ROBBIE GORDON THEATRE-MAKER AND PLAYWRIGHT

Email: [email protected] Mobile: 07891173246 Website: www.robbiegordon.org

TRAINING

2012-2016 Royal Conservatoire of – BA (Hons) Contemporary Performance Practice

CREDITS

o Movement Director Lost Elves (Citizens Theatre and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) 13th – 29th December (Tramway). o Associate Director Square Go by Gary McNair and Kieran Hurley directed by Finn Den Hertog (Francesca Moody Productions) UK Tour: 9th September – 13th October 2019 o Writer/Movement Director 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War directed by Jack Nurse (Wonder Fools) in association with the Citizens Theatre and : 21st May – 23rd June 2019 (Scottish Tour) o Writer/Director YOUNG BLOOD (Ayr Gaiety Young Theatre Company in collaboration with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Young Company): 17th of November ( as part of Chrysalis Emergence); 30th March 2019 (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland); 2nd April 2019 (Ayr Gaiety Theatre); 5th July 2019 (National Festival of Youth Theatre) o Director – WFxS presents: TWO ((Wonder Fools x SHOOSHT) 5th December 2018 o Workshop Leader/Sand Facilitator Pages of the Sea (Danny Boyle; National ; 1418 NOW): 11th November 2018 o Writer/Director The Madness of Crowds (The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Young Theatre Company): 28th June (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) o Writer A Man’s A Man For A’ Whit? (Wonder Fools in association with and Burns Unbroke): 3rd March (Summerhall) o Writer/Movement Director 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War (Wonder Fools in association with the Brunton Theatre and Citizens Theatre): 6th -10th of February 2018 (Prestonpans Town Hall); 13th – 17th of February (Citizens Theatre) o Writer/Performer – The Coolidge Effect (Wonder Fools): 19th – 21st January 2016 (Into The New Festival); 8th – 9th December 2016 (The Glue Factory); 22nd March 2017 (Camden People’s Theatre); 2nd June 2017 (PUSLE Festival; New Wolsely Theatre); 20th-22nd September 2017 (Traverse Theatre); 27th – 30th September 2017 (Tron Theatre) 20th October 2017 (Macrobert Arts Centre); 18th of November 2017 (New Diorama Theatre); 20th January 2018 (Big Burns Supper). o Associate Director – Lampedusa directed by Jack Nurse (Citizens Theatre in association with Wonder Fools): 8th-18th November 2017 o Director – WFxS presents: ONE (Wonder Fools x SHOOSHT) 6th July 2017 o Assistant Director – Punnocchio by Gary McNair (Oran Mor) 3rd – 22nd July 2017 o Writer/Director – ORPHEUS (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Young Theatre Company): 27th + 28th June 2017 (Glue Factory) o Research Assistant – Locker Room Talk by Gary McNair (Traverse Theatre) 2017 o Director - When Two Worlds Collide a site-specific physical theatre performance for Galoshans Festival, Greenock (Conflux): 31st October 2016.

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

o Director – The Savoy: A Eulogy a site-specific performance (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) 23rd May 2016 (The Savoy Centre, ) o Director - What Are They Like by Lucinda Coxon. Co-directed with Barry Henderson (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Young Company, National Theatre Connections): 22nd June 2016 (Lyceum Theatre) o Assistant Director - Dream On! Directed by Graham McLaren (Shakespeare 400; BBC Symphony Orchestra; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; University of Glasgow; Glasgow School of Art): 23rd April 2016 (Bute Hall, Glasgow) o Director/Writer - 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War co-written with Jack Nurse (Wonder Fools): 1st April 2016 (Old Hairdressers, Glasgow) o Director/Creator – This Is What You Look Like (Wonder Fools): 12th – 14th June 2015 (Eden Festival); 8th – 9th August 2015 (Mugstock Festival); 21st -23rd August 2015 (Doune The Rabbit Hole); 19th September 2015 (North West Glasgow Arts Trail); 3rd – 5th of July 2015 and 1st – 3rd of July 2016 (Kelburn Garden Party); 6th – 9th August 2015 and 5th – 7th August 2016 (Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival) o Director/Writer – McNeill of Tranent: Fastest Man in the World co-written with Jack Nurse and George McNeill (Wonder Fools): 21-22nd of July 2014 (Old Hairdressers, Glasgow); 30th of July 2014 (Glasgow Commonwealth Culture 2014; Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow); 12th of November 2014 (Le Monde, ); 20th August 2014 and 18th February, 19th May 2015 (Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh) o Director – Love The One You Hurt by Andy Gunn (Wonder Fools; Wee Theatres): 15th February 2015 o Director – Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart by David Greig (Wonder Fools; Playwrights Studio Scotland; Crossing the Lines): 17th November 2014 (The Arches) o Assistant Director – Howl[ing] Directed by Drew Taylor-Wilson (Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival; Glasgay!): 16th October 2014 (Traverse Theatre) 21st October 2014 (The Arches) o Director – We Are Not Good People (Creative Electric; Unga Nyskapare): 21st – 24th August 2013 (Kulturhuset, Stockholm Fringe Festival)

