Adam Christopher Marple

                                   

Visiting Professor of Devising, The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA)

Co-Artistic Director, The Theatre of Others                                              

Host, The Theatre of Others Podcast                                                              

     

Education

 

2010

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, School of the Arts, Theatre Arts Program | New York, NY, USA

MFA in Directing 

Dissertation: In search for the Other, the audience/Audience, of Henry VI Part 3. 

Advisor: Anne Bogart

 

2003

WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY, College of Liberal Arts, Professional Actor Training Program |

Dayton, OH, USA

BFA in Acting (Magna Cum Laude)

 

Additional Education and Training

 

Directors Lab Mediterranean | Beirut Lebanon

American University of Beirut, 2022

 

SITI Company | New York, NY, USA

Viewpoints Masterclass in Devising, 2015

 

La MaMa Umbria | Spoleto, ITALY

La MaMa Umbria International Directors Symposium, 2008 and 2009

 

SITI Company | New York, NY, USA

Summer Intensive at Skidmore College, 2007

 

Lincoln Center Theater | New York, NY, USA

Lincoln Center Directors Lab, 2007

 

The Workcenter of Jerzy Grotowski and Thomas Richards | Pontedara, ITALY

The Bridge: Developing Theater Arts, 2001

 

 

Professional Appointments

 

2024- 2025

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Drama

Winston-Salem, North Carolina USA

Visiting Professor of Devised Theatre and Directing

Visiting Professor of Devising and Directing for the School of Drama. Teaching Devised Performance in the Acting Concentration and Devised Directing for the Directing Concentration. Overseeing the Business of Directing and Mentorship of the Directing concentration. Directing in the Patrons Series and advising on SACS restructuring

2021-2024

American University in Cairo, School of Humanities and Social Sciences,

Department of the Arts

Cairo, EGYPT

Assistant Professor of Directing

 Assistant Professor of Directing in the Theatre program of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Implementing Directing, Theatre Making, and Play Analysis, as well as teaching Viewpoints in the Theatre and Music programs. Artistic Directing and season planning. Department restructuring and MFA planning committees. Academic coordination and pedagogical planning of curriculum, adjunct faculty supervision, thesis mentoring, and student recruitment.

 

2019-2021

Universidad de las Americas Puebla, School of the Arts and Humanities

Department of Performing Arts

Puebla, MEXICO

Visiting Professor/Academic Coordinator, Theatre

Visiting Professor in the Theatre and Dance programs leading immersive and site-specific/responsive projects between students in both programs. Implementing Directing/Composition, Devising, Scenography, Dramaturgy, Advanced Acting, and Interdisciplinary modules in Theatre as well as teaching Viewpoints in Theatre and Dance. Directing productions for Compañia de Teatro UDLAP. Academic coordination and pedagogical planning of curriculum, thesis mentoring, and student recruitment.

 

2010–2019

LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS, School of Dance and Theatre

Faculty of Performing Arts

SINGAPORE

Assistant Professor

 Full-time teaching in the Acting, Dance, Musical Theatre, and Theatre Studies programs while leading collaborative and interdisciplinary projects between faculties. Program Leader of the BA (Hons) Acting program from 2015-2019, responsible for the day-to-day running of the program as well as pedagogical and curriculum planning, originating industry initiatives, artistic direction, and recruitment. The steering committee for the MFA in Theatre degree (the first in South East Asia). Successfully led the Validation and Revalidation of the BA (Hons) Acting Program by GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

 

Guest Professor

· Texas A&M University | School of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Arts | College Station, TEXAS

Devising and Composition (2024)

· The University of Tennessee | Department of Theatre | Knoxville, TENNESSEE

Thinking Like a Director (2023)

·       American University in Beirut | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | Beirut, LEBANON

Viewpoints, Composition (2022)

·       Goldsmiths, University of London | Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship | London, UK Process of Producing a Theatre Performance (2020-2022)

·       Kyoto University of Art and Design, Department of Performing Arts | Kyoto, JAPAN

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Viewpoints, Soundpainting (2015 - 2018)

·       Chulalongkorn University, School of Dramatic Arts | Bangkok, THAILAND

Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Viewpoints (2015 - 2018)

·       National School of Drama | New Delhi, INDIA

Beginning Viewpoints (2016)

·       Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, College of Theatre and Media Arts | Hong Kong

Beginning Viewpoints, Soundpainting (2015)

·       Goldsmiths, University of London | Department of Theatre and Performance | London, UK

Beginning Viewpoints (2013)

 

 Masterclasses and Workshops

· GEOKS Arts Center | Bali, INDONESIA (2023, 2024)

