The programme stops but the journey continues

This programme is coming to a close and what a journey it has been!

I began this course thinking that I would develop a few skills and study a topic from my professional practice but I had no idea how much reflection would really be involved. I have mentioned many times before that I was incredibly unfamiliar with the active process of reflection, and I barely used this skill in my everyday life; however, this skill has blossomed through the extensive use of blogs, discussion groups and the portfolios that I have created over the past 15 months. As the finish line is in sight, I have begun to reflect on my journey so far with reviewing what I have learnt and where I have been challenged.

What were your expectations/experiences of the course?

The first module challenged me to reflect on some past experiences when I learnt something new, some of which I had barely given a second thought at the time but then showed potential as a learning area during reflection. This term taught me more about my personality type, my skills and knowledge, my learning preferences and habits, and the practitioner that I am and want to become. This was truly significant to my professional practice because it encouraged me to open up my career path to analyse the steps that I have taken that have brought me to where I am today.

The second module inspired me to focus on one area of my professional practice, something with which I shared a deep and meaningful connection. I chose to investigate theatre criticism because of the mysterious aura that I feel emanates from this field, but even though I was inexperienced with this side of the industry, it has always created a spark of interest that compelled me to investigate and learn more about its connections with my professional practice.

The third module revealed key areas for personal and professional development, and it challenged me to think outside the box for alternative means of communication. This term has mainly focused on the inquiry, which has been the greatest learning journey for me and has strong relations to both of the previous 2 modules:

Module 1 - I have learnt a great deal about myself just from conducting the inquiry, which I can see now is just another step on my career path and personal development; it has encouraged me to reflect on my learning journey, what skills I possess or lack, and how I can develop my them and grow as an individual.

Module 2 - The investigative element of the inquiry challenged me to study an unfamiliar area; I have learnt about the intricacies of theatre criticism and how I can use this knowledge as a professional practitioner to advance my career in the field of musical theatre production.

The final countdown begins...

The last Skype discussion group with my course peers took place on Monday this week, which focused on 'the ways ideas can be communicated'. We all had a chance to talk about our professional artefact and the reasons for our choices of expression and communication - it was encouraging to hear about everyone else's ideas and inspired me to think more 'out of the box' with my creation. Also this week, I had my final one-to-one chat with my course supervisor, which was a great opportunity to ask any burning questions before the final submission. I made lots of notes during both sessions, which acted like a kind of brain storming session for me, and I found it incredibly reassuring to take part in these sessions in the last couple of weeks; I am now filled with creativity to build and improve my portfolio. 

This has reinforced my belief in the importance of discussion and how it can help the creative mind to work. This kind of interaction will remain as an valuable tool throughout my professional career and, when paired with writing blogs, I will feel creatively charged! 

Blogs are there for you to read YOURSELF as well as others!

These blogs have not invited many responses from my peers but that's okay... I have really found the exercise of writing in this way as a creative expression and a way to unload the thoughts piling up in my head. I have also taken the time to look back at my own posts every so often to remind myself of how I was feeling or what I experienced. I have mentioned many times before that these blogs have taken me some getting used to, and the process of writing like this is a skill in itself; I am dedicated to continue with this form of writing through my professional career and it will be one of the greatest tools/skills that I can take away and apply to any situation.

The programme may be finishing but the journey will certainly continue!

This year has been tough on many of us, so I am feeling ready for the next stage of my journey and looking forward to a fresh start in the new year. I an grateful for everything that I have learnt from this programme and I am already planning my goals for 2021 both at work and at home!

Word generation and analysis

The process of writing can sometimes be a struggle for me; occasionally, I find it difficult to organise my thoughts and generate content, which is why I have found the blogs incredibly helpful. 

Don't think, just write!

Just like the workshop that we had last month, I will task myself with just writing about a topic continuously to see what words appear on the page. I try not to think too much and just to see what words come to mind, then afterwards, go back and pick out the best bits; at one time I managed to have roughly 9000 words in the document that has now been condensed down to below the 6050 threshold. 

Over the past few weeks, I have knuckled down every day to compose the Research Report for my inquiry portfolio. It has been a strenuous and exhilarating process, and last weekend I submitted the first draft for formative feedback. It feels great. But with 3 weeks to go, I know that I can still make improvements to produce the highest quality piece of writing I can.

Talk, discuss, listen

This week, we had a Skype session about analysis and the synthesis of information, which I found the most challenging part of the Research Report. The technique of writing without thinking has been particularly helpful for this part, and the Skype sessions have been a wonderful addition; it is always reassuring to speak or listen to others that are going through a similar process and finding the same difficulties as you. Although I didn't have. chance to speak, just listening to the others and their ideas or methods was really enlightening. From this week, I have taken away some great points to help with the analysis process:

• Look at the participants backgrounds, not just their point of view.
• Data that isn't mentioned is just as important at the data that is.
• Link the ethical considerations to your professional practice.
• Emerging themes are products of the analysis, not just the preconceived ideas and thoughts.
• Themes can be the participants' feeling and emotions as well as the topics they discuss.

