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Full archive & new posts on my Substack:

How to do your own outdoor theatre
Beks Roen Beks Roen

How to do your own outdoor theatre

Accessibility and the elements are your top concerns. Make sure everyone involved has access to shade, sun protection, hydration and bathrooms. If you have to focus on one tech element, make sure your sound is strong enough for folks to hear you. And be prepared for the wind to interfere.

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Why do you prefer outdoor theatre?
Beks Roen Beks Roen

Why do you prefer outdoor theatre?

Outdoor theatre lowers the financial load on small and emerging theatre companies. It can be more accessible to the public than indoor shows, especially if the production is free or pay-what-you-can. Outdoor theatre has its challenges, but opens the door for unique, memorable moments. And the human-focused nature of outdoor theatre allows for deeper human connection between actor and audience.

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A Tapestry of Summer Dreams
Beks Roen Beks Roen

A Tapestry of Summer Dreams

Perfect for fans of Shakespeare and Percy Jackson.

Silly one-sentence summary: Oberon is confused by lesbians and ace people.

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AI, alchemy and new plays
Beks Roen Beks Roen

AI, alchemy and new plays

I found this video and Brandon Sanderson's talk on AI art within days of each other.

So they've collided in my brain with the question, "How can I explore this as a queer fantasy playwright?"

Because fantasy is a fantastic place to explore nuanced and controversial themes outside their charged real-world context.

I draw a lot of inspiration from party-based fantasy stories (Lord of the Rings, Dungeons & Dragons).

A party of adventurers gives me a diverse set of perspectives that I can pit against each other onstage.

Perfect for diving into nuanced conversations like our current discourse around AI.

I don't aim to solve the problem or make any definitive answers.

In writing any play, I aim to start discussions.

Because in actively engaging with art, we all grow.

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"How do you write so much???"
Beks Roen Beks Roen

"How do you write so much???"

In all honesty, I love the freedom I found with Shakespeare for riffing, adapting, and responding to others' works.

Because it gave new life to my own.

And yes, I did this while rewriting my novel and chewing on a new outline for a full-length play.

Rotating stories isn't flighty for me.

It's letting one thing simmer on the back burner while I give another story the attention it needs.

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We Are The Art
Beks Roen Beks Roen

We Are The Art

Hearing Sanderson's point about how the journey makes art of the artist made me pause this week.

I started to think, what if I approached my business the way I approach writing long-form?

Because I don't get upset with myself for revising based on feedback.

Stories grow in layers, but it doesn't make the previous layer bad or worthless.

Quality improves over time, but you have to start with what you've got and follow its growth.

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