Spotlight on Creative Communications
Unlock new skills that will help you, your business, and your staff to communicate more effectively and authentically.
Live creative tools can be powerful game changers in relation to executive, staff and team effectiveness, in commercial contexts
Who should attend: CEOs, Founders, Directors, Strategy Developers, Sales Directors, Middle Managers, and Staff.
*Please note – your business must be registered in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. to attend this in-person one day training event.
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” — Mark Twain
YOUR TRAINERS
Mark Laville is currently a Senior Lecturer and the Course Leader for BA(Hons) Theatre and Performance and BA (Hons) Technical Theatre Arts at The Academy of Music and Theatre Arts, Falmouth University. Prior to coming to Falmouth, he was Artistic Director of The Barbican Theatre, Plymouth, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, for more than 20 years. He is an experienced professional theatre director, performer, producer, facilitator and enabler.
As well as his work within what might be termed ”the arts”, he also has significant experience of developing projects and training which use the power and impact of theatre skills and tools within the non-arts sector.
In that context, he has worked with leadership teams and operational staff across a range of contexts, from schools to the police, from civic authorities to GP Practices and from small charities to commercial companies.
As well as his passion for theatre making and storytelling, he has an abiding interest in creative leadership and how people can achieve extraordinary things together. The fundamental that connects through the range of his work is the human being, being at the centre of things.
Gemma Wright – is a voice and accent coach currently teaching at the Academy of Music and Theatre Arts, Falmouth University. She has taught across drama schools including the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Mountview Theatre School and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Alongside this teaching, Gemma has worked with professional theatre companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company and Bristol Old Vic, as well as coaching auditioning actors for Netflix, BBC and Amazon Prime productions. Gemma’s specialist skills include developing and understanding breathwork, pitch dynamics and vocal energy to help support a strong, confident physical presence when presenting.
THE DAY’S AGENDA
The content and approach within these sessions are applicable within both Executive and Strategic contexts as well as Operational and front-line delivery contexts.
9.00 – 9.15 – Arrival and welcome
9.15 to 10.45 : The Team Thing : Group Dynamics and Collaboration
Collaboration and team working is at the heart of successful human endeavour, creatively and commercially. As well as, importantly, breaking the ice with each other at the start of the day, we will explore some key skills in terms of what makes good (and bad) collaborative activity.
15 mins break
11.00 – 13.15 : The Presence Thing : Authenticity, holding the space and being Present
Build confidence and skills in terms of holding a space; projecting yourself and what you have to say in an authentic and engaging way. Breath, Voice, Physicality. The “art’, as well as the skills of performing live. Emphasis in this session is not the “what” of the content, but the “how” of authentic delivery. Useful in a range of contexts, from staff communication, being able to speak up at meetings, delivering engaging presentations and pitches, customer care, negotiation etc.
1 hour Lunch
14.30 – 16.15 : The Role Thing
An interactive demonstration using actors in role and theatre / drama creative tooling to deliver dynamic and immediately effective role-based training. Develops staff awareness and deepens effective communication skills. A powerful set of tools for “rehearsing” and developing behaviours, professional approaches, communication skills and organisational culture building. Applicable and adaptable to a range of interactive contexts both operational and strategic: customer relations, line management, team facilitation, negotiation and sales contexts amongst others.
15 min break
16.30 – 17.00 Plenary Closing session – feedback
An opportunity to reflect on the training
17.00 – end
Thoughtful, well-delivered communication is a strategic tool, not just a soft skill. Your key takeaways from the introductory training will include:
Authentic presence and the ability to “hold space”
Overcoming fear and building confidence in communication, particularly in high-stakes settings like boardrooms or client pitches.
Creativity as a business asset
Innovation; how to break routine thinking patterns and stimulate fresh ideas.
A transformative approach to customer service, conflict resolution, negotiation, and team leadership training.