Advanced Viewpoints and Composition

· KrisP Productions | SINGAPORE (2023)

Beginning Viewpoints

·       Directors Lab Mediterranean | Beirut, Lebanon (2022)

Viewpoints and Composition

·       The Theatre of Others | Online Zoom workshops (2020)

Shakespeare’s Verse, Professional World, Moment Work, and Theatre Composition

·       CZKD (Center for Cultural Decontamination) | Belgrade, SERBIA (2017)

Advanced Viewpoints, Interdisciplinarity (with award-winning musician’s LP DUO)

·       Hacque Center for Acting and Creativity | SINGAPORE (2015)

Beginning Viewpoints, Psychophysical Actions

·       My Phat Institute of Theatre Training and International Cooperation | Ho Chi Minh, VIETNAM (2011) Beginning Viewpoints

·       La MaMa Umbria, International Directors Symposium | Spoleto, ITALY (2008, 2009)

Beginning Viewpoints, Moment Work, and Theatre Composition

·       Columbia University, Columbia College | New York, NY, USA (2008-2009)

Scenography and Space workshop (with Jean-Guy Lecat)

·       Lincoln Center Theatre, Directors Lab | New York, NY, USA (2007)

Psychophysical Actions

 

Publications

Chapter

Marple, A. “The Viewpoints as Transcultural Pedagogy.” Western Theatre in Global Contexts: Directing and Teaching Culturally Inclusive Drama around the World.  edited by Yassi Jahanmir & Jillian Campana,

Abingdon, UK: Routledge Press, 2020, Chapter 8.

 

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Marple, A., et al. “New Narratives for a Healthy Planet: Creative Writing and Art Projects Reveal We Still Have a Chance.” The Lancet Planetary Health, August 2023, https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00144-4/fulltext

Marple, A., et al.  “Applying 'The Viewpoints' to Multimedia Performance.” Global Performance Studies, 1 July 2020, http://www.gps.psi-web.org/issue-3-2/gps-3-2-2/.

Marple, A. “Does Singapore Theatre Have a Directing Problem?” Arts Equator, 7 May 2019,

https://artsequator.com/does-singapore-theatre-have-a-directing-problem/

 

Audio Publications

Marple, Adam, Co-host. The Theatre of Others Podcast, The Theatre of Others, 2020--,

https://podcasts.apple.com/eg/podcast/the-theatre-of-others-podcast/id1526382414

Listed as one of the top 5% most popular podcasts globally by Listen Notes, with 30,000 listeners across 96 countries.  Co-artistic Directors and Theatre educators Adam Marple and Dr. Budi Miller discuss the Theatre moving past the COVID-19 shutdown with topics such as the roles of the Audience, Actor, Director, Playwright, and Space in our new reality. Recent interviews include theatre artists such as directors Anne Bogart and Robert Wilson, theatre makers La Pocha Nostra, and Intimacy Direction founder Alicia Rodis. Weekly podcast. Found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.


Conferences and Oral Presentations

Invited as a speaker for a plenary session:

  • “The Earth Turns- the Crisis in Empathy and Theatre’s Role in Climate Action” | UN COP27 Global Stocktake | Sharm El Sheikh, EGYPT (2022)

  • "Sustainable Reverberations: The Earth Turns - Exploring Empathy, Art, and Climate Action (Chair) | The American University in Cairo’s Lead Up to COP27 | Cairo, EGYPT (2022)

  • “Taboo subjects in Singapore and Malaysia Theatre.” | Sight/Unseen: Amplifying Voices of Southeast and British East Asian Theatre Playwrights, Goldsmiths University, Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship | London, UK (2018)

  • “Viewpoints as a Transcultural Performance Language” | 9th Annual Asia-Pacific Bond of Theatre Schools Conference, The National School of Drama | New Delhi, INDIA (2016)

  • “The Tower of Babel: Intercultural and Transcultural Theatre Training” | 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Bond of Theatre Schools Conference, LASALLE College of the Arts | SINGAPORE (2015)

  • “Identity and Inheritance: The Multilingualism of Theatre Education” | 8th Annual Asia-Pacific Bond of Theatre Schools conference, LASALLE College of the Arts | SINGAPORE (2015)

  • “The Training of the Actor at the East/West Divide” | Contemporary Training of the Actor in Asia Conference, Kyoto University of Art and Design | Kyoto, JAPAN (2015)

  • “Dancing to Architecture: Augmented Viewpoints: The Viewpoints and Sound” | The Liquid Architecture Sound Festival, LASALLE College of the Arts | SINGAPORE (2014)

  • “American Theatre - Devising the Future” | 15th Annual Vietnamese Playwriting Conference | Pleiku, VIETNAM (2011)

Research Projects

Project Leader:

·       The Sustainable Theatre Initiative, a collaborative project between The Department of the Arts, Department of Architecture, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Sustainable Design, and Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability at The American University in Cairo | Cairo, Egypt 2022-2023.

