Past Projects

Spring 2010: World Theatre Day

Austin, TX

March 27, 2010- In 1961 The International Theatre Institute designated an annual World Theatre Day, and The Exchange Artists teamed up with the Greater Austin Creative Alliance to organize a city-wide celebration in Austin, TX called SPECT-ACTOR. On Saturday, March 27, theatre artists took to the streets, busses, shops, parks and fountains of Austin to perform random acts of theatre for unsuspecting audiences as participants in SPECT-ACTOR. Random acts of theatre took place between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in various locations around Austin followed by a 7:00 p.m. party at the ACoT Studio, 701 Tillery Street Austin, TX. The evening's highlights included a reading of Judy Dench's International World Theatre Day message by KenWebster (Artistic Director, Hyde Park Theatre), a State of the Arts in Austin address by Robert Faires (arts editor, The Austin Chronicle) and a screening of captured video of the day's random acts of theatre. Cambiare Productions streamed the event live online, linking Austin to World Theatre Day Celebrations around the globe.

 

Summer 2010: Playwriting Collaboration
Puglia, Italy

The Exchange Artists traveled to Puglia, a region of Southern Italy, to write a play to be produced in Austin, TX. Inspiration for the piece came from learning about Puglia's ancient folklore and traditions, and experiencing first hand the striking cultural and political parallels with contemporary issues at home. Of particular interest to us were the immigrants who arrive on Puglia's shores looking for work in the region's vineyards, farms and ranches only to find no work and an overtaxed social system. We feel that experiencing immigration strains in an unfamiliar setting will better prepare us for addressing current immigration controversies at home. In short, traveling to Puglia has allowed for the creation of socially relevant, new work based on an exchange with a culture facing contemporary challenges but still firmly rooted in ancient traditions.

The script is still in progress.