ReFract '99 International Circus Conference Speakers' Biographies
Currently working as a Consultant in performing arts l’École nationale des arts du cirque, Brussels, and The Circus Space, London, Jan Rok was for 12 years up until 1998 the General Manager of the L'ecole nationale de cirque, in Montréal. He sits on the juries of the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain, Paris, the International acrobatic festival of Wuhan, the International acrobatic festival of Wuqiao, La Piste aux Espoirs, Tournai, La Première Rampe, Monaco and the Centre national des arts du Cirque, Châlons. He is the founder and president of En Piste, the Québec group of circus companies and circus schools, and the world federation of Circus School (it still does not work after nine years). Additionally he is the Special adviser for Québec Conseil des arts et des lettres and The Cultural Minister and The Canadian Council of the arts.
Previous roles include; President of Culture Council of the Laurentide Region, President of the Québec Conference of Culture Councils, Adviser for the Québec Education and founding Sceno Plus; a consultancy for the restoration and the design of new theatres, and working on tour and stage management for Les Jeunes Comédiens du Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, The Montreal Opera, and founding the theatre company La Fondation du Theatre Public.
Note: I have not been able to succeed in any school. I was not capable to fit and I was extremely fast to go of these systems. This is why I consider myself as a self made man. So, know that I do not have any degree or diploma. My ability or aptitude (and it is very pretentious)- I feel that I am a visionary, I feel always extremely well when time comes to create and to realise a new project. I deeply believe in dreams, I am convince that the creativity is the key for those who want to realise themselves
I am a fighter. I love to fight for something meaningful for causes. I hate to lose. When my passion is gone, when the Sacred Fire is not there, I quit I think that I am capable to assume the leadership when the people around me are willing to share it with me.
My harmful quality: stubbornness, obstinacy My useful imperfection: stubbornness, obstinacy (Don Quixote)
Patrice Drouin - Cirque du Soleil
Although he is only 36 years old , Patrice Drouin has an impressive background as well as having accomplished a lot in a few years.
After formal training in Accounting, Management and Social Sciences, Patrice Drouin spent the next seven years working for a large firm operating in real estate management. He participated in the success and growth of this firm where 8 $M in assets under management increased to 150 $ M during his seven-year employment with them.
Then, in the Summer of 1987, he pursued his career in a very different venue. The magic, the imagination and the sheer delight he felt after attending a Cirque du Soleil show convinced him to ''run away and join the circus''. He started as an Accountant and in 1988, filled the position of Box-Office Manager. In 1991, he was promoted to Assistant to the Director of Research and Development for America and Europe and in 1994, to Assistant to the Executive Producer. Finally in 1995 and to this day, he is filling the position of Assistant to the Vice-President of Planning and Public Affairs.
Due to his vast knowledge of the circus world, he is willingly involved in many projects in this field of entertainment. One of such is, ''En Piste'', which is an association that regroups companies, organisations and schools of the circus world that operate in Canada.
Paul Cockle - NMEC
Paul Cockle is head of the Millennium Show and has worked for NMEC since Jan 98. He is responsible for overall delivery and budget of the show.
Previously he production managed five operas for Welsh National Opera including a joint production for the Bayerstiche Opera in Munich. He has also toured Return to the Forbidden Planet and From a Jack to a King for Pola Jones management. Paul has staged West Side story in Bullingdon prison and taught Production management to degree level at Middlesex University. Previous to this period Paul spent three years in Hong Kong as production manager at the Hong Kong academy of performing arts. He has toured shows to Beijing, Melbourne and ran an International festival in Korea.
Prior to Hong Kong Paul was the Production Manager at Leicester Haymarket staging large-scale musicals and West End Transfers. He was technical manager at the Royal Opera House for two years and toured the Royal Ballet around America. He has toured extensively in Europe and worked as an electrician stage manager technical manager and production manager at all levels of theatre and performance art.
He is a founding director of Anystage productions and honorary director of the Hong Kong association of Theatre technicians and scenographers.
Bim Mason - Circomedia
Trained with Desmond Jones and Jacques Lecoq. Member of the first circus-theatre group in Britain, Kaboodle, in 1978. Founded Mummer & Dada (1985-91), Garden Productions (1985-94) and Peepolykus (1993-). Performed with Kaboodle (1978-83), Mummer & Dada and as the Artful dodger in Phillida Lloyd's production of Oliver Twist at the Bristol Old Vic (1989-1990). He devised and performed three one-man shows that toured to the London International Mime Festival and elsewhere. Of the many physical theatre shows he has directed three have received Fringe First Awards at Edinburgh - with Talking Pictures (1989) and with Rejects Revenge (1995 & 1997). Other directing work includes Mummer & Dada, Welfare State International, Peepolykus, Green Ginger, Macadam Theatre (Maastricht), Art Imagem (Porto), Wall Street Theatre (Germany).
He taught at Bristol, Manchester Metro and Middlesex Universities and at Fool Time. Published work includes 'Street Theatre and other Outdoor Performance' (Routledge 1992) and numerous articles for Total Theatre. Founder and Course Director of Circomedia since 1994.
