Pieces make the man

SYNCHRONICITY Performing Arts’ latest production is titled Shards. It’s a series of four short and sharp one-act plays on stage in November. Throughout this month the Bendigo Times will be spotlighting the directors behind the shows. First up, Ralph Shipard, the director of Locked In.

RALPH Shipard’s love of stage began in early high school when he started taking part in theatre productions.

“The short version is, the first time I got to do something with a school play, I stepped on stage, completely froze and forgot the whole thing, but somehow, I always kept going back for more,” he said.

Throughout his career, he’s dabbled in a little bit of everything the theatre has to offer – from acting, lighting and sound, and mixing media.

Those experiences later turned into backstage work for few different school productions, and in the last four years he’s also started directing.

For Shipard part of the positive experience comes from the difference between what’s in his mind’s eye and the final outcome on stage.

He also said he likes the feedback and ideas he receives from actors, and how they can they inhabit roles in unexpected ways.

“Directing is a very collaborative and dynamic process,” Shipard said.

“You never walk in thinking you’re going to direct something and what you put on stage is identical to what you have in your head, it never happens.”

Shipard’s career highlights include playing a villain in a Castlemaine Theatre Company production, a role he always wanted to play.

“I’m a jack of all trades when it comes to theatre and my drive between doing anything in theatre is the love of the process,” he said.

“I love seeing characters and stories evolve and come to life, it’s an exciting thing to be inside the story.”

Synchronicity Performing Arts production of Shards goes from Thursday, 10 to Saturday 12 November at The Engine Room with two of the four shows each night. Themes include status, autism, solitude and society.

Shipard’s production of Locked In is on stage on the Friday and Saturday. Visit synchronicity.org.au for more information.