UP NEXT

o Writer High Rise, Low Fall (development) Tron Labs Winner 2020 o Writer This House is Burning (pre-production) commission from the Oran Mor in association with Wonder Fools: Autumn 2020

EMPLOYMENT

2014-Present Wonder Fools Co-founder and Trustee

I am the co-founder and Trustee of the critically acclaimed “fiercely curious” (The Herald) Wonder Fools.

Wonder Fools (SCIO) create new theatre based on a diverse range of current and historical real life stories. Our programme is conceived to be as varied as it is dynamic: exploring different forms - verbatim theatre, participatory performance, performance installations - in tandem with wide-ranging subject matters.

Our last three shows have received both critical success and sell out audiences: Lampedusa was ‘an evening worth remembering’ ★★★★ Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman); The Coolidge Effect is ‘Incredibly powerful and innovative’ –★★★★ (Young Perspective); and 549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War ‘resembles reimagined for a small town function room’ ★★★★ Neil Cooper (The Herald).

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

We are aiming to push the boundaries of who contemporary theatre and performance can appeal to by attempting to bring stories to the communities they directly concern. As a company we actively prioritise the encouragement of participation in theatre and we place engagement at the centre of our activities. Our workshops and Creative Learning programmes broaden opportunities for participation within the arts, giving the public an active role in the creation of our work

For more information visit: www.wonderfools.org

2018-Present Ayr Gaiety Theatre Associate Director (Creative Learning)

Our long-term vision is for a re-energised performing arts sector in Ayrshire, with the Gaiety Theatre as the hub of a network of venues and activities that will develop audiences and artists, stimulate the cultural life of the area, grow economic prosperity and improve wellbeing.

One of my primary responsibilities is to manage and coordinate Gaiety Creative Learning a community theatre initiative which aims to remove any barriers people may experience in accessing theatre. We offer opportunities for people to be audience members or participants in performance and technical theatre. We work in multiple locations including areas of deprivation where income may prevent participation in the performing arts and in rural areas where opportunities to participate are limited geographically. Through our work we aim to increase well-being by developing confidence, social skills, resilience and positive aspirations for young people, and by reducing loneliness and isolation for older people.

My main aim since taking up the post at the Ayr Gaiety in June has been to raise participation in theatre by providing meaningful, engaging and accessible creative opportunities to the young people of South Ayrshire. I’ve focused primarily on keeping activities low cost or free, taking work directly to communities, forming lasting partnerships, and carefully reviewing what has come before.

In August 2019, I left my full-time post as Creative Learning Coordinator and became the Associate Director of Creative Learning so I could balance freelance opportunities alongside working with the Ayr Gaiety. Dropping my contracted days down in addition to attracting funding from Cashback for Creativity enabled us to employ a small team of Creative Learning staff who I now manage within my new role.

The team are currently creating recorded content for a youth led live podcast, which will be broadcast from the Ayr Gaiety Mainstage on the 17th of February and will be presented by young people from all over South Ayrshire. For this project, we are working with young people in rurally isolated communities, SIMD 1 and 2 areas, Barnardos and the South Ayrshire Champion’s Board.

We are also working on partnership programmes with Ayrshire College, UWS, Scottish Youth Theatre, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Fair Access department and National Theatre of Scotland.

After successfully hosting the National Festival of Youth Theatre in July 2019, we are currently planning our own youth led arts festival in July 2020: ForwardFields. We will invite a collection of Scotland’s most exciting and boundary-pushing young companies and performance collectives to share their work on the Ayr Gaiety’s main stage. Hosting a series of workshops, Q&As, and creative exchanges over the two days, ForwardFields promises a

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

programme of the most exciting work by emerging theatre companies across Scotland and will demonstrate the quality of theatre being made and performed by artists between the age of 16 to 25.