As I wait for my feedback, I am finishing off the Professional Artefact, which has been my preferred piece of work and so much fun to create.

Writing is an art form

Writing is a form of expression. It enables the creator to unleash inner thoughts, motives and ideas.

Creating a piece of writing is much like creating a piece for the stage; it commences with the inception of a concept and allows your imagination runs wild... 

I have recently read (and experienced) that writing should allow the mind to 'explore more freely since we do not run the risk of losing our previous thoughts.' Miller (1979) cited from Moon (2006 p.87). I have found this to be inherently true, and that writing opens up the mind and can help to untangle the web of thoughts that are trying to reach the surface.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a Skype session with guest speaker Peter Thomas, who really helped and gave wonderful advice on the process of writing. During the workshop, he tasked us with writing for 5 minutes about a topic without stopping, and then afterwards to go back and pick out words or sentences that have power and meaning. It really helped to generate words on the page and I have applied this to my own writing for this project, which I have seen the benefit.

Links between the ideas slowly begin to appear, and a structure starts to form; it looks and feels great - like something has been achieved! Then substance is added to the piece and this is really where the mind can explode, but when the end of a section is reached, it's difficult to know how to move on to the next part...

Finding the transitions by ironing out the creases is usually my favourite component of a project. It brings a sense of fluidity to the piece; it may take a bit of time rearranging before a seamless flow is felt from start to finish.

Then comes the refining stage, where you through it again and again, and again... and again, until you feel that you just can't bear to look at it anymore. But it needs it - it needs to be refreshed. Little points here and there that can be touched up. It can always be improved.

What I have always told myself is that art is subjective and it's never going to be 'perfect'. What might seem perfect to you, will not be quite right to others, and even hated by some. It is always based on opinion... this is especially evident in a review of a theatre production. So, as long as the meaning and content of the piece is there, it should be worthy of appreciation - just like writing... therefore, I shouldn't get so obsessed with perfecting it.

How do you perceive writing?

Feel free to comment below

The process of analysis

Earlier this week, I carried out the last interview of this investigation, so I can now say that my data gathering is finally complete! This has been such a relief to me because I have found that conducting a project within a limited time adds an increased level of pressure, especially when the work is dependent on the input and cooperation from others. I can now knuckle-down, focus on the analysis and begin to create my portfolio!

So what is my process of analysis?

During Module 2 whilst I was planning this project, I stated that 'I will be conducting a comparative structure using content analysis', which I will begin to carry out next. I also used the supportive reference below from Doing Your Research Project: A Guide for First-time Researchers written by Bell and Waters (2018). 

‘...content analysis could develop ‘emergent coding’, with the categories being formulated as the sources are explored, or there can be a priori coding based upon previous reading and the generation of theoretical ideas.’ Bell and Waters (2018 p.152).

I believe this approach is ideal for this project, and in order to adapt these analytical coding techniques, I have established a colour chart relating to 4 areas of theatre criticism that have been derived from the interview questions and the 3 pieces of literature that I have selected to review.

1. Provision - Use, Purpose, Benefits, Detriment, Damage
2. Communication - Discourse, Content, Length, Star Rating
3. Trust - Fairness, Agenda, Bias, Diversity, Affiliates, Paid
4. Development - Internet, Social Media, Length, Diversity

Over the past few weeks, I have transcribed all the interviews to provide a visual script for analysis, and as painful as this activity was, it has been a very useful task to refresh my memory. It has also enabled me to sift through the data, which initiated the analysis process as I have already become increasingly aware of additional keys themes that have emerged.

These thematic categories will be the main focus of the analysis process when reading through the transcriptions and through the selected literature. This is the part of the investigation that I have been most excited for; I am certain that I will find correlations between these documents and my own experience and preconceived ideas, but it will be even more interesting to find opposing arguments that will be great to compare and write about. 

Visual aids

My preferred working environment and learning technique often focuses on the visual elements of a task, and this is no exception. Once I have located all the references from the different sources, I will be using a table chart, a diagram and mapping in order to link these thematic categories. This will provide a strong basis and visual aid for writing up the data analysis report.

What are your preferred processes of analysis?

Please feel free to comment below and tell me about yours.

How can interviews help my practice?

From the start of this programme, we have been consistently encouraged and reminded to reflect on experiences and to find ways to learn from them. During Module 1, we were asked to describe 3 separate learning areas that have been significant to our practice and what we learned from each situation. Since planning and conducting this project, these areas have been highlighted again especially during the reflective sessions following the interviews, which have each been an eminent experience for my leaning journey whereby I have realised that these key areas can be exploited for professional development.

Planning and time management

Firstly, time management is a skill that I have focused on before, and planning this project over a 12-week term introduced elements, such as establishing the research framework, considering ethics and procedures, and using a Gantt chart. I believe that these elements will prove useful when progressing through my career as a Company Manager as I plan rehearsals, or as a General Manager whilst organising workshops, or even when producing an entire musical if I manage to make it as a producer.

Networks and affiliations

The process of reaching out to various practitioners throughout the industry has enhanced my professional network. The very simple act of reaching out to people for a project, who may be interested and willing to take part in, has provided new opportunities for establishing relationships with potential associates. I am hopeful that these affiliations will grow over time and, as I discussed in the first module, I think that certain relationships can be beneficial to my career by creating possibilities that may not be available if the relationship did not exist; therefore, these interviews have instigated new connections, which may prove to advance my career in the future, however, I must learn to maintain them first.

Ethics and diplomacy

As I said in my previous blog, I have become much more aware of ethics; I now understand how my words and actions can be perceived by others, the implications of those actions and what can be done to mitigate the consequences. In Module 1, I disclosed an occasion where my choices of words had been perceived badly and I caused upset amongst some of the cast members of the show that I was working on; I believe that this a combination of nerves whilst speaking in front of a group and not thinking before I spoke... So, when I listened back to the recordings of the interviews, I can immediately tell that I sound nervous and I am rushing to speak before I have even thought properly - in other words, my mouth works much faster than my brain! Therefore, these interviews have revealed a significant area that I can work on, which will improve my disposition and allow a more confident and diplomatic personality to develop; I am now compelled to stop and think before I ask or answer a question, and to speak slowly with a greater level of assertiveness. If I can improve this new quality of speech, I am sure that it will work in my favour when meeting new professionals in the industry that will help to expand my network, being heard and noticed in company meetings, interviewing for new jobs and, when I manage to climb the ladder, interviewing potential new team members.

Literature review and connectivism

Conducting this research project has involved a great deal of reading, whether this has been online or in books, journal, news articles, etc. So, carrying out a literature review has really helped to elaborate my inquiry topic, which was seemingly unfamiliar at the beginning, and it has provided a brilliant visual aid especially when choosing my inquiry and interview questions. However, taking this topic to the internet has expanded my knowledge even further as I became more acquainted with connectivism. This method of research has introduced a tool that I can use when I learning anything new in my career, for example if I chose to redirect my career again in the future... could this be the start of that already and I am already on my way to becoming a theatre critic?

Reflection

I believe that the most useful skill that I have cultivated from this inquiry is reflection. This was never an aspect of my learning process that I was particularly aware of, or that I would actively choose to do; it was more of a passive reaction if something significant went wrong. I have slowly started to enjoy writing these blogs (must admit it was difficult at the start), but it has grown on me and I can see their true potential. From just reflecting after these interviews, I am much more adapt at breaking down an experience, then concluding what I have found, i.e. the areas that need improvement or a different method, as well as the areas that went well and can be repeated or developed further. After concluding, the planning stage for the next interview has become so much easier! (You may notice this is basically Honey and Mumford's Learning Cycle, which was significant in Module 1). Although, this method of reflection doesn't stop here... This reflective session shows how each module of this programme plays a significant role in the development of my professional practice and there is always an learning area to develop or exploit. Reflection is a skill that will help me learn from all professional experiences and prove incredibly useful as I venture through my career on whichever path that I choose.

What learning areas have stood out for you?

The ethics of an interview

This week, I conducted 3 out of the (now) 6 interviews, and I am becoming more confident with each one. As I mentioned in my last blog, I believed that experience and preparation would help - and I was right! I still have a long way to go, so I still wouldn't call myself 'experienced'.

What were my ethical considerations? Tell me yours too...

As I reflected on these interviews, I can see how ethics play more of a role than I originally realised, and I took part in an online discussion on Tuesday where the focus was on the ethics of the interview process, which looked at the many considerations when planning an interview - some that I did do, some that I didn't do, and some that I did without knowing.

Considering ethics during a requisition...

Firstly, there is the process of asking people to take part; I reached out to many different people (friends, colleagues, associates, and strangers) but I always considered how my actions and words may affect them and how they may feel when the request came in; would they would feel pressured to participate? I tried to understand their personal, cultural and professional circumstances before reaching out and what factors might influence their decision to accept, reject or ignore my request. People can lead busy lives where they may not have time, they might not be interested in the inquiry topic, or they might feel that it isn't appropriate to be taking part. Particularly during this unprecedented time, our feelings and self-esteem can be greatly diminished and a project like this might exacerbate their mental health. That is why it is important to recognise my own privilege and how this may differ from other people, especially at a time like this, so I can learn to understand their situation and use appropriate ethical procedures when interacting with them.

Recognising privilege

Recognising one's own privilege was mentioned in the group discussion this week but it was also touched on by the participants during the interviews. It was interesting to discover how theatre critics might be surviving financially in this current economic climate, and it seems that some are more privileged than others, for example there are very few arts journalists who are contracted to a publication, which would be their primary source of income; a lot of writers are freelance workers and will supplement their writing with other forms of work. This shows there is an imbalance in the industry but shouldn't diminish the work of the freelancers. This realisation encouraged me to look at my own privilege and understand that I am lucky to be in a secure job and receiving my usual salary, so it would not be ethical to flaunt this in anyway and I should endeavour to be cautious and to show empathy when speaking to other industry workers in case they are struggling. To some degree, I was already taking this into consideration when reaching out to participants, which can be seen through the ethical procedures that I followed. 

