Rosemary McGowan

Rosie is a freelance theatre practitioner, facilitator and educator, working in numerous schools and running projects both in Singapore and in London. Rosie has been creating theatre with students for over 10 years, using theatre as a tool for expression and dialogue. She is currently on the SDEA Committee and the Head of Programming for Celebrate Drama 2012.

E-Interview with Rosie

1. How many years have you been a member with SDEA?

Officially, 3 years (i think!) At least, that's when I started paying membership fees!

2. What is your background in Drama Education?

I guess I specialise in Applied Theatre, doing theatre with different groups in non-theatrical settings. I love working with teenagers, and using drama to explore themes that interest them, and provoke debate and discussion. I did a Masters in Applied Theatre in Central School of Speech and Drama and am currently doing a Masters in Counselling, and would like to explore psychodrama, drama therapy, and using drama as a therapeutic tool in greater detail in the future.

3. Could you describe the group of people you work with?

I work with people from all over the place, there's no one specific group. I have worked with teenagers in private schools, independent schools, government schools; youth theatres; youth who have been considered "at risk"; transgendered young people. All sorts! I've also done a little bit of work with elderly people and I've taught primary schoolers and kindergarten kids! I focus a lot more on teenagers now though.

4. How do you overcome the difficulties/challenges you face in your work?

I talk to other people, that's one of the reasons I joined SDEA, so I could have a pool of people whose minds I can pick!

Usually I find that my students/participants help me overcome challenges in some way or other, talking to them about their lives and interests and listening to their stories or jokes usually brightens up my moments of frustration.

5. How do you want to further yourself?

Well, I'm doing my Counselling Masters, I'm also about to take a 4 day Art Therapy course, I would like to go on some psychodrama and drama therapy courses, I usually also see what SDEA has to offer and try and make it to those courses! I basically aim to learn in as many different ways as I can about all sorts of things! I constantly learn things from the people I work with, be it teachers, students, practitioners, or participants. Everyone has their own styles of working so I like to learn from all!

Rosemary McGowan - CV

Rosie did both her BA and MA in theatre, graduating in 2006 with an MA from London’s Central School of Speech and Drama. She has been a freelance theatre practitioner, facilitator and educator, working in schools and running projects both in Singapore and London since she was 17. Currently freelancing in Singapore, Rosie has taught in numerous schools, including teaching in-curriculum drama in Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. She is an adjunct lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic, lecturing and developing course material on the Applied Drama and Psychology Diploma.

Rosie was the Associate Artistic Director of Buds Theatre from 2006 to June 2010; co-running the weekly Buds Youth Theatre sessions; co-deciding Buds Theatre Company programme line-ups; and co-creating and running classes for Buds Playhouse. At the end of 2010, she started Theatre:Connect with Hannah Grant (UK), an international, cross-cultural youth theatre that creates relevant and issue-based work with, by and for young people. Their first project My Identity:My Area looked at the concept of identity in London and Singapore. Upcoming projects include Self:Harm (June 2012) and The Horizons Project for the London 2012 Olympic Games. More information is available at http://theatreconnect.com

As a theatre practitioner, Rosie has acted in, directed and produced a range of productions including Rumors and The House of Bernarda Alba (Methodist Girls Secondary School) Tape and The See Saw Tree (Buds Youth Theatre); Death and Dancing, The Importance of Being Earnest, The Shagaround and Colder Than Here (Buds Theatre Company); and in March 2012, Sonnets for An Old Century (Skinned Knee Productions).

As an Applied Theatre Practitioner, Rosie mainly works with teenagers using theatre to explore potentially difficult and sensitive youth-related themes and issues. Recognising a growth in her role as a listener and advisor, she began a Masters in Counselling (Monash University) in 2011 and combines both her knowledge of theatre and counselling throughout her work.

Rosie has been a proud (official!) member of SDEA since 2009 and became a committee member in 2011. Having volunteered in Celebrate Dramas 2007-2009, she took a running jump this year and plunged head first into Head of Programming for Celebrate Drama! 2012 - Connecting Communities through YOUth.