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Dateline: 20th September, 2010
The Poel Event 2010 This now annual opportunity for actors and directors early in their careers run by the Society for Theatre Research in collaboration with the National Theatre took place last Friday in the Olivier Theatre and a rehearsal room at the National. Begun as a commemoration of the innovative director William Poel after a memorial matinee at the Old Vic more than half a century ago set up a fund to 'promote good stage speech', the Poel Event developed from a verse speaking prize to a performance, the Poel Festival, variously held at the National and Shakespeare's Globe, which invited drama schools to present students in scenes from the sort of classical work that particularly interested Poel. In recent years it has become clear that the Poel Fund's aims would be better met by concentrating on giving support to established professionals rather than students - and Globe Education, which co-presented the Festival for a time, has taken over providing drama schools with a replacement event in the Wanamaker Festival. Actors and directors, who must have already worked for at least two years since ending training, are offered a full day of workshops and masterclasses that could not be bettered. This year they had morning sessions with Barbara Houseman working on the voice and with Greg Doran working on Shakespeare's verse before moving onto the Olivier stage to face the challenge of the scale of auditorium and stage most had never previously had the chance to work on, with the National's own head of voice Jeanette Nelson and with Sir Ian McKellen helping them to tackle the challenge of both text and space as he pushed their performances to reach out into the theatre. The twenty chosen from the many performers and several directors who applied had a challenging day but one which at they end of it was described as 'exhilarating' and 'inspirational'. They individually received expert advice on personal voice problems - it is amazing how accurately Jeanette Nelson in particular can pick up exactly how to help in the necessarily brief performance of each participant. There was no doubt how valuable they found it and the evidence was clear to those privileged to be observers for the change in voice and performance through the day was obvious in almost all of those involved. This is a one-off annual free event that not only benefits the direct participants but colleagues with whom they can share what they have learned. This was only the third year it has happened since Norman Tozer, best known as a television presenter and producer, the former administrator of the Poel Festival, put the idea up to the Society and the National Theatre. Sadly he died in July as he was setting up this year's event but others will ensure that it will continue and its success is something by which he would have been proud to be remembered. Each year there has become an increasing demand for the very limited places as the more people become aware of this great opportunity. The timing has to be fitted around the Olivier Theatre's performance schedule and the availability of rehearsal rooms at the National so no date for 2011 can be announced until the National Theatre's programming is fixed but those wanting to take part should keep a lookout for announcements on the Society for Theatre Research website from early summer next year. Howard Loxton
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