great deal of food for thought, primarily from improvisations around the character of “pricess” and “frog.” Maybe not the princess and frog of Rene Baker’s project – this week is

20130114_165028

Frog Prince R&D Day One: Sugar and Spice

Day one of the R&D at Norwich Puppet Theatre produced a great deal of food for thought, primarily from improvisations around the character of “pricess” and “frog.” Maybe not the princess and frog of Rene Baker’s project – this week is

booing

SAY IT!

I had news this weekend that I’ve been invited to take part in a festival in London (I won’t provide the details because it’s not been announced, and even though no one really reads this blog I don’t want to

booing

SAY IT!

I had news this weekend that I’ve been invited to take part in a festival in London (I won’t provide the details because it’s not been announced, and even though no one really reads this blog I don’t want to

Frog_Prince

Frog Prince R&D

This week I’ll be working at the Norwich Puppet Theatre on a research and development project led by Rene Baker, a British artist whose returned to the country after several years working abroad. Bringing together an eclectic mix of puppeteers,

Frog_Prince

Frog Prince R&D

This week I’ll be working at the Norwich Puppet Theatre on a research and development project led by Rene Baker, a British artist whose returned to the country after several years working abroad. Bringing together an eclectic mix of puppeteers,

DSCF1928

Poke

This year I have been awarded the Platform 18 New Directions award, a joint commission between the Arches (Glasgow) and the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh) for a new piece of performance. My project, a two-hander called “Poke,” promises to be a

DSCF1928

Poke

This year I have been awarded the Platform 18 New Directions award, a joint commission between the Arches (Glasgow) and the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh) for a new piece of performance. My project, a two-hander called “Poke,” promises to be a

33857_5_600
/ Blog

Romance is dead. Long live Romance.

I have been looking for PR inspiration on the internet, that bottomless pit of stimulus. Absurd search terms yield inexplicable images – inexplicable that they were ever created much less posted on the internet for any asshole to uncover on

33857_5_600
/ Blog

Romance is dead. Long live Romance.

I have been looking for PR inspiration on the internet, that bottomless pit of stimulus. Absurd search terms yield inexplicable images – inexplicable that they were ever created much less posted on the internet for any asshole to uncover on

13AphraBehnSBelchet
/ Blog

Big Girls

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to Michal Cohen of Walters and Cohen Architects, discuss her firm’s work at Norwich University College of the Arts. Cohen, who shared this year’s AJ Woman Architect of the Year award with

13AphraBehnSBelchet
/ Blog

Big Girls

Last night I had the pleasure of listening to Michal Cohen of Walters and Cohen Architects, discuss her firm’s work at Norwich University College of the Arts. Cohen, who shared this year’s AJ Woman Architect of the Year award with

Big and Small
/ Blog

Casting the Unexpected

I am going to preface this entry by saying that I don’t have any professional experience casting – not as a casting agent nor as a director. The nearest I have come to a legit casting office was my third-year

Big and Small
/ Blog

Casting the Unexpected

I am going to preface this entry by saying that I don’t have any professional experience casting – not as a casting agent nor as a director. The nearest I have come to a legit casting office was my third-year

19015342

The Virtue of Accidental Children

I finished my run of “The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta” yesterday. It was the finest run of the show I had ever done, and perhaps the finest run of any show I have ever done. And for no other

19015342

The Virtue of Accidental Children

I finished my run of “The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta” yesterday. It was the finest run of the show I had ever done, and perhaps the finest run of any show I have ever done. And for no other

068

52 Card Pick Up

Rehearsals are underway for “The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta” at Oran Mor. After the hairy production of this play in May for NTS’s REVEAL season (where I had two and a half days to put the show on its

068

52 Card Pick Up

Rehearsals are underway for “The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta” at Oran Mor. After the hairy production of this play in May for NTS’s REVEAL season (where I had two and a half days to put the show on its

washington-delaware-l
/ Blog

The uncomfortable proximity of a parallel universe

It’s Independence Day, which is an interesting thing to celebrate in a country looking for/campaigning for/hoping for its own Independence. It doesn’t quite mean the same thing it did in the 18th century when the founding fathers (and their hired

washington-delaware-l
/ Blog

The uncomfortable proximity of a parallel universe

It’s Independence Day, which is an interesting thing to celebrate in a country looking for/campaigning for/hoping for its own Independence. It doesn’t quite mean the same thing it did in the 18th century when the founding fathers (and their hired

episode2_IMG_6307

“Only Your Pre Formance is Cult”

In February of this year I took part in Arika12, a festival of experimental art, music, film and discussion that was divided into three distinct episodes. Episode 2: A Special Form Of Darkness was held at the Tramway in Glasgow

episode2_IMG_6307

“Only Your Pre Formance is Cult”

In February of this year I took part in Arika12, a festival of experimental art, music, film and discussion that was divided into three distinct episodes. Episode 2: A Special Form Of Darkness was held at the Tramway in Glasgow

SM Blow X Eyed

“The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta”

In February 2012 I was offered the chance to take part in REVEAL, a two week programme of new work from emerging artists and writers based in Scotland and associated with the National Theatre of Scotland. Indeed, this was NTS’s

SM Blow X Eyed

“The Great Disappointment of Santa Muerta”

In February 2012 I was offered the chance to take part in REVEAL, a two week programme of new work from emerging artists and writers based in Scotland and associated with the National Theatre of Scotland. Indeed, this was NTS’s

Amanda Performs at Parliament

“Staging the Nation”

The National Theatre of Scotland has been hosting Staging the Nation, a series of events around the topic of theatre in Scotland. These discussions and events look backwards and forwards in time when considering the state of the theatre maker

Amanda Performs at Parliament

“Staging the Nation”

The National Theatre of Scotland has been hosting Staging the Nation, a series of events around the topic of theatre in Scotland. These discussions and events look backwards and forwards in time when considering the state of the theatre maker

DSCF2219

Cove Park Residency November 2011

I am just back from a week at Cove Park, an artist’s retreat on the Rosneath Penninsula. Strangely this beautiful haven of peace and quiet lies right in the heart of MoD country, about an hour and half’s drive north

DSCF2219

Cove Park Residency November 2011

I am just back from a week at Cove Park, an artist’s retreat on the Rosneath Penninsula. Strangely this beautiful haven of peace and quiet lies right in the heart of MoD country, about an hour and half’s drive north

am surveys the paint smile

“Love Club: Day of the Dead”

The triumph of the season (aside from one or two other shows I’ve seen this month!) The latest Love Club was a smash with a dynamic mix of familiar voices – as always hosted by the wonderful and wordy Markus

am surveys the paint smile

“Love Club: Day of the Dead”

The triumph of the season (aside from one or two other shows I’ve seen this month!) The latest Love Club was a smash with a dynamic mix of familiar voices – as always hosted by the wonderful and wordy Markus