Expert Theatre Consultancy & Facilitation Training
"In as much as we recognise that every session offers opportunities to develop practical wisdom in partnership with our participants, we may consider ourselves philosophical facilitators."
Taking practice seriously with
Facilitators, Directors, and Educators
Brendon Burns Associates
Facilitation is rarely about having all the answers.
More often, it's about creating the conditions where the right questions can emerge.
Through Brendon Burns Associates, I work with individuals and organisations to develop the practical wisdom that sits at the heart of effective facilitation - whether you're leading workshops, directing theatre, or facilitating public dialogue.
Training
Consultancy
Coaching
For Theatre Facilitators, Drama Teachers and Stage Directors
The Living Breathing Workshop
A conceptual framework for facilitators, directors & teachers to think about, analyse, and improve their practice.
The Citizen Artist & Democracy
An approach to using performing arts to increase democratic and civic engagement.
The Philosophical Theatre Facilitator
A newsletter on practical wisdom for theatre practitioners.
"The very nature of the profession means facilitators and directors often work alone, and in the hurly-burly of getting from one project to the next it can be difficult to find the time to engage in true reflective practice."
How we can work together
Team Development:
Bespoke workshops designed around your team's needs and context. From foundational skills to advanced engagement techniques, training is crafted to address your particular challenges and desired outcomes.
Whether you're developing your own skills or enhancing how your organisation engages with others, we can work together in the following ways:
Organisational Consultancy:
Strategic guidance for improving how you facilitate conversations, engage communities, or lead participatory processes. This might involve reviewing approaches, designing engagement strategies, or building internal capacity.
Individual Coaching:
One-to-one support tailored to your specific challenges. Perfect for developing facilitation confidence, refining your approach to leading discussions, or reflecting on your practice.
Not sure which approach fits your situation?
Let's have an exploratory conversation about what you're hoping to achieve.
For Corporate, Public, and Third Sector Organisations
Clarity Catalyst:
Leading Discussions
Training and support designed for anyone who has the responsibility for leading, steering or convening formal discussions.
It's something we all do, every single day. It's how we make better decisions, how we understand different viewpoints. It is how we form and maintain community, be that in the home, the neighbourhood or at work.
By enhancing our skills in leading discussions, we can navigate conversations more effectively and foster a sense of understanding and cooperation within our teams and communities.
Design for Discourse:
Public Engagement
Consultation and/or coaching support for designing and delivery of 'Town Hall' style engagement meetings.
Let's face it these events can quickly go sideways! It's not just a matter of turning up and answering questions; bad design leads to poor communication and misunderstandings. Without careful preparation, the purpose of the meeting can be lost in the noise, leaving all involved feeling frustrated or disheartened.
Designing for discourse considers the specific purpose of the meeting, the nature and form of desired outcomes and, most importantly the skills required of the chair, convener or facilitator.
Happily Uncertain:
The Everyday Orator
We worry about public speaking but forget that our most influential words tend be those we find ourselves saying day to day.
An everyday orator recognises the power of words, not just in the impact they have on others but in the way they shape their own reality. It's about fostering understanding, building connections, and creating a sense of community.