017: Playwright Tamara Kissane remodels MASTER BUILDER (interviewed by Mara Thomas!)

January 15, 2018

That’s right, Soapboxers. We’ve turned the tables! Mara Thomas interviews Tamara Kissane about the upcoming world premiere of Tamara’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s THE MASTER BUILDER, ambition, aspirations, and loving unlikeable characters.

Tamara Kissane is a Durham-based playwright, actor, creative coach, and  mom, and she is the host of the Artist Soapbox podcast. Tamara’s upcoming adaptation of THE MASTER BUILDER (after Ibsen), produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern, opens January 18. She’ll be acting in The Moors at Manbites Dog Theater in February 2018 and has recently co-written a children’s show titled SALLY’S RIDE: TO SPACE AND BEYOND as a part of Curious Theatre Collective.

Master Builder is showing January 18 – February 3 at Mystery Brewery (437 Dimmock’s Mill Rd, Hillsborough). GET TICKETS!

This episode is brought to you by the Soapboxers, the official patrons of the Artist Soapbox. If you like these episodes and want more, get on the Soapbox! Podcast recorded at the ASBX home studio.

Mentioned:

Episode 015: Choreographer and performer Nicola Bullock travels the distance for IMAGO

Episode 012: [Quickie] Host Tamara Kissane tells the story of the genesis of Artist Soapbox

Episode 011: Artistic Director Amy Sawyers-Williams applies theatre for social justice, education, and healing

Time break-down:

[0:00] Episode intro and Tamara bio

[0:58] Tamara, how do you approach adapting a classic play like Ibsen’s THE MASTER BUILDER or Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL?

[6:00] Why did you choose THE MASTER BUILDER, specifically, to adapt?

[8:36] Gender swapping and ambition: Is this play about ambition?

[14:17] Writing ‘unlikeable’ characters

[18:46] Making MASTER BUILDER contemporary: the opening scene is a talk show!

[21:51] The relationship between the characters Hildy and Sully? What’s that deal with Hildy’s wings?

[24:54] Finding your voice as a playwright

[29:25] “Please cast a diverse group of actors…”

[31:50] Writing vs. Acting

[35:40] Aspirations for ASBX

[40:20] Creative Coaching

[42:15] What’s next?

[44:14] Thank you and sign-off

Artist Soapbox podcast is a listener supported podcast. If you listen, please support the podcast by sharing episodes with friends and contributing via our Patreon campaign.

If you have feedback, questions, suggestions, please email artistsoapbox@gmail.com. FEEDBACK IS EVERYTHING TO ASBX.

Artist Soapbox

Artist Soapbox is a platform for original scripted audio fiction and an opportunity for artists to discuss their creative work in their own voices. We do this through our interview podcast, our blog, live events, and original audio dramas.

Artist Soapbox is an anti-racist organization. We believe Black Lives Matter. In addition, as a podcast production company, ASBX has signed the Equality in Audio Pact on Broccoli Content.

Artist Soapbox is more than just a podcast.

We lead writers groups, accountability support, workshops, and events. We produce and create audio dramas too! Listen to the Master Builder, The New Colossus Audio Drama, Jesus Pancake, Declaration of Love, Food for Thought, and ASBX Shorts. Stay tuned to hear about more projects written by the Soapbox Audio Collective Writers’ Group.

Audio Dramas

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Jesus Pancake

Jesus Pancake is the newest scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox. Nine episodes of zany dark comedy.

Listen
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The New Colossus

The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

Listen
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Master Builder

This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2018 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Henrick Ibsen’s classic, The Master Builder published in 1892.

Listen
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Declaration of Love

Co-producers Aurelia Belfield and Tamara Kissane of Artist Soapbox commissioned eleven NC playwrights to craft short audio scenes based on the prompt “Declaration of Love.”

Listen
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Food for Thought

Three pilot episodes of new scripted audio fiction series inspired by the prompt Food for Thought.

Listen
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ASBX Shorts

ASBX Shorts are six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, our new audio fiction series in development.

Listen
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