In this episode of the Compassionate Revolution podcast, host Alaina Viau is joined by Siobhan Richardson, a fight and intimacy director, actor, singer, fighter, and dancer.

Siobhan shares her experience and expertise in the opera and music theatre worlds, and they discuss the nuances of consent, compliance, and challenges of navigating the power dynamics of co-creation.

Timestamps:

[00:01:04] Work-life balance struggle.
[00:04:18] Work friendships and social boundaries.
[00:06:51] Coordinator overseeing theatre productions.
[00:11:26] Opera education and industry developments.
[00:14:13] Accessibility in live performance.
[00:18:02] Navigating discomfort in performance.
[00:19:22] Consent and boundaries in performance.
[00:24:42] Choreography and consent.
[00:24:59] Tolerance in opera vs. theater.
[00:27:18] Intimacy and fight directing.
[00:32:24] Working with directors in opera.
[00:38:23] Gender bias in workload perception.
[00:38:38] Balancing multiple careers.
[00:42:48] Power dynamics in creative collaboration.
[00:47:41] Constellations of Power.
[00:49:48] Cultures of directorial dictation.
[00:53:30] Perspectives and action-inspiration.

Links:

Connect with Siobhan Richardson
http://www.siobhanrichardson.com/
https://www.instagram.com/fighteractress/

Connect with Alaina Viau
https://www.alainaviau.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alainaviau/

Connect with Loose Tea Music Theatre
https://looseteamusictheatre.com/
https://www.instagram.com/looseteatheatre/

In this episode of the Compassionate Revolution podcast, host Alaina Viau is joined by Alex Hajek, Canadian baritone, co-producer of Opera Revue.

Alex shares his experience with Opera Revue, which has sold out shows, diverse audience members across generations, and is opening doors to new perspectives within the opera industry. Discover how their unique approach has been successful and why people are craving more of these alternative expressions.

The traditional opera model is being challenged by the desires of new generations and the importance of embracing different expressions and ways of engaging. How do we find the delicate balance between giving the audience what they want and maintaining artistic integrity? What happens if we get rid of the stuffy rules, high prices, and boring acts that get in the way of enjoying opera?

Timestamps:

[00:01:55] The opera career in Europe.
[00:05:09] Opera burlesque fusion.
[00:08:20] Burlesque dancers collaboration.
[00:12:23] Violence on public transit.
[00:15:47] Repertoire concerns and audience engagement.
[00:19:58] Long opera performances.
[00:23:07] Decline in sports and entertainment.
[00:27:21] Comedy in opera and its impact.
[00:31:06] Opera as an investment.
[00:35:00] Performers feeding off audience energy.
[00:38:30] Pop artists as entertainers.
[00:42:27] Celebrity culture in opera.
[00:46:07] Local talent in opera.

Links:

Connect with Alex Hajek
https://alexanderhajek.com/
https://www.instagram.com/hazardust/
https://www.youtube.com/@operarevue

Connect with Alaina Viau
https://www.alainaviau.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alainaviau/

Connect with Loose Tea Music Theatre
https://looseteamusictheatre.com/
https://www.instagram.com/looseteatheatre/

In this episode of the Compassionate Revolution podcast, host Alaina Viau is joined by Daevyd Pepper, a singer, trailblazer, administrator, and spiritualist.

They dive into ways to embrace your woo-woo as an opera artist and getting comfortable with your inner world through meditation, self-talk, and neuroscience. The conversation is mystical and practical for creating one's own reality and shifting perceptions in order to navigate concepts of reality.

Timestamps:

[00:02:14] The power of screaming.
[00:04:34] Arts organizations and communication.
[00:07:28] Inclusivity and fostering belonging.
[00:13:34] Thoughts on capitalism and art.
[00:16:37] Reflection and artistic exhaustion.
[00:19:05] Asking yourself questions.
[00:23:29] Spiritual journeys and self-discovery.
[00:27:31] The power of affirmations.
[00:30:00] The power of visualization.
[00:34:28] Manifesting desires and expectations.
[00:37:23] Predatory practices in coaching.
[00:41:00] Fueling your purpose and passions.
[00:45:23] Discovering myself through running.
[00:48:47] Flow in achieving goals.
[00:54:18] Being an artist at the core.
[00:57:04] Arts-based mindset in different pursuits.

Links:

Connect with Daevyd Pepper
https://www.daevydpepper.com/
https://www.instagram.com/theybiespice/
https://www.instagram.com/heldenspice/

Connect with Alaina Viau
https://www.alainaviau.com/
https://www.instagram.com/alainaviau/

Connect with Loose Tea Music Theatre
https://looseteamusictheatre.com/
https://www.instagram.com/looseteatheatre/