TEACHING 1
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND GALWAY [2000 – PRESENT]
I am going to deal with my freelance work separately, and deal only here with my varied work at NUIG. Here are a number of the courses I have devised and delivered.
MASTERS IN DRAMA AND THEATRE STUDIES [2000 – PRESENT]
DEVISING AND ENSEMBLE , a practical in-depth module on ensemble theatre , focusing particularly on Brook, Berkoff and Michael Chekhov on the MA programme. Whilst this module involves reading and essays , it is mostly learning through practise which develops a fuller emotional learning and understanding .
CHEKHOV TECHNIQUE, THEORY AND PRACTISE ( current) unites a practical exploration with an intellectual understanding of the technique and its various influences.
THE BA DRAMA COURSE [2009 – PRESENT]
THE ETHOS OF PERFORMANCE is basically an intro course , with classes on voice, movement, imagination, acting techniques , text, improvisation etc to introduce students to the wide range of skills required for performance. The voice work is a fusion of Linklater and Chekhov , the acting classes exploring Chekhov and Hagen techniques and exercises.
ENGAGING WITH THE PLAY , working on scenes from a play, and teaching the student through acting classes and an in-depth presentation on how they might approach a play as actors [primarily] and directors.
VOICE AND SHAKESPEARE. (Current) working on the technicalities and imaginative physical work to free the voice and release the power of text for the actor by applying that work on Shakespeare soliloquies.
APPLIED DRAMA WITH THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE [2012, 2013]
4th year medical students devise a piece of theatre from their own writing about their feelings on the medical profession to connect with their feelings on their profession, learn relaxation and develop emotional knowledge. They also explore voice work, breathing relaxation and psycho-physical body work. This module has been extremely successful and the course is being expanded in 2014
CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING AND TEACHING [2009 – 2013)
A short course for Lecturers on Voice and Lecturing Performance.
TEACHING 2
Theatre Director and Ensemble Teacher Third level / MIT/ GORHAM USM/ TRINITY COLLEGE ETC April 2005 – Present
This section deals with short courses and Artist in Residence at University Level .
The Lir at Trinity , Ireland . Michael Chekhov Intensive with the 2nd year Acting students.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [2005/06 ] Ensemble and Devising, Directing module Undergraduate level. Supervision of student directing project. Also directed a play with students.
University Of Southern Maine, Portland. [2005/06] Short-term Residency. Taught various acting/directing classes to theatre majors including practical directing seminars.
University of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Wales, and Queen’s University Belfast: Physicalising Shakespearean Text.
TEACHING 3
Theatre and Voice teaching /Applied Drama /Community work. National Association of Youth Drama /Blue Teapots Theatre Company [ various] 1996 – present
This section deals with my community and youth work in Voice, Devising and Theatre training .
My extensive work with young people includes directing numerous Youth Theatre productions, particulars upon request. For Theatre Omnibus, a group with physical disabilities, I have written and directed two professional shows with community involvement. I have also worked with a group with learning disabilities called Blue Teapot, in Galway, in both devised and pre-written projects, working particularly with voice and rhythm.
I have worked with the National Association of Youth Drama on several occasions in various devising residential projects
I have applied my programmes in Youth Theatres all over the country as a staff tutor and freelance worker on regional festival programmes. I also work privately with students. In 2008 I served as Voice and Text Coach for the National Association of Youth Drama’s production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, performed at the Peacock Theatre .
I have also worked with Secondary teachers in both Switzerland and Italy on issues of performance and teaching Shakespeare.
TEACHING 4. CHEKHOV TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE IRELAND
In 2016 I set up Chekhov Training and Performance Ireland . A series of weekend workshops was run on Chekhov technique and devising , Chekhov and Directing, and intro classes and an advanced Continuers series. These workshops are ongoing – check out the Chekhov Training and Performance Ireland on this blog or on FB
Teaching 5. SUNDRY INFORMATION AND EVENTS.
I have earned my certificate as a teacher of Chekhov Technique and am now using the technique as a mainstay of all my teaching and directing work.
I have lectured on Shakespeare and Marlowe; been invited to guest teach on a number of playwriting courses, and taught Performance Poetry at the annual Cúirt International Literature Festival in Galway.
DIRECTING
2018.THE SACRIFICIAL WIND CTPI and The SEAMUS HEANEY CENTRE
TWELFTH NIGHT .NUIG and CTPI. O’Donoghue Theatre Galway.
2017 THE SACRIFICIAL WIND CTPI AND CUIRT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE. THT STUDIO.
THE BACCHAE NUIG and CTPI . Mick Lally Theatre.
2016.THE SACRIFICIAL WIND by Lorna Shaughnessy. NUIG and CTPI.
THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE .NUIG and Core. The Mick Lally Theatre.Druid Lane. Galway
2015: MORE LIGHT by Bryony Lavery . Core Theatre College
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI by Webster. Collaboration between Theatrecorp/Town Hall Theatre and NUI Galway.
2014 YERMA by Lorca. Mick Lally Theatre, Druid Lane Galway collaboration between NUI Galway and Core Theatre College
2013 MEASURE FOR MEASURE by Shakespeare. Black Box Theatre. Galway. Collaboration between Theatrecorp/Town Hall Theatre and NUI Galway
2011 THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams. Theatrecorp/Town Hall production. Town Hall Theatre Galway and tour.
