Director - Katie Keddell

19/02/2025

Artist Statement

Theatre’s value and creation are not universal or an inherent value. The actors and technicians are not robots but vital contributors to the narrative, which must evolve and flow with deep respect for their individual experiences and artistry. The audience is not a passive observer but an active participant in the storytelling process both in their seats and before they enter space. As a director, I play a crucial role as a facilitator of collective creativity, guiding and empowering the team to bring their unique talents to the production. As a director, I craft stories specific to the actors in the space, the audience, and the events happening in the given moment of history we are working within. The only way to tell those stories is to honor the lived experience of the playwright, the play, the actor, the production team, and the audience in constant conversation and inquiry. Every day, we work together, each production team member contributing their unique skills and perspectives, echoing our ancestors. Weaving these components together takes authentic listening, research, trust, grace, accessibility, and responsive creation. A play in my rehearsal room is ceramic art. In the given circumstance, clay forms with intention, and tools balance technique with listening to the materials. I bring a methodology grounded in de-centered devising principles, LaBan, Viewpoints, and poetic text analysis where each gesture, punctuation, and phrase is intentional. The process ends with fire, a fire that locks in the show so that the performance can become both ritual and sustainable. A lock doesn’t mean the piece won’t crack, fade, or change – it just means the product has been formed and is ready for its presence in the life of an audience. The audience and artist have changed from being a part of humanity, story, and authentic creation.