Catherine Councell

In my classrooms you will find me:

singing and moving with the littles

devising with elementary students

listening intently to middle schoolers sharing the peaches and pits of their days.

including and collaborating with neurospicy and disabled actors

dropping in with adult students: taking a moment to connect with play through the lens of the nervous system

We share a space for a little while. Which is sacred. Co-creating a safe/social space, one built on holarchy, transmission, and connection. One that is built on accountability to ourselves, and to each other.

To do this we first share our why. Why are we here? To do what? Then we share the who. Who is here? Who are we together? How would you like to be known? How would we as a collective like this space to feel? What do we hope to grow in during our time together? And then we try to get clear and accessible about the When/Where are we meeting.

In all of the work I do, I believe that theater can help us reconnect with ourselves: our bodies, our voices, and our emotions. I believe that this human art form is healing for the individual, for the group, and for the greater collective. I believe creating art physically, vocally, and imaginatively can give a sense of personal expansion and agency. I also believe that co-creating with others can give a sense of well being, connection, and belonging. This is why I value incorporating nervous system tools, physical movement, and sensory elements into the curriculum I create. This is why I value inclusivity, accessibility, and consent-based practices in the classroom/rehearsal room. This is why I value theater arts, and the possibility that is contained within these spaces; and why I believe that this work matters. Plus, it can be really fun and full of wonder.