Our Company Values
Masks created and designed by Tara Cariaso of Waxing Moon Masks
THE AUTONOMY OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARTIST IN COLLABORATION
Artists and artisans (all contractors, designers, and technicians) will always have a creative voice in the room, and are encouraged to contribute when they have thoughts on the processes used or the work created. In every production or project, the Artistic Leadership and production directors will create an open and collaborative space for each artist and artisan to share opinions and ideas and create their own work that speaks to their perspectives, identities, and interests. When possible, Faction will hold collaborative “world-building” workshops, to develop the theatrical language of the production with the actors and designers. Creation processes will be flexible and adapt to the needs of the group. New, ensemble-devised work will be prioritized over existing plays, and creation methods will be employed that utilize the performers as “Actor-Devisors.” These Actor-Devisors contribute their ideas and perspectives to the process and the products.
ACCESSIBILITY OF THE CRAFT
Training is essential to deep, thoughtful comedic work. Often, the training required to perform Commedia dell’Arte is only available to those with the financial means to pursue specialized workshops or advanced degrees. At least once per year Faction hosts free “Intro to Commedia” workshops for local professional actors, to involve and recruit new artists. In addition, Commedia trainings are offered to production casts and understudies. Faction recognizes that it cannot pay a living wage and will work to responsibly increase contractor pay annually. Production schedules will accommodate the lives of parents, caretakers, and people with full time jobs by providing, when possible, two days off per week in a row including one weekend day off. When creating the next season's schedule, Faction will consider contractor feedback from the previous season.
EMPHASIS ON JOYFUL PROCESSES
Instead of a “safe space” or a “brave space,” Faction seeks to create “a space of acceptable risk,” in which our artists are fully informed of the risks of their decision to participate and allowed to make autonomous decisions about their participation (or lack thereof) (Theatrical Intimacy Education). Abusive behavior, unreasonable deadlines, and work schedules that prioritize urgency over quality of life will not be instituted. Meeting a deadline or an artistic goal will no longer be an excuse for harmful behavior or compromised processes. Company leadership (the Co-Artistic Directors, Associate Artistic Director, and Production Manager) work together in a collaborative, consensus based way and are training in bystander intervention and consent-based practices through organizations like Right to Be and Theatrical Intimacy Education. During productions, clear reporting processes will be shared with production artists and artisans, and all contractors will be encouraged to come forward with any instances of harm, whether it be person to person, or as a result of the processes employed by that company and/or a production. To put our Values into action, at the beginning of each project, Faction of Fools will share out Process Agreements. These Agreements can be added to, adapted, or changed by the group within a particular project to suit their process.
EMPHASIS ON JOYFUL PRODUCTS
Faction is re-imagining the tradition of Commedia as a practice of the here and now. Through our theatrical productions and educational trainings, our theatrical products are genuine reflections of our modern artists, practices, and cultural zeitgeist. Our Commedia is not a re-creation of a Renaissance relic, but a fresh embodiment rooted in joy and exceptional craft. In 2021, Faction began collaborating with Tara Cariaso of Waxing Moon Masks as Faction's Commedia & Style Consultant and Resident Mask Maker. In this role, she collaborates with Artistic Leadership to examine Commedia dell'Arte in our modern day. Together we have identified and prioritized the Renaissance Italian Commedia characters' “essential qualities” over characteristics of race, gender, sexuality, and age, leaving the archetypal characters open to any actor and their interpretation. By opening the possibilities of the archetypes and leaving space for their identities, skills, and interests, we practice the tradition of the virtuosity of the actor. Faction commissioned Cariaso to design an archetypal mask set based on this research that emphasizes these essential qualities and eliminates harmful stereotypes. This set debuted in Faction’s 2022 production of MISSED CONNECTIONS. Additionally, Faction continues to experiment with the form, and programs productions that do not necessarily align with traditional Commedia plot and character. For these productions, the acting company creates original character types and interfaces with the mask designer through Faction’s signature “Collaborative Maskmaking Process” to create original mask sets. In the “Collaborative Maskmaking Process”, the maskmaker works with each actor to design and fabricate the right mask to serve them in the character archetype they have developed.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & SERVICE
Faction serves the community by prioritizing affordable, accessible, and entertaining public performances. A sliding-scale ticket pricing system is utilized which allows patrons to select the ticket price that works best for their household budget. Additionally, our longtime relationship and previous residence at Gallaudet University has motivated us to provide open captioned performances during mainstage productions, which provide access for many in our community with varying accessibility needs. We provide medical mask required performances so those of our community with compromised health conditions are able to enjoy live theatre safely. Beyond its theatrical performances, Faction of Fools is committed to connecting with the DMV community, especially its Eastern Market neighborhood. The company pursues meaningful and ongoing community partnerships, and is particularly interested in engaging with students and theatre professionals through educational workshops. Faction is a theatre partner with Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW), and has collaborated with Young Playwrights’ Theatre to write curriculum and offer student matinees. Faction also partners with DC Collaborative, a local organization that brings DCPS students to performances and workshops, and has provided free programming to DC Collaborative through pre-recorded and in-person workshops, which have reached over 2000 students. In addition, Faction seeks to provide at least one grant-funded performance of A COMMEDIA ROMEO AND JULIET to a DCPS school annually. Faction also maintains relationships with local universities and community colleges such as Gallaudet University, Montgomery College, and Howard County Community College, and offers in-person Commedia workshops throughout the DMV for students of all ages, reaching about 750 students per year.