Exuberant Unity in Transformation- the actor and beyond
I’ve had the extraordinary fortune to have spent more than two decades developing the specific field of (Animal )Transformation and Imaginative Improvisation with professional actors and actors in training at the highest level. This is a way of working that has found its way into theatre and film as well as into the preparatory approach to character for many actors who’ve trained in this process. Transformation is however increasingly finding new horizons alongside theatre, film and actor training pure. Back as far as 2012, largely thanks to director Pippa Bailey, (now to be found with Cultural Gardeners), the work I was doing as movement director and actor trainer pivoted very easily to the domains she was reaching into- that of stories about the natural world and climate change. She brought me in to projects including Climate Guardians performances and a theatre piece called Biding Time. In 2013 when we took this piece to the Edinburgh fringe, Pip wove into the performance, the offer of creative walks. These met at Summerhall, began with a physical warm led by me before a walking storytelling journey that took us up to Arthur’s Seat. This enabled the theatre piece to be part of a bigger picture- that of the geographical place we were in and of the people we were sharing this time with. To share stories between players and audience in this pilgrim like exercise of rotational walking and talking became about more than just putting on a show.
Pippa advocates for artists being “a vital workforce of adaptive, passionate creative people, using extraordinary skill to stir senses, connect hearts and minds…helping to reimagine our systems to be more creative, accountable and hopeful.” Bailey- Cultural Gardeners Oct 2023
This year, and in fact since moving to Dublin, opportunities are growing to broaden the reach of the movement work I do and in particular,( Animal) Transformation. I have been able to explore its basic principles with non -actors in spaces including with UK organisations - I Stand Beside - whose work is around ‘catalysing a positive shift in our relationship with nature’ and Nature-based Solutions Initiative . With them I’ve been part of exciting pilot trials of Interspecies Assemblies * If you want to know more about the nature of these Assemblies do read the work of Joanna Macy, John Seed, Pat Fleming and Arne Naess and the Council of All Beings. There is exuberant unity to be found in the diversity of disciplines brought together at such occasions. It also brings a feeling of exuberant unity knowing work I have developed in the past decades can have a transformational place in this important domain.
Back more obviously in my theatre making world there’s a long project I’m really pleased to be part of thanks to actor and artist Roseanne Lynch. Her practical research funded by Arts Council Ireland is focusing on specific artistic processes including that of Transformation and Imaginative Improvisation. In a broader scope than this however, she is exploring how the work relates to place, time, community, ecosystem. It’s no surprise I have found myself wanting to write about Pippa’s work of more than a decade ago now as I begin with Roseanne’s project. I am delighted to be accompanying her on this journey through 2026-27.
The photos included in this post are taken by fellow actor and artist Rachel Donlon from the ongoing professional development series of sessions, Ensemble Tuesdays, organised by Roseanne. These are part of Roseanne’s work around the ecology of the artist and are supported by Riverbank Arts Centre.
With Roseanne Lynch and Graham Butler- Breen