Ethical procedures

For each case, I chose to use a diplomatic approach catered to that individual to help alleviate any pressure of taking part - this was conducted through the method of reaching out (usually email), and the discourse that I chose, as well as refraining from any repeated contact if they didn't reply. Additionally, for the first interview, I offered to use Skype in order to conduct the interview and the participant replied with their telephone number, which I interpreted this as their way of saying 'no' to Skype and a telephone interview would be their preferred means of contact; therefore, I accepted this and carried out the interview over the telephone. As this was my first interview, it actually provided an easy introduction to the interviews and I believe that I didn't feel as under pressure in comparison to speaking face-to-face or over Skype, and in this case, it proved beneficial to my own learning and experience.

I continued the method of diplomatic speech in the discourse I used in the interviews, ensuring that I didn't push any questions that a participant seemed unwilling to answer. This procedure was derived from the consideration that I wanted to establish a comfortable environment for each participant. Additionally, I had initially stated that the interviews would last 30-45 minutes each but, so far, all 3 interviews have reached an hour. I can see that it is essential to ask the participants (at the 30 and 45-minute mark) if they are willing to carry on, or if they needed/wanted to stop for any reason. This ethical procedure provided an opportunity that they may not have had the confidence or moment to say.

Ethics came into practice when choosing the questions for each participant and I was mindful that I didn't ask any sensitive questions that might make the participant uncomfortable, for example I have an interview with a performer next week and they asked if any other reviews or questions would be about about specific times in their career. This is important to consider as the participant's mental health during the interview is one of the most important areas to protect; it is crucial not to put the participant under any sort of stress.

I am also aware of how questions can show bias or subtly lead the participant to answer in a particular way. I tried to ask questions that invited an open response and not to specifically mention certain organisations or emotions when referring to the topic; I wanted them to feel that they could answer truthfully with no preconceived ideas of what I wanted them to say. Of course, things change in the moment and I occasionally found myself asking direct questions, such as "Do you feel..." or "Have you ever...", which usually prompts a 'yes' or a 'no' response. There were also times where I wanted to respond to the participant to show my interest and encourage them to talk more, which sometimes revealed my own opinions and feelings towards the subject. I believe that I should practice different responses that will avoid doing this in future.

Interviews and questions have another pitfall, which is influence. This is quite significant to this inquiry topic, especially as just talking about reviews can change the way theatregoers, in particular, will perceive them. I wanted to avoid any sort of bias from my questions or the reviews that I showed them, but it is a difficult process to control; I tried to maintain a level of equality throughout my questions that was open to both sides of every argument/question that I asked. I asked questions such as "Do you think some sources of reviews can be more of less trustworthy than others?" and "What are your usual processes for deciding which sources of reviews to read as opposed to others that might be available?"I am confident that this sufficient to remove any sort of influence from the questions... however, I should aim to stop with responses such as "I know what you mean" or "I agree".

How can ethics of an interview help me in practice?

This is probably the longest blog that i have written, and there is much more to discuss about ethics. It is an endlessly fascinating subject that I am learning more an more about each time that I reflect, but how can all of this help me in my practice? Well, I will be blogging about this next week...

Interviewing is a skill

This week, I have carried out the first interview of the project; it is definitely an experience that I can reflect on and learn from! My self esteem can sometimes let me down at focused interactions like this and I feel under pressure to perform well, 'look' good and be able to think on the spot. I am hoping that over the course of this project (with at least 5 more interviews to do) it will feel more natural as I become more experienced.

Interviewing (as well as being interviewed) is a skill

So how did this one go? I was, of course, very nervous to begin with but we eased into it with some general questions about each other and other professions, which really helped to break the ice. As the questions started to flow and the interview was underway, I often felt pressured to make a snap decision to either respond with my own thoughts or to move onto a new question. I admit that I did take the former a few times (except when my mind went blank and I couldn't think of anything to say), which, at times, made it seem more like a discussion than an interview... I am wondering if this could have affected the participant and the answers that they then decided to give, either by:

1. Causing them to hold back on some of their answers if they felt pressured to match their opinions to mine;
2. or, it may have provided a more comfortable environment and allowed them to feel at ease, which may have encouraged them to deliver more information.

I believe that for the next few interviews (and further into my career) I can find a medium ground to my responses, so I don't reveal my own opinions but I still manage show empathy; I am hopeful that this is a tactic that I will learn to master over time.

