SYNCHRONICITY Performing Arts\u2019 latest production is titled Shards. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
RALPH Shipard\u2019s love of stage began in early high school when he started taking part in theatre productions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Throughout his career, he\u2019s dabbled in a little bit of everything the theatre has to offer – from acting, lighting and sound, and mixing media.<\/p>\n
Those experiences later turned into backstage work for few different school productions, and in the last four years he\u2019s also started directing.<\/p>\n
For Shipard part of the positive experience comes from the difference between what\u2019s in his mind\u2019s eye and the final outcome on stage.<\/p>\n
He also said he likes the feedback and ideas he receives from actors, and how they can they inhabit roles in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirecting is a very collaborative and dynamic process,\u201d Shipard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never walk in thinking you\u2019re going to direct something and what you put on stage is identical to what you have in your head, it never happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shipard\u2019s career highlights include playing a villain in a Castlemaine Theatre Company production, a role he always wanted to play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a jack of all trades when it comes to theatre and my drive between doing anything in theatre is the love of the process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love seeing characters and stories evolve and come to life, it\u2019s an exciting thing to be inside the story.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Shipard\u2019s production of Locked In is on stage on the Friday and Saturday. Visit synchronicity.org.au for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SYNCHRONICITY Performing Arts\u2019 latest production is titled Shards. It\u2019s 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\u2019s love of stage began in early high school […]<\/p>\n