The Sustainable Theatre Initiative is an attempt at rethinking and remaking how and why Theatre is made. The challenge of live theatrical performance is its use of inordinate amounts of electricity to power the production, its need to be portable for a tour, and any ecologically sound solution needing to remain aesthetically pleasing and narratively informative as a theatre piece. This project and production aims to address issues related to sustainability, both on stage and in the unique way that the show is being produced, from rehearsals through to touring and the relationship with the audience. In a typical theatre, a play usually consumes between 10,000 and 30,000 Watts. To generate electricity, we build permanent magnet generators with 2 stationary bikes and power meters indicating power consumption in real-time that performers pedal onstage throughout the show. The bikes can generate 150 Watts each, the equivalent of two typical lightbulbs, and the entire performance must stay below 300 watts, down from 30,000 watts. The power meters show the high amount of electricity needed and the effort of producing it. The electricity generated powers all LED lights, projections, sound equipment, and effects needed for the production. To go forward in that respect, it would be ecological both in its content and in its production process.

 

Project Leader:

·       The Space Project, a collaborative project between LASALLE College of the Arts and Carnegie Mellon University (USA) | SINGAPORE (2013-2014)

Multidisciplinary collaborative project amongst Theatre, Dance, Fine Arts, Arts Management, and Interior Design students at LASALLE College of the Arts, Architectural and Lighting Design students at Carnegie Mellon University with Cindy Limauro, and Master Scenographer Jean-Guy Lecat to identify and answer questions of space in the presentation of artistic mediums and the creation of portable performance, art, and community space.

 

Awards and Grants

  • British Council Creative Commissions Grant (Baku, Azerbaijan) $10,000. Bright Light Burning/We are the Possible Mentorship with Khazar University. The University of Others, The University of Exeter, and Khazar University, 2024

  • British Embassy Gulf Strategy Fund $200,000. Co-Creating New Narratives for COP28: A Catalyst for Climate Actions and Solutions between UK and UAE. The Theatre of Others and The University of Exeter, 2023

  • Faculty Research Grant, $26,908. Living Climate Change Experiences: Activating global conversations through cognitive and emotionally located art performances. The American University in Cairo, 2023

  • British Council Creative Commissions Grant, $7000. The Sustainable Theatre Network website creation. The Theatre of Others and The University of Exeter. 2023

  • British Council Creative Commissions Grant $45,000. The Earth Turns/12 stories for 12 Days of COP27. The University of Exeter and The American University in Cairo, 2022.

  • Faculty Research Grant. $3000. The Earth Turns: A Climate Inspired Performance for COP27. The American University in Cairo, 2022

  • Micro-Grant $500. Sustainable Theatre Initiative- Bicycle Powered Theatre Lighting. The American University of Cairo, 2022

  • Professional Development Grant, $5000. Viewpoints Masterclass: Devising Work with the Viewpoints at SITI Company. LASALLE Professional Development Committee, 2015

  • Residence Development Grant, $25,000. Inaugural Company. The Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, NY, 2015

  • Research Project Funding Grant, $25,000. Augmented Viewpoints at Liquid Architecture Singapore. LASALLE College of the Arts Research Committee, 2014

  • Shubert Presidential Fellowship, $40,000. Columbia University in the City of New York, 2007-2009

  • Departmental Research Assistant, $25,000. Technical Director- Schapiro Theatre. Columbia University in the city of New York, 2008-2009 

Directing Experience

The Theatre of Others | Artistic Director. International (2011 – Present)

The Theatre of Others is an internationally recognized performance collective and recipient of The Chautauqua Institute Inaugural Company in Residence Development grant. The Theatre of Others creates uniquely theatrical events in sight-specific sensory performance spaces crafted to encourage curiosity and grant the audience permission to commune with the play.