Preparation is key

Another moment where I struggled to think on my feet (that I will aim to be more prepared with next time), is learning to listen to their answers whilst deciding which question to ask next; I found that this method of multitasking is crucial to a seamless interview. I could have just asked each question in the order on the list but this would may have been quite jarring, and would inevitably remove any possibility of asking new questions in relation to their answers. Again, this is a skill will develop with experience and I think if I studied the questions more and learnt to retain them better, I would be able to ask more freely off the top of my head rather than searching for the next one on the page in front of me.

What did I find out?

I thought the interview went well and I gathered a lot of interesting data to analyse; some very surprising responses, some expected answers and some moments of realisation where relations can be made and questions that I hadn't even asked were answered; these were truly remarkable moments where I began to realise some points I didn't know that I already knew, or that I didn't know that I wanted to find out. It will be incredibly interesting to triangulate these areas with the rest of the interviews, literature and my own preconceived thoughts.

How many is too many questions?

Throughout the interview, I asked a lot of questions but I didn't actually make it through all that I had written down... so, did I prepare too many questions? For the purposes of this project, I don't think that I did; in this respect, I feel that I couldn't have been over-prepared as there will always be more questions that arise as a result of a project and as I progress through my career. So, it's not always about asking the questions to find out the answers - I have discussed this on my last blog - questions can have many different purposes!

Experience, Reviewing, Concluding, Planning

Overall, it was a fantastic experience; we spoke for over an hour (I had originally planned for 30-45 minutes), so we were already over the allotted time. In hindsight, I realise that I should have checked in with them at 30 and 45 minutes in to make sure they were happy to carry on; they may have felt obliged to stay and didn't feel confident to ask to stop. These ethical considerations will be useful when planning for the next 2 interviews this week, and I can honestly say that, after taking this time to reflect, I feel much more confident and prepared!

How did your first interviews compare with the ones later in the project?

Feel free to comment below and share your experiences...

What is the point of a question?

Earlier this week, I participated in the first BAPP Discussion Group of the new term, which was fantastic; I came away feeling psyched and ready for the last module. There was a mix of students from all modules, which made me feel a little apprehensive to begin with and I thought maybe I would just slip into the background and take a passive, listening role in the group. Once we had introduced ourselves, however, I was asked to start off the discussion with my thoughts about the topi of 'questions'. With almost 20 others there waiting to hear me speak, my heart started to race; I am quite nervous when talking to a group but I was forced to face a fear - it was great!

Do one thing every day that scares you

The way we use questions can have profound effects on personal and professional development, for example, during my research for Module 1, I came across a question that has shaped my whole inquiry. I found it in a book called Theatre Criticism by Irving Wardle (1992).

‘How can critics claim to know best when they cannot agree among themselves?’ 

When I began Module 2 and started searching for 'little wonders' to begin planning for the professional inquiry, I thought back to this question that I found in Module 1. This question didn't necessarily invite a definitive answer but it was so inspiring that it rippled into more and more questions, which became the basis for this inquiry.

• Why are audience members influenced by reviews?
• Why do reviews have much of an impact on ticket sales?
• What types of demographics tend to read reviews and from what sources?
• How can we trust the words of a critic?
• How are critics/reviews beneficial to the theatre industry?
• How has the rise of the internet affected the review system?
• Do we really need theatre critics? 

Over the past couple of weeks, I have used these questions as a basis to establish questions for the interviews, but what did I actually want to achieve from asking any of these questions? 

What is the point of a question?

I think the most obvious 'answer to that question is 'to discover something new', but that's not the only plausible answer to that question. We don't always ask questions for the purpose of knowing the answer. Questions can appear in many forms each with the intention to achieve something different, such as:

1. They are powerful tools for reflection to look back to learn from and understand a situation.
2. They can challenge our way of thinking, which encourages to process of ethical considerations.
3. They can be used for developing conversation by showing interest and building relationships.
4. They may be asked in order to help others, to inhibit their own questions and understanding.
5. They may just lead to further questions that have any of the above intentions.

Overall, the topic of 'questions' has really helped me realise their importance; the wording of a question is crucial to the intention or answer that is given. For the interviews, I want to ask each participant similar open questions that differ slightly depending on their field of practice or position within the industry. I believe that this will provide a structured system, which will highlight key areas that can be easily analysed yet still inviting their own narrative.

How did you develop your interview/focus group questions?
What questions have you been asking yourself during this programme?
What other intentions do you have for asking questions?

Please feel free to comment below.

Interviews, ethics and the fear of rejecting

Stepping into week two of the third and final module, I feel that I have set the wheels of this inquiry in motion. Over the last week has been preparation for interviews questions, collating the interviews that I want to discuss and reaching out to many possible participants. Although, that's not how I planned it and it didn't start that way last Monday...

Learning from my mistakes

When planning this inquiry, I thought 5 interviews will provide enough data to work with in order to produce a portfolio at the end, and I had 5 individuals that I have carefully selected to ask. For some reason, I thought all 5 would be quick to respond and be as enthusiastic as I am about taking part. How wrong I was. As I checked my email inbox each day last week, I became increasingly disappointed not to see any replies. How could this be? Well, some people (mainly me) can be incredibly focused on their own busy lives without appreciating that other people have their own commitments and priorities too.

