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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

Languages

 

English and French

 

professional associations

Fitzmaurice Voicework certified associate teacher

Voice and speech trainers association, member

toronto alliance for the perfoming arts, member

playwrights theatre centre, member

playwrights guild of canada, member

halo canada,labour and birth doula certificate of completion

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