Personal highlights of this role include:

• Forming the Ayr Gaiety Young Theatre Company and Ayr Gaiety Youth Theatre, which are now attended on a weekly basis by 40 young people. • Delivering workshops and leading a team of volunteers to create a 30m sand portrait of WWI solider Walter Tull for Danny Boyle’s Pages of the Sea. • Working with National Theatre of Scotland and CAMPO on the recruitment process for WILDLIFE FM. Forming and developing meaningful partnerships with Scottish Youth Theatre, Ayrshire College, UWS, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the National Theatre of Scotland.

2019 – Present Ayrshire College Lecturer in Community Performing Arts

I am part of the team who are overseeing the transition of the HNC programme from Performing Arts to Community Performing Arts. This means this role has come with some exciting challenges and an opportunity to re- design how performing arts education is currently delivered in South Ayrshire.

At Ayrshire College, I lecture in movement, site-specific performance, community drama and workshop facilitation. For these modules I am responsible for writing the instruments of assessment, creating a delivery schedules, collating teaching materials, assessing students and leading on partnership work with local and national orginisations.

In January we are partnering with Scottish Youth Theatre on Generator, a project designed to give young people who are studying performing arts at college level masterclasses with industry professionals. The workshops will focus on how to work sustainably as a freelancer within the arts sector and how to start making work happen within your own community.

We have also just finished a successful partnership with the Ayr Gaiety on Nature’s Plea, a touring theatre show for upper primary aged young people. The production was created by the HNC Performing Arts students and toured to Symington performing to 80 P6/7's from Symington Primary School and Monkton Primary and Maybole performing to 100 P6/7's from Cairn Primary School, St Cuthberts and Garden Rose.

2012, 2015, 2016 National Theatre of Scotland + 2018. Various Freelance Roles

In 2010, I was a participant at the National Theatre of Scotland’s Exchange Festival. I was pretty sure before entering this environment that I wanted to be an actor and by the end of the festival I wrote to the LEARN department asking for further experience in working on participatory arts projects. It is here I found the passion for the work I do now. In 2011, I embarked upon a 6- month placement on JUMP, which involved acting as a peer mentor in Glasgow and high schools and observing the devising process of the final performance. Whilst at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, I was part of the team that created and performed in Tales from the Mall a site-specific theatre experience in the Forge Shopping Centre, Glasgow. Post-graduation I was employed on a freelance basis as a workshop assistant to Simon Sharkey on

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

‘we’re here because we’re here’ and as a festival assistant for Home/Away Festival. This year I worked alongside National Theatre of Scotland and CAMPO for the recruitment process of Wild Life FM at the Ayr Gaiety and as a workshop leader for Pages of the Sea delivering creative opportunities to over 300 people within a single week.

2017 Gary McNair Research Assistant

I worked with Gary McNair on Locker Room Talk as his research assistant. My work on this project included arranging and conducting interviews with various different groups of men from the workplace to the pub. These interviews formed the verbatim text that has been performed at the Traverse Theatre, the Scottish Parliament and Lattitude Festival to critical acclaim. The play received ★★★★ reviews from the Independent, the Stage, the Guardian and the Scotsman and was published by Oberon in 2017. Other duties included: collating additional online research, recording and transcribing audio and managing the online storage of the files. Since this project I have assistant directed Gary’s summer pantomime Punocchio at the Oran Mor (2017) and assisted on his research process for Scottish Youth Theatre’s Tell Us Who We Are (2018).

2014-Present Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Director, mentor and facilitator.

In 2016, I graduated from the Contemporary Performance Practice Programme and post-graduation, I gained employment at the institution as the co-director of the Conservatoire’s Young Theatre company and as a workshop leader for their Lifelong Learning programme. When working with RCS I regularly collaborate with participants of all ages and abilities (from 3-4 years olds to over 60’s) to create theatre and performance of a high artistic quality.