If in doubt... ask!

Last Thursday, I has a wonderful chat with my supervisor, Helen, and I spoke about my concerns and the difficulty that I have had with managing to secure anyone for an interview and I asked what I could do. She explicitly responded that I should be reaching out to about double the amount of people that I wish to interview, then I would more likely to actually secure the 5 interviews that I need. After first agreeing that this would be a much better course of action, I was faced with an ethical dilemma that I feel that I should address.

The fear of  rejecting

I realised that I was concerned with asking too many people and receiving a positive response from everyone; I was worried that I would then have to reject half of them in order to avoid being overwhelmed with work and data. Could this be the reason why I initially planned to only ask the set amount of 5? It makes sense - why should I waste someone's time to email back and forth a few times, to eventually not allow them from participating. How would I know if this would affect them? Or, if I followed through with every interview, I would be left with enormous amounts of data that I couldn't possibly analyse completely, and would inevitably discard half of it. Is that unethical to then waste even more of the participants' time (and mine) to gather data when I know that I couldn't possibly use it all? Maybe it doesn't matter, and those that were happy to participate wouldn't mind whether or not I used the data at all; they might just be happy to take part. I guess, I may never know the answer to that. 

But what are the repercussions? 

There is, however, the risk of people feeling hurt or annoyed by this, and perhaps I feared what the consequences might be from asking theatre professionals and ruining potential or existing affiliations. This concept reverts the situation back to myself. Am I selfish for thinking this way, that I chose to act in a way that was to protect my dignity and my career? Many people will agree with this but many others will actively advocate this style of thinking. How can I progress in this career if I am not thinking about the consequences of my actions, even if it seems slightly selfish? Perhaps a happy medium would suffice.

How have I moved forward?

Over the weekend, I decided that it would be best to listen to my supervisor (not much of a surprise there) and reach out to a few more. So far, it has been a success and I have had some more responses; I will hopefully be booking some interviews for later in the week!

What dilemmas have you faced that relate to the preparation of the interviews?

New challenges - practising reflection

After taking the summer off from my studies and blogging (I have still been working full time), I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the term ahead. The trouble with having such a long break is that I feel like I have lost a lot of momentum; I have not blogged in 4 and a half months and it is truly showing in my flow and I have a slightly scrambled thought process. I can clearly see now that reflection (whether that involves taking some time alone to think/blog or talking to my friends and peers) is an activity just like any other - it needs to be practised.

Reflection needs practice!

I have mentioned in previous blogs that I, like many others, have found a huge benefit from reflection and, in particular, blogging. This technique of documenting my thoughts really helps to achieve a tidy mind - I imagine it like brushing out matted hair, where each hair represents a different motive or idea. Only then I can start to generate new ideas, ask clear questions, address my worries and form a concrete strategies in order to achieve my goals. It's true because I have experienced it over the last two modules. So, as I embark on this inquiry over the next few weeks, I will be focusing on reestablishing my reflective skills through this blog. This will not only become a blog for my studies but a place to share my personal journey through this inquiry and how this will aid my professional development centred around my practice; this will form my reflective, learning journal.

What advice can you offer for writing a journal?

The benefit of a journal, however, does not stop with the process of writing... This weekend I will be taking the time to reread all of my previous work and blog posts from the beginning of module 1 through to the end of module 2. Refreshing my memory of my old thoughts should provide additional guidance when taking on this inquiry. It will allow me to reconnect with my journey so far and realign the possible pathways that I have yet to come. 

Reread, refresh, reconnect and reflect

Rereading is just what we do during the term - to go back over what we have already written so we know where to go next - so why not apply this tool to on a bigger scale at a new beginning? Maybe beginning is the wrong word to use... I am not 'starting again'; I am merely continuing from where I left off on May 1st. Nevertheless, now is a perfect time to reflect, so looking back is what I need to do and soon I will regain my flow and momentum. 

As I take a step forward into the term ahead, I will know where I currently stand and my expectations of the next few months.

Time for some critical reflection

As Module 2 is coming to a close, I start to look back over my time on this course. I can say with confidence that I have already learnt a lot. I have been introduced to many different learning techniques that are helping me understand the practitioner that I want to be. I have found that the Critical Reflection essay from the second module has really helped me evaluate my learning development, which is a technique that I will take forward into my professional career.

How has writing a blog helped you?

Over the last few months, I have been tasked with writing this blog, which challenges my usual learning and reflecting habits. It provides some alone time, which is good - even at a time like this. I have used this time to express my thoughts into words (something I am REALLY not used to); at first it was strange and difficult, but I can truly see the benefit of it now. As someone never really 'with the words' it gives me chance to practice writing and putting my thoughts down on paper, to which I have actually seen an improvement in my formal written work. It is also nice for it to be open for response and feedback that we don't get from our own thoughts, and sometimes, I have found myself deep in thought, especially over the past few weeks.