·       Steven Gaultney’s Bright Light Burning (COP29 Climate Conference Baku, Azerbaijan, Khazar University)

· Steven Gaultney’s BRIGHT LIGHT BURNING (UN COP28 Climate Conference Dubai, UK Pavilion in the UN-Controlled Blue Zone, EXTREME Hangout Spot in The Green Zone, The Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, and The Etihad Museum, Dubai, UAE)

· THE EARTH TURNS: A CLIMATE INSPIRED AUDIO PLAY FOR COP27 (Audio Play)

· I Putu Budiawan Miller’s KOOL-AID AND WINE (Space 28, Melbourne, Australia)

·       Steven Gaultney’s LIMB FROM LIMB (presented online during the Covid-19 Pandemic)

·       Steven Gaultney’s 1000 SHIPS staged reading (Theatre for a New Audience, New York City)

·       Matt Wilson’s FAILED EXPERIMENT an adaptation of John Dos Passos’ THE USA TRILOGY (English Theatre Berlin, Germany)

·       LP Duo’s CONNECTION/CONNECTION World Tour (Belgrade, Zagreb, Berlin, Paris, London, New York)

·       Ines Somellera’s XALISCO (Literature and Ideas Festival, Komunitas Salihara, Jakarta, Indonesia. The Festival Internacional Cervantino. Guanajuato, Mexico)

·       STAY, ILLUSION (an adaptation of Hamlet presented at the ENE Central Asian Art Gallery, Singapore)

·       Shakespeare’s HAMLET with scenography by Jean-Guy Lecat (presented at an abandoned Black and White Colonial home on Mount Pleasant, Singapore)

·       Adeline Pang’s OX 牛 (presented at The Vault, Singapore)

·       Steven Gaultney’s NEGLIGENCE (presented at Kallang Industrial Park, Singapore)

·       Steven Gaultney’s adaptation of LORD OF THE FLIES (presented at Winstedt Campus, Singapore)

·       Steven Gaultney’s PELOPS CHILDREN (presented at The Zipper Factory, New York City )

Audio New Play Festival

An annual festival designed to showcase new audio drama. The Theatre of Others aids and provides mentorship with casting, dramaturgy, and technical design to provide space for women and POC writers. Artistic Director and Producer

 

2024- Sounds of Home

· Sneha Sakhare’s RAGA’S FOR THE ROOTED HEART (INDIA/USA)

· Nour El Captan’s PRAYERS OF MOURNING (EGYPT)

· Frazer Shepherdson’s MAKING DINNER (AUSTRALIA)

2023- I, Too, am an Ancestor

· Frazer Shepherdson’s FIRESPEAK (AUSTRALIA)

· Kam Henderson’s BARRELHOUSE (USA)

· Sabina Gerardi’s SOB STORY (AUSTRALIA)

· Nour El Captan’s MEET ME AT LIBERATION (EGYPT)

2022- 50 Years from Now

·       Raya Basalamah’s BEAUTIFUL (SINGAPORE)

·       James Reiser’s SUGARBAG (AUSTRALIA)

·       Frazer Shepherdson’s WHALE SONG (AUSTRALIA)

·       Michael Maiello’s SUCCESS IN CONTEMPORARY CORPORATE PRAXIS (USA)

2021- Change/Exchange

·       Kristina Pakhomova’s THIEF (HONG KONG/RUSSIA)

·       Rachel Chin’s GALATEA (SINGAPORE)

·       Colette Cullen’s BEEN THERE, DONE THAT (IRELAND)

·       Justin Tan and Sabina Gerardi’s TALES FROM THE ARCADIA (SINGAPORE/AUSTRALIA)

Chautauqua Theatre Company | Chautauqua, NY, USA (2013)

 

·       Steven Gaultney’s NEGLIGENCE (presented at the Chautauqua Institute, in a pre-civil war era barn)

The Theatre of Others was the first Theatre Company Residency of Chautauqua Theatre Company

 

The United Nations COP27 Climate Change Conference | Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt (2022)

 

·       THE EARTH TURNS a play for the COP27 Climate Conference in Egypt, in collaboration with The University of Exeter. Official side event selections were presented simultaneously live in person in the Peace Pavilion of the Green Zone of the COP27 Conference and streamed online via YouTube in a hybrid presentation. Bilingual English and Arabic production

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) | Winston-Salem, USA (2024-Present)

  • Bertolt Brecht’s Edward II

Patrons Series 


American University in Cairo | Cairo (2021-present)

· Frederico Garcia Lorca’s BLOOD WEDDING/عرس الدم Bilingual English and Arabic production

·       THE EARTH TURNS a play for the COP27 Climate Conference in Egypt, in collaboration with The University of Exeter. Presented simultaneously live in-person at the Historic Falaki Theater in Tahrir Square and streamed online via YouTube in a hybrid presentation. Bilingual English and Arabic production

·       Thornton Wilder’s THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, presented simultaneously live in-person at the Historic Falaki Theater in Tahrir Square and online via Crowdcast in a hybrid presentation.