I have worked with RCS’ 12-14 drama class for over two years now and I also currently work as the lead tutor for the devising course Contemporary Performance. In the past, I have co-lead the Devised Theatre with Text and Contemporary Scottish Plays weekend courses and I have also delivered the following summer schools: Widening Access To The Creative Industries for ages 15 -18 (2016; 2017; 2018); Get Into Drama for ages 15 -18 (2016 + 2017); Soundtrack To Your Life for ages 12-17 (2017); To Boldly Go for ages 8-12 (2016); Devised Theatre for ages 12 -17 (2016); Detective Academy for ages 8-12 (2015). Recently, In 2018 I worked as the director and lead artist on the verbatim project YOUNG BLOOD for the Community Performance course for ages 12-18. YOUNG BLOOD has now been programmed as part of the Ayr Gaiety’s mainstage programme, which will be delivered by the Ayr Gaiety Young Theatre Company and the RCS Young Company.

I also work for the Widening Access to the Creative Industries department in schools where the majority of pupils are SIMD 1 and 2. I deliver workshops about the range of career pathways available in the creative industries and encourage the young people to engage with a range of free activities that the RCS can an offer them. These include: audition and application preparation, workshops, summer schools and mentorship. I recently piloted a two-day intensive version of this workshop on Islay in September in collaboration with Rebecca Skeoch and Emily Dias-Geoffry.

I am the director of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Young Theatre Company. I have worked with the company since their inception and we are now in our fifth year. Our first production was Lucinda Coxon's What Are

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

They Like performed as part of NT Connections 2016, at Edinburgh’s Lyceum Theatre; in 2017 we created ORPHEUS a site-specific re-imaging of the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice; in 2018 an original immersive theatre production The Madness of Crowds; and in 2019 we created YOUNG BLOOD a co-production with the Ayr Gaiety Young Company, which toured and was performed at the National Festival of Youth Theatre,

CREATIVE LEARNING

I have worked as workshop leader in a multitude of social contexts ranging from working in communities with pre-existing theatre and social groups through to working in schools and other educational institutions. I see creating work in participatory settings as a vital part of my working practice.

I am a current employee of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and my work with them includes: lead artist on the Contemporary Performance Practice weekend course (January – June 2018); director and lead artist on the verbatim project ‘Young Blood’ for the Community Performance weekend course (September – December 2017); co-facilitator with Barry Henderson on two week long summer schools ‘Widening Access To The Creative Industries’ and ‘Get Into Drama’ (July 2017); director of Davey Anderson’s ‘Blackout’ for the Scottish Contemporary Plays weekend course (January – June 2017); Associate Artist on the site-specific theatre weekend course (November – December 2017;) curriculum designer and current mentor for the Creative Pathways programme (September 2016- Present); mentor for Transitions 20/40 (April 2016-present); workshop leader for age 12-14 drama (September 2016-Present); co-facilitator with Peter Lannon on a week long process drama ‘To Boldly Go’ (August 2016); co-facilitator with Barry Henderson on three week long summer schools ‘Devised Theatre’, ‘Entry To The Creative Industries’ and ‘Get Into Drama’ (July 2016); drama tutor for the Entry to the Creative Industries department (June 2016) workshop assistant on ‘Acting Skills for Adults with Learning Difficulties’ in association with Lung Ha Theatre Company and Birds of Paradise (January 2016 – Present) co-director of RCS Young Theatre Company (October 2015-Present); co-facilitator on ‘Devised Acting with Text’ (October 2015-June 2016); cover tutor for P1-P7 drama (October 2015- June 2016); workshop assistant to Sophie McCabe for P5-6 drama (September 2014-July 2015); workshop assistant to artists Peter Lannon and Emma Nutland on the ‘Detective Academy’ summer school (July 2015); lead artist on ‘Whose Culture Is It Anyway?’ at Saint Mungo’s Primary School (January 2014); one of various workshop leaders as part of the ‘Happiness Formula’ project at Holycross Primary School in association with 21st Century Challenges (September – December 2013).

