CONNOR McGOOCHAN worked with Temper Theatre in Cambridge, London and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In the summer of 2016 I successfully auditioned to be a performer for a semi-professional theatre company, Temper Theatre, that sought to devise a movement/dance piece about climate change; the severity of the show’s issue alone greatly developed me as a conscientious theatre maker and a young man who will be a member of the first generation to witness the effects of climate change and the last to do something about it.
Temper provided me with an opportunity to experience what theatre making is like in a professional environment, as well as touring the show to Cambridge, London and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a sixteen show run. While in Edinburgh, flyering on the Royal Mile was essential in order to advertise ourselves successfully and enable us to attract multiple reviewers (who were generally positive about our piece, ‘Terra Incognita’). I was also able to see many other different shows that were at the largest arts festival in the world which has expanded my creativity and theatrical capabilities. Everything I learnt has aided my progress towards becoming a professional theatre practitioner and performer.
Without the Old Burians’ Charitable Trust Award and the support from the committee, I would not have been able to pursue this opportunity; I will always be grateful for their contribution to the beginning of my training which has enabled me to plan for a sustainable career in the arts.