I:CON | Collective Panel Discussion: Moving against ageism in the arts

Date: Saturday 4 November 2023

Time: 5.30pm-7.00pm

Location: Goldsmiths George Wood Theatre, London.

Cost: Free

Booking Link: https://shorturl.at/kxDW5

A panel with Sian Clarke and guests for people over 30 years, chaired by Cass Fleming, Co-Director of the Collective.

This panel will focus on the impact of ageism in the arts and the intersections of ageism with gender, race, ethnicity, class, disability, sexuality and parenting. The discussion will consider the barriers faced by theatre artists aged over 30, along with the attempts to improve policy and practice in the arts and cultural sector. The discussion will creatively consider new approaches, peer and training networks, and further changes needed to industry practice to better support artists over 30 years of age in terms of career development, continuous professional development, networking, wellbeing and community. The instigator of the I:CON series, Sian Clarke, welcomes a panel of guests for a discussion chaired by Chekhov Collective founder and Co- Director Dr Cass Fleming.

  • Panel members included:
  • Sian Clarke (Comedian and Performance Artist)
  • Francesca Castelbuono (Film Maker & Director)
  • Gretchen Egolf (Actor and Director)
  • Vivienne Soan (Actor and Musician)
  • Cassie Raine, Co-CEO and Executive Director of Parents in the Performing Arts (PIPA).

This event will be filmed.

Places for this workshop are free and the I:CON | Chekhov Collective event is funded by Arts Council England but must be booked via EventBrite–LINK

Sian Clarke:

Blending performance art and comedy Sian Clarke makes genre pushing, provocative work. She uses Chekhov’s notions of playfulness and polarity within her work to challenge spectators to explore their own thoughts, ideas and preconceptions. Sian has worked as a performer, writer and dramaturg across live art, theatre, comedy and film. She uses a blend of all elements of Chekhov Technique but is particularly drawn to movement qualities and imaginary centres for both creating and performing. Her previous show The Sian Clarke Experience received an array of 4 and 5 star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2020. She has been performing her solo work across the U.K since 2017.

Sian’s current project, iCON, is an experimental theatre piece exploring turning 30 and feeling obsolete, existentialism and community. This project, with the support of The Chekhov Collective, will bring three tailored performance and writing workshops to over 30’s, alongside a panel discussion looking at the impact of ageism in the arts

Accessibility: The studio at Goldsmiths is wheelchair accessible. Please email us with any access requirements at  thechekhovcollectiveuk@gmail.com.