Is lockdown a time for reflection?

Lockdown is affecting us all in different ways and it is taking a particular toll on our mental health. However, there are some positives that can come out of this situation; as busy as I have been with work, this course, and home renovations, I have been given a lot more time at home and with my partner. I am learning to appreciate the smaller things and taking advantage of the support and time that I have at home. So, I am thinking positive and aiming high for the next few months that will lead into the third and final module!

Stay positive and aim high!

As part of the inquiry, I plan to write a learning journal in the form of another blog with the main aim to benefit of the project. I am much more confident when writing these posts, so perhaps I will continue with this valuable method of reflection into my career. And now, as I reflect on that (!), it realise that it makes good sense. So even if failure of this course is an option (I hope not), I will still be able to take away the lessons that I have learnt and the tools that I have acquired.

I am grateful for this entire learning opportunity - whatever it brings!

Organisational code of practice

Last week I successfully shared the draft of my portfolio with my supervisor. It took hours to get it to a satisfactory standard, but it has been a huge relief to send it off for feedback.

Throughout the inquiry proposal, I have talked heavily about the topic of ethics and how questions arise during the preparation of research in the form of ethical considerations; this will come as no surprise to those of you who are studying the same course as me. I discussed ethics in a blog last year during ACI3611, however, this module focuses on the ethical procedures too. In my proposal essay I state:

'From conducting this inquiry proposal, I have acknowledged that ethics should always be at the forefront of any professional activity.'

This has highlighted that each practice and profession make a range of considerations, some with different levels of importance, and all can lead to varying methods of ethical procedures - even in the same field.

So how does this appear whilst comparing organisations or productions?

My organisation is primarily based in an office and follows a code of practice to other similar offices; we have a HR department that deals with sensitive and confidential information, or anything that engages ethics, which dictates the way certain situations are treated. In my experience, this is a fairly standard practice, however, my professional practice stretches further than those contained within the office building, where strong and regular interactions with artists, creatives and affiliated companies or partners are concerned. These relationships are not necessarily moderated but they do need maintaining for the benefit of the organisation and business.

I have noted that artists and industry workers are usually protected by the performers and creative practitioners union, Equity (depending on the contract), and more specifically there is the SOLT/BECTU agreement, which controls most of the ethical topics that arise in West End theatres.

The considerations that we are left with in the theatre industry can be related to casting, equality, diversity, diplomacy, fraternisation, pay and expense, health and safety, audience etiquette, theatre accessibility, animal and child welfare, etc. Most of these areas usually arise as a result from an action or decision made by either production or artist that has a direct affect on the other. This is where ethics comes in; we either have to preempt unethical situations from occurring or deal with them if they do.

What area of your practice do you feel requires the most amount of ethical considerations?

The procedures we follow must follow current legislation and any contractual agreements, but also should reflect well on organisation and production. Mistreating of artists, employees or professional relationships could be detrimental to a business, which I believe this to be one of the main reasons that 'bad names' are made in the industry. Therefore, I would argue the point that ethical considerations should always be at the forefront of any professional activity.

How do I know what I know?

Knowledge is a complicated subject. Every statement that we make, there can always be the question of ' but how do you know that?'

Throughout this module I am constantly referring to areas that I claim to know about and it is difficult to explain how or why. Tacit Knowledge was mentioned in Module 1, which is a theory that explains that we can claim to know something without being to able or required explain it using words - similar to a gut-feeling. This has inspired me to further investigate the study of Epistemology.

There is a section in the module handbook that has got me thinking and has actually really helped while assembling this proposal. It reads:

What do we mean by research?
Like you, many students carry out small research projects as a part of their degrees. The professional inquiry approach to practitioner research introduces a process of determining knowledge that is valuable to individual learners and their professional networks. The process of designing the inquiry in ACI3622 and carrying it our in ACI3633 are there the learning happens. This is not about finding an answer at the end, it is about reflecting on what the experience of planning and doing the inquiry has taught you personal and professionally.

Research is an exploration of:

• What you recognise you know.
• What you recognise you don't know (this is the least important of the four because it will change).
• What you did not recognise you don't know (often when you feel the most uncomfortable, which is why discomfort can be a good sign).
• What you do not recognise you know (which has most to do with the activity of ACI3611 area of learning, where you were asked to look more closely at your experiences and challenge yourself to recognise and articulate your prior learning and your Professional Practice).

These four philosophical exploration points have been highly useful throughout the second module, and challenged the way that I view the industry as a whole. They question the very nature of my professional practice and the experiences (or lack of experience) that I have had.

Conducting the literature review, in particular, is helping to uncover areas that I had failed to recognise that I already know, which I had taken for granted. It is also helping me to develop an understanding of the areas that I had failed to recognise that I don't know. This is giving me more of a scope toward my professional inquiry (potentially too much for 2500 words) and has actually convinced me to change the focus of the inquiry slightly.

