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THE ACADEMY
The Hunter Gates Academy was founded in 1999 in Toronto, Canada, under the guidance of its director - Hunter Gates. It is Canada's only one year full time professional training establishment, devoted to physical theatre practitioners, including writers, directors, producers and actors. It offers an intensive program which explores the complexities of every day life, discovers the spectacular within the mundane, and creates the ability to theatrically present the artist's unique viewpoint. The aware physical body is used as a vehicle that connects life and art together as one. The full time, one-year curriculum of the Academy is devoted to the development of fundamental skills, leading into an intensive focus on performance and creative development.
The Academy draws its student base nationally and internationally, welcoming artists seeking the opportunity to develop as performers and creators in the realm of physical theatre. Through discipline and gained personal development, the training is seen as a key to subsequent artistic, business and academic success. Students come from a variety of backgrounds, ranging from the graduates of secondary arts programs to professional performers seeking to enhance their skills in the medium of physical theatre or to begin strong artistic professional careers.
THE PHILOSOPHY
The Academy's direction is to offer artists an opportunity to step beyond what they have already experienced and to become originators of their own explorative work, be it as a teachers, writers, directors, producers or performers. The Academy strives to challenge and test each student on a daily basis and to strengthen his or her individuality.
Through a carefully structured environment with set events and themes, students are encouraged to reach beyond themselves, to make each discovery significant, and to acquire the technical ability and the physical skill necessary to develop professional standards of expertise. The aim of the Academy is to prepare students to be ready to make the most of each professional opportunity, to continue their growth with each work experience in the direction of their individual skill, to start their own companies, or to work within the theatre community on stage or behind the scenes.
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