 

Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP) | MEXICO (2019-2021)

·       Tanya Saracho’s EL NOGALAR (presented online during the Covid-19 Pandemic) En Español

·       Botho Strauss’ SIETE PUERTAS (SEVEN DOORS) translated by Stefanie Weiss and adapted by Luis de Tavira (presented online during the Covid-19 Pandemic) En Español

·       Chuck Mee’s GRAN AMOR (BIG LOVE) En Español

 

LASALLE College of the Arts | SINGAPORE (2010 – 2019)

Directed and designed over 20 productions including:

Classics

·       HENRY V

·       A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM

·       MEASURE FOR MEASURE

·       MACBETH

·       ROMEO & JULIET

·       THE WINTERS TALE

Contemporary classics

·       Kander and Ebb’s CABARET

·       Tony Kushner’s ANGELS IN AMERICA: MILLENIUM APPROACHES and PERESTROIKA

·       William Inge’s PICNIC

·       Lillian Helman’s THE CHILDREN’S HOUR

·       Chuck Mee’s BIG LOVE

·       Will Eno’s MIDDLETOWN

Interdisciplinary Projects:

·       Black Zenith’s LIQUID ARCHITECTURE

·       Steven Gaultney’s PICASSO’S WOMEN

·       Chuck Mee’s DAILY LIFE EVERLASTING

Festival Creator and Artistic Director

·       SOLO Fest.  (2016 – 2019)

 An annual festival designed to showcase performers’ self-devised pieces, provide a platform for new solo work and ideas, and for professionals to highlight the strength of one-person shows. Produced and premiered 25 new original solo works by artists from Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Russia, and India.  An opportunity to reach out to the industry and receive early career attention and audience feedback from Artistic Directors from major festivals in the region and internationally, SOLO Fest continues to this day.

 

Company Manager and Director

·       THE DREAM RESPONSE (2015 – 2016) Presented at The National School of Drama (India)

THE DREAM RESPONSE is a tri-partite collaboration between CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY (Thailand), HONG KONG ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS (Hong Kong), and LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (Singapore) in exploring a response to Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. The finished response is toured to theatre schools around the Asia-Pacific region and the modes of Collaboration are shared and taught. Negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and partnership between LASALLE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS (Singapore), CHULALONGKORN UNIVERSITY (Thailand), and HONG KONG ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS (Hong Kong). 

 

The Necessary Theatre Company | Founding Artistic Director. New York, NY, USA (2005-2010)

·       Shakespeare’s HENRY VI PART 3 (presented at Classic Stage Company)

·       Chekhov’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD (presented at The Schapiro Theatre)

·       Steven Gaultney’s PELOP’S CHILDREN (presented at The Zipper Theatre)

·       Eugene O’Neil’s IN THE ZONE (presented at The Schapiro Theatre)

·      Dante Alighieri’s INFERNO, translated and adapted by Adam Marple (presented at the Herbst Theatre)

Professional Affiliations 

South Sinai International Festival (Judge 2022), International Association of Theatre Leaders, Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), Association of Theatre Movement Educators (ATME), Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA), La MaMa Umbria International Directors Symposium, and Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Directors Lab Mediterranean.

International Organizations


The Sustainable Theatre Network | Founder and Project Leader. International (2022-present)

The Sustainable Theatre Network is an organization dedicated to addressing resource management and practices and creating sustainable models for creation without losing aesthetic value. Receiving funds from The British Embassy Gulf Strategy Fund and The British Council Creative Commissions Fund the Sustainable Theatre Network is an international partnership of theatre schools and organizations dedicated to researching, creating, codifying, and amplifying less wasteful theatre practices worldwide for use at all levels of theatre-making, from large State-run National theatres to small student-led projects. Accessible as an Open Source/Creative Commons website (https://www.sustainable-theatre.org) dedicated to sharing best practices in sustainable theatre-making alongside a platform where the theatre schools and organizations from the network each share their research and productions, with performances created for COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt and COP28 in Dubai, UAE.

Current members include:

●  The Theatre of Others (International)

●  Juilliard School of Drama (USA)

●  Arizona State University (USA)

●  The University of California- Irvine (USA)

●  York University (Canada)

●  Universidad Nacional Autonoma Mexico (Mexico),

●  University of the West Indies (Barbados),

●  Universidad de la Republica (Uruguay),

●  University of Exeter (UK),

●  University of the Arts Belgrade (Serbia),

●  University of Nairobi (Kenya),

●  Kenyatta University (Kenya),

●  Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (UAE),

●  The University of the Arts (Singapore),

●  Indonesian Institute of Arts Bali (Indonesia),

●  University of Melbourne (Australia)

●  The National Institute of Dramatic Arts (Australia)

●  And more