the nest is an intimate theatre company based on social constructionist values; we work as a collaborative ensemble. We embrace a postmodern collaborative framework, which we are trademarking ImpulseTraining, addressing constructs such as multiplicity of stories and selves, power, social and cultural discourses and the exquisite use of language. This is our attempt to ‘thicken’ the space between the actors on the floor, rather than focusing on psychological perspectives which is often the focus of modernist acting training. Our actor training is about the impulse, and training the impulse in order to be fully present and fully alive to the multiplicity of living/performing. We make the implicit explicit. We embrace transparency. We avoid where possible the hierarchy of power within the rehearsal room. We devise work using collaged text, visual art, poetry and original musical scores. We encourage each artist to bring all of themselves into the rehearsal room, rather than the more traditional way of ‘leaving it at the door’. We want the actor to be fully present at all times therefore it does not make sense to ’split’ the actors private and professional lives. the nest began with the devising of "The Knowings of Mary Poppins" (initially called "The Great Exception") in 2004. We were keen to form a new company that created new and innovative works and since that time we have collaborated on multiple theatre pieces, including Leah Mercer’s "A Mouthful of Pins", which Margi Brown Ash directed in 2008 at Brisbane Powerhouse; "Joey the Mechanical Boy" which Leah Mercer directed at Blue Room, in Perth, in 2010 and multiple seasons of the award winning collaborative piece "The Knowings of Mary Poppins" ( Silver Matilda for Best Director Leah Mercer, Gold Matilda for best actor, Margi Brown Ash, and Matilda for Best Independent Production), conceived and directed by Leah Mercer and co-written by Marcel Dorney, Stace Callaghan, Carol Schmidt, Leah Mercer and Margi Brown Ash. the nest 4 change is now embarking on a new production, "HOME" (working title). We engaged in our first creative development in September, 2010 in Perth. Our second creative development was in Brisbane in November and our third in January, 2011 in Perth. Our first creative development showing was in the Gulf of Mexico at a conference called "Play with Purpose", February, 2011. Our second creative development showing was at home in Metro Arts (FreeRange Festival) in June. This was followed by a presentation at Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Conference in Chicago in July.
HOME will have a season in Brisbane at La Boite in July, 2012.