LAURA QUIGLEY
THEATRE maker SPECIALIZING IN VOICE
VOICE
In my research I explore the human voice: as an instrument, as a tool for creation, and as activism. My solo work confronts the boundaries of conventional vocal expression on stage into territory that is intimate, uncomfortable and yet familiar (grunts, growls, broken clicks, howls, operatic song) to create an immersive sonic experience that is felt, literally, in the bodies of
audiences. The aim is to explore what might be buried beneath the surface of silence and speech in order to connect with my audiences in a visceral way. I am a certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework. I have taught alongside Catherine Fitzmaurice and other Master teachers of Fitzmaurice Voicework in the Fitzmaurice Voicework teacher Certification. I also worked with Richard Armstrong (Roy Hart) at the Banff Centre, and I studied Bel Canto for eight years with soprano and visionary Fides Krucker.
SOLO PERFORMANCE
Solo performance is a core pillar of my exploration as a practitioner. My recent solo, The Waves, had readings/performances in Toronto (Directed by Clea Minaker, dramaturgy by Judith Thompson, Summerworks Theatre Festival 2018), (Festival of Original Theatre, University of Toronto, 2017), New York (Martha Graham Studio, Fitzmaurice Voicework Symposium, 2017), and Montreal (Revolution they Wrote Theatre Festival, 2018). I also teach solo performance to actors and have dramaturged and directed more than twenty solo performances at Concordia. My research in this area is growing, and areas of interest include solo performance for non-actors.
BIRTH AND VOICE
“Impolite Birth” in collaboration with Kris Danford (University of Michigan) and Jenny Mercein (Tulane University) is a study that explores teaching pregnant women voice-work traditionally taught to actors to examine benefits during labour. The goal is to shift institutional culture surrounding childbirth. This project is funded through MCubed at The University of Michigan. My Master’s Thesis, under the supervision of Judith Thompson (who provided dramaturgy for the resulting solo performance) started as an exploration of voice in relationship to the birth of my own children and resulted in the early performance text The Waves and my accompanying research which is published through the University of Guelph.
DEVISED PERFORMANCE
I have been devising theatre for more than two decades. My first theatre company, seventeenth floor performance co., focused solely on new work devised by myself, Andrea Donaldson (Nightwood Theatre), and Heather Lindsay (Intrepid Theatre). Our approach was deeply influenced by the work of Grotowski, Anne Bogart, Tadashi Suzuki, and Samuel Beckett. Since then, I have collaborated with Mallory Catlett (restless inc., Mabou Mines, NYC), Radix Theatre (Vancouver), Jumblies Theatre (Toronto), Leaky Heaven Circus (Vancouver) and Chrysalis Theatre (Vancouver). I’ve taught devised theatre at SFU, The Young People’s Theatre, The University of Toronto, First Light Theatre and Concordia University. At Concordia, I directed a devised production Love in Seven Languages, based on the writings of Jeanette Winterson and Charles Mee’s Big Love. I also teach devising through solo performance.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
I work with individuals to develop confident, authentic and effective public speaking skills. I teach public speaking privately throughout Canada and with Kotzubei and Associates in LA. My clients include people from a wide range of fields and professions including tech firms (Google and Microsoft), the health sector (MaRS centre) and entertainment industries (Disney, Netflix, and other film professionals).
EDUCATION
Masters in theatre studies, The University of Guelph - June 2016
Fitzmaurice Voicework® associate teacher certification, NYC - july 2014
BFA acting, Simon Fraser University - june 2000
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
FALL 2019 – PRESENT
Part-time professor, Concordia University
Professor: Voice + Movement for the Stage 1 - ACTT 211 + PERC 298
January – May 2021
23 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Scene Study II - ACTT 331
September – December 2020
10 students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Voice for the Stage IV Singing – ACTT 455
September – December 2020
17 students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Solo Performance Outcome – ACTT 398
January – May 2020
15 students
12 contact hours / week
Professor: Solo Performance Creation – ACTT 398
September – December 2019
18 students
8 contact hours / week
FALL 2017 – Winter 2019
Artist in residence, Concordia University
Academic Advisor: Winter 2019-Fall 2019
Supporting students in the acting area through academic advising. Duties included administrative functions for students’ timetables; organizing and running town hall events for students; counselling students on their academic journey and future careers, student advocacy and support.
Professor: Voice for the Stage III - ACTT 355
January – May 2019
25 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Director, Lion in the Streets - ACTT 435
January – May 2019
14 Students
20 contact hours / week
Professor: Voice for the Stage II – ACTT 325
September – December 2018
16 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Voice for the Stage I – ACTT 211
September – December 2018
30 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Independent Study – PERC 405
September – December 2018
15 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Director, Solo Performance- ACTT 435
January – May 2018
12 Students
20 contact hours / week
Professor: Intensive Voice Studio- ACTT 355
January – May 2018
17 Students
6 contact hours / week
Professor: Director, If We Were Birds + Love in Seven Languages- ACTT 436
September – December 2017
22 Students
20 contact hours / week
Professor: Voice for the Stage I – ACTT 211
September – December 2017
32 Students
6 contact hours / week
March 2017
workshop leader, University of Buffalo
Workshop: Performative Action (Voice for Performance Artists)
14 Students
4 contact hours
February 2017
associate teacher, the acting corps, hollywood CA
Public Speaking Workshop with Saul Kotzubei and Associates
10 corporate professionals from the LA area
28 in-person contact hours + 30 hours virtual private coaching
October – December 2016
Voice Coach, University of guelph
Text + Song Vocal Coach for Director Judith Thompson
15 Students
4 contact hours / week
june 2016
associate teacher, fitzmaurice voicework teacher certification
Segment on ‘presence’ and performance, with master teacher Saul Kotzubei
22 Students
16 contact hours
january – April 2016
Voice + Movement instructor (TA), University of guelph
In preparation for a devised production directed by Alan Filewod
9 Students
6 contact hours / week
october 2016
associate teacher, the acting corps, hollywood CA
Public Speaking Workshop with Saul Kotzubei and Associates
10 corporate professionals from the LA area
17 in-person contact hours + 30 hours virtual private coaching
December 2015
associate teacher, seydways studios, hollywood CA
Public Speaking Workshop with Saul Kotzubei and Associates
8 corporate professionals from the LA area
17 contact hours
fall 2014
workshop leader, University of toronto drama centre
Voice for students in Movement for the Actor – Drama 411
15 Students
2 contact hours
2010-2013
acting teacher, Young People’s Theatre, Toronto
Ongoing skill-building classes for young people
20 students per class
3 contact hours / week
July – December 2012
Fitzmaurice for Film actors, lewis beaumander film school, Toronto
10 film students
3 contact hours / week
fall 2010 – Winter 2011
Teaching assistant, humber college
Second Year voice for Advanced Diploma students, Assisting Fides Krucker
17 Students
2 contact hours / week
summer 2007
instructor, universidad de baja california sur, mexico
Playmaking Summer course
8 Students
2 contact hours / week
Education
research and teaching intereVOICE