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the reading, but I must persevere with the project and remind myself that it is useful for this exciting project.

My first producer credit

Yesterday, I achieved my very own producer credit... and I loved it!

I mentioned earlier on in the year that I was running the marathon this year, and as part of the fundraising for my charity, I was organising a concert to help raise money. So, for the last few weeks I have been working hard to produce a small charity concert at The Other Palace. I did ask for a few favours from friends to donate their Sunday afternoon, and made friends with some musicians who were willing to do the same, but it was all for a good cause and has given me a thrill that I want to experience again.

The venue completely sold out, and I couldn't be happier.

At no surprise, the production process wasn't much different from what I have experienced at work, but having so much control with the final say on many aspects of the show felt a little daunting at first but ultimately very refreshing.

I enjoyed working with the theatre to organise the event (something that I had not done before), and being much more involved with the creative technical process was new and exciting. There wasn't a huge amount of budgeting to do this time, so I would love to play around with this area more in the future.

Due to time and money (as I was trying to raise as much money for charity as possible) we didn't have time for a full technical run through, so inevitably there were some glitches and hiccoughs - luckily nothing that the audience will have noticed. I am not letting these get to me, however, I am actually fully appreciating the lesson these minor mistakes have taught me - things that I will be much more aware of next time.

Yes, I DO plan to do this again.

The whole event was for charity, so perhaps selling tickets, acquiring musicians and a cast made the process MUCH easier. So, maybe when I manage to organise this again, I should challenge myself to produce a fully profitable show and see what I am fully capable of.

Watch out for when West End Goes Acoustic returns next year!

Finding a focus

Finding a focus for this module didn't seem so difficult. When I looked back over the first module and the topics I had researched, there were some areas that caught my attention.

One of the scholars I looked into was Irving Wardle, who was a writer and theatre critic and most notable for his work at the Times, The Independent and The Observer. In his book, Theatre Criticism, he theorises how reviews should be written; he discusses their origins, the purpose they serve and whether they should be trusted. The quote below, which I used in my portfolio, was one of the main motives for this inquiry and inspired me to explore this area of the industry much further.

‘How can critics claim to know best when they cannot agree among themselves?' Wardle (1992 p.37)

Also in Module 1, I discussed how the 2nd generation of the internet, known as Web 2.0, allows the public to interact, respond to articles, videos, blogs and reviews and contribute their own opinions with the ability to create trends on social media platforms. This presents the idea that the reader could become a ‘reviewer’, and holds the potential to influence others. 

From these intriguing concepts, I started to have little wonders of my own and I decided to delve deeper into the history, ethics and literature of theatre criticism and reviews.

How much of an impact do reviews have on ticket sales?

Are the general public influenced by theatre reviews?

Which demographic tends to read reviews?

 Would the public choose to seek out reviews on a particular show before seeing it?

Are there specific sources that people trust more than others?

Do theatre critics receive backlash after giving bad reviews?

How do theatre critics feel about the development of the internet?

As I have decided to focus my inquiry proposal on this topic, I believe I could explore perspectives and challenge myself to see as many shows as I can for the rest of the year; documenting where and when I see them in a journal. I mentioned in another blog last term that my company has a scheme to allow us to see shows in exchange for writing a review - so, as part of this course, I will be writing a review for each show that I see. The next show I would like to see will be:

You Stupid Darkness, Southwark Playhouse / The Visit, The National Theatre / The Last Five Years, Southwark Playhouse / Indecent, Menier Chocolate Factory / Five Characters in Search of A Good Night's Sleep, Southwark Playhouse / The Comedy About a Bank Robbery, The Criterion Theatre / Hairspray, The Coliseum.

That should keep me going for a few months...

What shows do you plan to see this year?

New year, new term, new module... what else is new?

This year has started off with a bang - I am in the process of buying a house, I interviewed for another job this week (but unfortunately I wasn't successful), training for the marathon and, to top it off, I am producing a charity event to raise money. Things couldn't be busier and I am ready to take on the challenges of the year ahead.

How have you started your new year? And what challenges do you intend to face/overcome this year?

I applied for a Production Assistant role at another company that would have boosted my career prospects, so I was really hoping for a big break. Unfortunately they advised that I was a little too inexperienced in comparison to other candidates that also applied. However, I am not going to let it shake my confidence; as one door closes, another door opens, so I will treat this as a lesson and persevere with a new strategy and more determination.

So, how can I get more experience?

As part of my fundraising for the marathon, I have thrown myself in at the deep end and began producing my first ever concert. I didn't think I would be creating a project from scratch so soon in my career and it has already started to give me a huge sense of achievement. I thrive off working on a project from beginning to end, no matter how small, and it is this kind of thing that motivates me in this industry. This is just the sort of experience I need!

Perhaps I will develop the concept and bring it back again later in the year...

So far, this year is turning out to be a great challenge. I must admit I am a little stressed but I mustn't let myself get overwhelmed. Just remember to take each day as it comes.