CREATIVE REFRESH WORKSHOP

Female identifying playwrights, theatre makers & creatives aged fifty+ who want to connect and find new ways of working

What will happen?

The Distilled Writers Collective is running a Creative Refresh event to bring creatives together to connect and galvanise us into finding new ways of working. You don’t need to have a specific project - this workshop is about getting and staying inspired, and introducing different creative techniques to add to your tool box.

Is there a theme?

Yes. We’re going to be exploring the subject of women and our relationship to our bodies and how this can inform and feed into our work. The workshops are designed to be emboldening and supportive, and are an opportunity for attendees to step outside their creative comfort zones.

How will the day pan out?

1.15pm - 2.15pm Introductions and discussion led by the Distilled Writers Collective team: Lydia Parker, Roli Okorodudu and Suzette Coon

2.15pm - 3.30pm Movement session led by movement director, Mandy Gordon

3.45pm - 5.45pm Introduction to devising led by actor, theatre maker and educator, Sophie Trott

5.45pm - 6pm Reflection

6pm onwards Further chat in the bar

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT VENUE - Make sure you come to Southwark Playhouse Elephant Venue (NOT Borough Venue)

1 Dante Place
London SE11 4RX

Closest Tube Station: Elephant & Castle (Northern Line & Bakerloo Line) Take the Shopping Centre exit. 5 minute walk to venue.

Do I need to bring anything?

Yes. Please come with an object, poem, photo or article as source material for the devising session - anything that might inspire you based on how women’s bodies are perceived, expectations set by society, changes in our bodies through aging, pregnancy, illness, etc. Also bring pen, paper,/notebooks/laptop. Please wear comfortable clothing you can move in. There will be a time out space for anyone who needs a break.

What’s the cost?

Fee: £20 plus eventbrite ticket fee (refunds up to 1 week prior to event)

Any questions? Contact us at distilledwriterscollectiveuk@gmail.com

About the workshop facilitators:

Mandy Gordon is a London-based movement director, qualified intimacy coordinator, choreographer, and actor coach. Her cross-disciplinary work spans theatre, film, television, animation, and games, supporting writers and directors to bring their ideas to life, translating narrative and character into embodied, emotionally precise physical storytelling. Mandy is particularly passionate about projects that address representation, politics, and the climate crisis—work that inspires, challenges, and meaningfully engages audiences. She trained at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Brunel University, Rambert and The London Contemporary Dance School. @mandygordon_movement

Sophie Trott is a theatre maker, actor, writer, and educator. Having trained at Ecole Philippe Gaulier, her first steps into acting were through physical theatre, improvisation and devising processes. She's participated in devising and collaborative projects as an actor and as a director and writer. As an actor, she's worked at the National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe, extensively for Northern Stage with their ensemble, The Orange Tree, Camden People's Theatre, and many touring productions, as well as appearing in TV and film. With her writing partner, Cara Jennings, she's written for Sky Arts, BBC, and developed many projects for independent production companies. Works together include Hendrix and Handel (Sky Arts), The Littlest Boho (Raindance award winner), and their London and touring production The Astonishing Adventures of Kitty and Peg, which they also appeared in. Devising projects as a writer, director and facilitator have been with LSE department of Economic History, and with MA acting students at Drama Studio London. Devising and improvisation informs all of Sophie's practice. Her creative work is playful and is often centred around women and historical research. @trottandjennings

About The Distilled Writers Collective

We’re a group of eight women playwrights aged 50+, who have been sharing and celebrating work from a diverse range of voices and lived experience. We formed just over a year ago and since then have produced two sold-out shows of short plays on the theme of change. The Distilled Collective are: Louise Breckon-Richards. Suzette Coon. Catherine Harvey. Rosemary Hill. Roli Okorodudu. Sarah Olley. Lydia Parker. Sian Rowland. Find us on Insta: distilled_writerscollective