Other work includes: drama artist for South West Community Cycles summer programme (July 2017); workshop leader for PALS (January 2017 – Present); writer and director of Renfrewshire Leisure’s I Wish (January –March 2017); writer and director of Culture NL’s The Tram (January – April 2017); festival assistant for National Theatre of Scotland’s ‘Home/Away’ (October 2016); workshop assistant for the National Theatre of Scotland’s ‘we’re here because we’re here’ (June - July 2016); performer and on stage support for Douglas Maxwell’s ‘The Silent Treatment’ in association with Lung Ha Theatre Company (January - April 2015); co-facilitator with artist Emma Nutland on a week long Easter workshop at Whiteinch Community Partnership in association with Glasgow Youth Arts Hub and Aberlour (April 2015); workshop leader for LOOP Theatre Company (February – November 2015); lead facilitator on various Wonder Fools workshops across Scotland (March 2015 - Present); workshop assistant to Drew Taylor Wilson and Emma Jayne-Park on Dancehouse’s ‘Bus Stop’ project (June- August 2014); workshop leader for Creative Electric in collaboration with various organisations including: the Prince’s Trust, Unga Nyskapare and Granton Youth Centre (June 2011 – August 2013); performer and facilitator for Edinburgh-wide schools tour of ‘Split//Second’, a forum theatre performance in association with No Knifes Better Lives and Granton Youth Centre (August 2011- June 2012); a six month placement with National Theatre of Scotland on ‘JUMP’ (2012).

OTHER

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

• NHS accredited Mental Health First Aider • Special Commendation for PULSE Festivals Suitcase Prize at the New Wolsey for ‘The Coolidge Effect’ • Selected as a member of Tron 100 (January - December 2016) • Young Artist Delegate for Imaginate Festival (June 2016) • Participant in a process drama masterclass with Professor Jonothan Neelands (April 2015) • Recipient of the Drama in Education Prize from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (July 2014) • Stockholm Fringe Festival’s Audience Choice Award for devised performance ‘Auditory Hallucinations’ (August 2013) • Skills in Adobe Photoshop, video editing and QLAB. • AV Designer for ‘Generation Fucked’ and ‘Debutantes’ by Creative Electric (June - August 2012)

REVIEWS

LOST ELVES

“Robbie Gordon's choreography is witty and frenetic, but he also knows when to keep it simple.” ★★★★ (The List)

549 SCOTS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

"Gordon turning in a strong, appealing linchpin performance as George" (The Times)

“A beautifully moving tale of friendship, bravery and sacrifice” ★★★★ (The Skinny)

" (549) resembles Black Watch reimagined for a small town function room” ★ ★ ★ ★ Neil Cooper (The Herald)

"there is a special thrill in seeing the play performed, this week, in Prestonpans Town Hall, a building these men would have known well, in front of the kind of local audience, reliving part of their own history, that has been thin on the ground in Scottish theatre since the demise of 7:84 Scotland and Wildcat.” ★★★★ Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman)

“This play doesn’t just want us to remember and respect our history, it’s a call to arms and a timely reminder to always fight for what you believe in.” ★★★★ (The Reviews Hub)

THE COOLIDGE EFFECT

“Wonder Fools are talented theatre-makers and it’s exciting to see an emerging theatre company making such a varied piece and doing so with a noticeable confidence” – Exeunt Magazine

“Fiercely curious Glasgow-based Wonder Fools company” – ★ ★ ★ Neil Cooper (The Herald)

“Brave […] Forceful mix of factual information, fictional storytelling, movement and reflection” – ★ ★ ★ Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman)

“Immersive, educational and political […] Wonder Fools have created an impactful and visceral piece of work” – 72% The Fountain

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246

“Incredibly powerful and innovative” –★ ★ ★ ★ Young Perspective

LAMPEDUSA

‘An evening worth remembering’ - ★ ★ ★ ★ Joyce McMillan (The Scotsman)

‘A zeitgeist-capturing evocation of hope’ – ★ ★ ★ ★ Neil Cooper (The Herald)

“Impassioned political theatre and a beacon of optimism” - ★ ★ ★ ★ The List

‘Passionate, emotive and highly committed […] Powerful” - ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The Reviews Hub

OTHER PRAISE

“We see our role in developing new Scottish theatre talent as absolutely central to everything we do. I can think of few better ways to express this than working with Wonder Fools to bring the first revival of a powerful piece of critically acclaimed contemporary theatre to Glasgow.” – Dominic Hill (Artistic Director of the Citizens Theatre)

Orla O’Loughlin, artistic director of the Traverse Theatre tweeted: “Brilliant to have such a diverse and engaged audience with us all week. Ready to break the silence with @wonder_fools"

David Byrne, artistic director of the New Diorama tweeted: "Trip @citizenstheatre today for @wonder_fools’ excellent 549: SCOTS OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR. Properly good show - great performances, confident direction and a sold out crowd on a weekday matinee! Surely one of Scotland’s best new companies."

W: www.robbiegordon.org E: [email protected] P: 07891173246