Teo Greenstreet - The Circus Space
Teo has been has been involved with The Circus Space since its inception in 1989. He has lead the development of the organisation from its temporary home in Islington to the permanent Hoxton base. He has overseen the organisational, fundraising and accreditation initiatives that have established The Circus Space and continues to work to develop the profile of British circus both in the UK and Europe.
Prior to this he worked for Greater London Arts (now London Arts Board) as a development officer for 2 years . He has spent 6 years as a professional circus performer in theatre, street and festival productions specialising in unicycle, slackwire and clown - sadly his most famous moment was performing in a pop video for Rick Astley (alongside another of the conference speakers). Teo is an advisor to LAB, and a board member of the European Federation of Circus Schools.
Jim Riley – Artistic Director Skylight Circus Arts
Started as co founder Snapdragon Circus in 1985, left after first tented tour 1988. Skylight Circus Arts was started in 1989:-
to develop the creative use of circus and other arts in performance, using professional and community performers.
Mark Fisher is a British architect with an international reputation for the creation of spectacular rock concerts. Over the past 25 years he has been production designer for some of the most memorable rock concerts ever staged. His shows have included "The Wall" for Pink Floyd (which toured in the USA and Europe in 1979-80 and was restaged in 1990 for an audience of 250,000 people at the Potzdammer Platz, Berlin). "Steel Wheels", "Voodoo Lounge" and bridges to Babylon for the Rolling Stones, and "Zoo TV" and "Popmart" for U2. Over the years he has designed touring concerts for many other distinguished rock artist including Elton John, Tina Turner, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, R.E.M and Metallica. he has also designed numerous one-off shows and TV specials including large-scale outdoor spectaculars for Jean-Michel Jarre and Pavarotti and the "Aquamatric" nightly show at the Lisbon Expo'98.
He is currently creative director and designer for the Central plaza Show and the Opening Ceremony for the Greenwich Millennium Dome in London.
Chris Barltrop - Moscow State Circus
When Chris Barltrop graduated from East 15 Acting School and took a temporary job as an Advance Biller with Hoffmans' Circus in 1973, he had no idea he was about to involve himself long-term in such a special world.
After two years touring with Hoffman's, Chris went to work for Gerry Cottle, and because of his performance training was made Ringmaster. When Cottle started a second unit of his thriving show, Barltrop was appointed Manager, and has, as he puts it, "worn both hats", ever since, also handling other duties such as Press and PR.
During his ensuing career under the Big Top, Chris Barltrop has worked as Ringmaster with Gerry Cottle; at Yarmouth Hippodrome Circus; with the American three-Ring Circus (where he claims to have lost half-a-stone running from one ring to the next!); and also in New Zealand, Germany and France. He's one of the most familiar faces of British Circus, with many TV and radio appearances under his belt, and is known as a staunch defender of the Circus Industry through often-troubled times. Equally, a spell of "retirement" in 1987 saw Chris Barltrop working as Marketing Manager at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle-on-Tyne, exercising his talents as PR and pressman in another environment.
Chris Barltrop is proud to have been associated with some of the most innovative productions of Britain's native circus industry; Gerry Cottle's ground-breaking "New" Circus in 1984 and 85, the first 'theatrical' Circus in Britain and including the Students of the First British Circus School; and also 'for one season only' with Zippo's Circus as adviser and co-Producer. He's also been a first-hand witness of other innovative projects from the Gerry Cottle stable, including the short-lived Gary Glitter Rock and Roll Circus and the Rainbow Circus; more recently the Circus of Horrors; and currently the Cottle and Austen Circus. As Director and General Manager of the Moscow State Circus now touring in Britain, his other duties often prevent him performing as Ringmaster, but that's compensated by the time and freedom available to attend events such as ReFract.
David Alexander - Director, Broli@ The Clocktower, Mostyn, North Wales
(Centre of Excellence for the Popular Performing Arts Circus, Theatre, Dance and Music)
David Alexander is the Director of The Clocktower which has received £1.4 million to renovate, refurbish and equip a Grade II historic building as a residential training and education centre in Circus, Theatre, Dance and Music. David is a trained teacher and educator, has been Ringmaster for Zippo, as well as presenting his one man show in many parts of Europe.
Dave Southern is Director of Community Circus at the Clocktower and there is a dedicated group of performers and volunteers working there committed to excellence in the popular performing arts in Wales and beyond. They have recently finished developing a range of vocational training units through the Open College network which integrate the popular performing artforms, and offer a range of pre-vocational accreditation.
Iain Reid - Chair
Currently Dean of the Arts Educational Schools, London (ArtsEd.) providing vocational training in the performing arts. After training at Rada acted for ten years before turning to administration. Worked for Bernard Delfont, children's theatre company and regional theatre. Drama officer at Greater London Arts, then Director of the Arts Programme at the Gulbenkian Foundation. Whilst there commissioned Reg Bolton to write a book on New Circus, as well as launching "The Big Idea" - a funding programme for site specific large scale events. Moved to Arts Council in 1989 as Director of Arts Development, initiating the New Collaborations Fund for artists working across and between art forms, before becoming founder director of the Combined Arts Department.