Pamela Howard leading a symposium

From August 29 to September 2, 2018, the OISTAT50 (International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Technicians and Architects) Conference was held at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales.  I attended this Conference not only to participate in official OISTAT Commission meetings but also to continue the involvement and promotion of the Theatre Design and Production programme of the Academy for the Performing Arts.  It was also at this event that I became the official delegate for USITT's (United States Institute of Theatre Technology) Publications Committee to the OISTAT Publications and Communications Commission.    

The format of the Conference was a sharing of ideas, projects, events and performances.  The very wise and entertaining Keynote Address was given by world renowned Director and Scenographer Professor Pamela Howard, OBE.  Her reflections on the beginning of OISTAT, where it is today and its future potential helped set the tone for the week's events.  

“Versatile heritage techniques into contemporary scenography” led by Jerome Maeckelberg.

Workshops presented ranged from such topics as the "versatile heritage techniques into contemporary scenography" led by Jerome Maeckelberg to Intersections, the third stage of the project Desenhos de Cena, which explores ways to create and exhibit the design as performance led by Aby Cohen. There were also presentations from Sound designer Gareth Fry's workshop Sound Design and Story Telling to a workshop led by Kazue Hatano, Japanese scenographer and members of her Pacific Collaborators group on a 6-day workshop to explore using calligraphy and paper in the creation of costumes and sets for performance.  Symposiums also provided an opportunity to listen to individual presentations on research and practice. 

Adding to the event was also a display of the history of OiSTAT throughout the years, the design work of some its past and current members - a global community exchange in which members were afforded the opportunity to share their recollections - and of course a recreation of the Taipei, Taiwan 7-11 sidewalk bar for everyone to unwind from the day with conversation and drink.

Celebrations are however, almost always tinged with melancholy and those who were unable to be there or had passed were fondly remembered by those that knew them.  One of those remembered was Welsh born Theatre Designer Paul Brown.  To help celebrate Paul's life and work, the school, to which much of Paul's studio was bequeathed, reconstructed and displayed elements of his work for guests to see and walk through.  Amongst the displayed items were drawings, models and designs realised, tools and art supplies and of course the prestigious Golden Triga he had won as part of Great Britain's 2003 Prague Quadrennial entry. 

I cannot say enough good things about my experience at this Conference.  Being a member of both USITT and OISTAT, as well as, being an active participant and delegate on their Publications and Communications Commission, has opened doors and provided great opportunities.  It has also provided an excellent platform to bring awareness of UTT's Academy for the Performing Arts and Trinidad and Tobago to the greater production and design community.  Thank you to UTT, the Academy for the Performing Arts and the Theatre Design and Production programme for their encouragement as I continue my professional development.

Asst. Professor Richard Bryant at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama