“It’s about creating a safe, creative space for other creatives to connect with their tribe and opportunities to empower individuals to continue their own creative work.”
– Roy Leighton, creative director of Undiscovered Country & co-director of Positive Peace Cambridge
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We want to ignite creativity and be the catalyst for a vibrant community or writers, actors, directors, and creatives of all kinds to come together to share knowledge, experience, and passion.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or an emerging talent, there’s a place for you in our dynamic ecosystem. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and every artist has something valuable to offer.
So, come join us as we play, learn, create, and grow together.
At times we’ll step into the shoes of the teacher, sharing our expertise and guiding others in their creative pursuits. We’ll also embrace the role of practitioners, where we’ll be learners ourselves, seeking inspiration and new perspectives to fuel our own artistic flames.
As well as hiring leading professionals and companies to deliver talks and run workshops, we want to hold peer-led sessions, where members of our creative community have the opportunity to take the lead and collaborate with fellow practitioners. Where possible we will always offer our COMBUST sessions for free, as part of our ongoing commitment to learning and developing. Together, we’ll co-create, innovate, and explore new artistic territories.
So, be a teacher, be a practitioner, be a learner, and most importantly, be part of our Combust community.
Upcoming events
Places on our COMBUST talks and workshops are limited. If you’d like to be considered for a place please get in touch, stating which session you would like to take part in and why it would benefit you as a creative pratictioner: admin@narrativealchemy.co.uk
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To Be or Not To Be – Lessons in Peace and Conflict from Hamlet Roy Leighton
When Sunday 10th December 2023, 1pm to 4pm
Where Northampton
What A this time of increased conflict this workshop has be created by artist and peace activist Roy Leighton to explore what advice Shakespeare (through Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be speech) can give us.
This practical, collaborative workshop, seeks to provide the participants with insights as to why we so easily fall into conflict with ourselves, others and the world and what we can do to be a sane presence in and insane world.
Who The workshop will be led by Roy Leighton who was the founding director of the commercial training arm of The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA Business Performance) back in the early 1990’s.
Roy is founder director of Undiscovered Country which has been offering arts based programmes to business, education and social enterprise groups for decades. He is also founding partner of Positive Peace Cambridge (exploring the relationship between the arts and academia) and for 30 years he has been a senior associate at Independent Thinking Ltd (developing the role of arts in education).
He has extensive experience of working with global business and schools internationally and is currently developing or delivering peace education programmes with international schools and universities in the U.K., America, Japan, India, Hungry, Argentia, Columbia and Kazakhstan.
His LinkedIn profile can be accessed here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roy-leighton-mphil-cantab-frsa-6b0254/
Places available 16
Cost Free
Deadline to apply Friday 1st December
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An introduction to 5 Rhythms Gemma Paget
When Spring 2024 TBC
Where Northampton
What A practical introduction workshop exploring Gabrielle Roth’s 5 Rhythms movement practice – igniting creativity, connection, and community.
Who The workshop will be a peer-led session run by Narrative Alchemy’s co-director Gemma Paget.
Places available TBC
Cost Free
Deadline to apply TBC
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Unlocking Shakespeare’s Verse and Prose Sean McGrath
When Spring 2023 TBC
Where Northampton
What A workshop looking at practical, text-based tools that can be used to explore Shakespeare’s verse and prose: examining character, intention, use of language, drive and flow.
Who The workshop will be a peer-led session run by Narrative Alchemy’s co-artistic director Sean McGrath.
Places available 16
Cost Free
Deadline to apply TBC
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Narrative 4 Story-Exchange Gemma Paget & Sean McGrath
When Spring 2024 TBC
Where Northampton
What The story exchange is US based Narrative 4’s core methodology and is a simple tool that highlights our shared humanity. Through the exchange of personal narratives you will see the world and yourself with empathy and compassion. Share your story and hear it told back to you in the first person, then tell your partner’s story as if it were your own. The power and alchemy of simply exchanging stories has to be experienced to be believed.
Who The session will be a peer-led project run by Narrative Alchemy’s co-artistic directors Gemma Paget & Sean McGrath
Places available 16
Cost Free
Deadline to apply TBC
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