2009 THE HUMAN VOICE by Jean Cocteau. Produced by Theatrecorp, Nun’s Island Theatre, Galway. [DVD available]
2009 MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM By Shakespeare. Produced by Galway Youth Theatre and Cuirt International Festival .[DVD Available]
2008 THE MAIDS by Jean Genet. Produced by Theatrecorp, Town Hall Theatre, Galway. [DVD available]
2007 BLOOD WEDDING by Federico Garcia Lorca. Produced by Theatrecorp, Town Hall Theatre, Galway. Irish tour. [DVD Available]
2006 THE OLD LAW by Middleton and Rowley. Adaptation by Max Hafler. M.I.T., DramaShop.
2005 WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett. Produced by Theatrecorp. Town Hall Theatre, Galway.[DVD available]
2005 THE MIDNIGHT COURT. For Cuirt Festival. Town Hall Theatre Galway.
2004 DOCTOR FAUSTUS by Christopher Marlowe. Produced by Theatrecorp. Black Box Theatre, Galway. Bold ensemble interpretation of Marlowe’s classic [DVD available].
2003/4 THE TRIAL by Stephen Berkoff. Based on Kafka’s novel. Cúirt Festival. Performed by Galway Youth Theatre. Town Hall Theatre Studio, Galway. [DVD available] The production toured to London.
2003 CUTFLOWERS. Hafler. Galway Youth Theatre/OneWorld Centre radio play. [CD available]
2002 ALIEN NATION. Hafler. Cúirt Festival. Performed by Galway Youth Theatre [DVD available]
2001 THE ORIGINAL NIGHT OF FRANCIS FAHY. Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
2000 PAINTING THE PRINCESS. Spring Onion Puppet Theatre
Tour of primary schools.
1999 CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE by Bertolt Brecht. Belltable Arts Centre/Limerick Youth Theatre.
1998 SPIRIT by Max Hafler/Aranos, Town Hall Studio, as part of “Speaking Allowed” programme.
1998 MACBETH by Shakespeare. Galway Arts Festival/Galway Youth Theatre.
1998 SPELL OF THE MEGAMALL. Hafler. For Theatre Omnibus. City Arts Centre, Dublin.
1996 THE MAZED WORLD. [Author?] Sorted Theatre Company, Town Hall Studio Galway.
WRITING CREDITS (plays)
2008 THIS MEANS WAR (based on Aristophanes’ Lysistrata)
for Cúirt Festival, Galway Arts Centre. Performed by Galway Youth Theatre
DANCING WITH THE MINOTAUR Staged reading at Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
2007 BODY OF CHRIST. Commissioned by Storytellers Theatre Company, Dublin.
2004 FAST. Commissioned by One World Centre, Galway. Series of short radio programmes about some young people who go on a 24-hour fast on behalf of the starving people of the world.
2003 BATTLE STATIONS. For Cúirt Literature Festival and Galway Youth Theatre. About a young girl in a small town who defies disapproval and holds a candlelight vigil against the Iraq War.
CUT FLOWERS. One World Centre, Community Radio Project. 30-minute documentary with songs and music about the flower trade in Ecuador and the impact of globalisation.
2002 ALIEN NATION. Galway Arts Centre. Poem/play for Cúirt International Festival, tackling issues of racism and cultural identity in Ireland. Performed by Galway Youth Theatre. Published in Playshare.
2000 GRAND. Performed by the Yew Tree Theatre Co. Directed by John Breen. A woman in a small town receives anonymous, threatening letters.
WAKING THE WOODBOY. Novel. The story of a busker and his puppet in a city on the west coast of Ireland. Published by WynkindeWorde, 2002.
1998 SPIRIT. Music by Aranos. Tone poem for performance. Performed by Speaking Allowed, Town Hall Theatre, Galway.
1997-‘98 SPELL OF THE MEGAMALL. Multi-media opera fable. Performed at City Arts Centre, Dublin, and in Co. Clare. For Theatre Omnibus. (Artist in the Community Award – Irish Arts Council)
1997 MELTING DOVES. Performed by Yew Theatre, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Directed by Martin Maguire. About youth, drugs, time, and club culture in the west of Ireland. Tour to Andrew’s Lane Theatre, Dublin. (See Awards)
1996 VERITAS. Radio play for RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann). World Premiere Drama, a series for established Irish and Irish-based writers. Produced by Michael Campion.
MAMMI CHRISTMAS. Play with music for Theatre Omnibus, Co. Clare. Performed in Clare and Galway.
1995 ALBION TOWER. Award winning radio play for BBC Radio 3. Uses rap, rhythm, music and drama to tell a “Tower of Babel” story set in Birmingham, UK. (see Awards)
LOTTO. RTÉ Radio. Producer Scott Fredericks.
THE DONKEY THIEF. RTÉ Radio. Producer Scott Fredericks.
1994 PURIM. Verse play. Reading at the Cockpit Theatre, London.
1993 CELESTINA. Adaptation of de Rojas’ 15 C. classic, with Nick Phillipou, for The Actors’ Touring Company. Performed at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; The Lyric Studio, London; and the Belfast Festival.
1992 DOCTOR FAUSTUS. Adaptation of Marlowe’s play. Produced by Commonweal Theatre Co. Performed at the Brighton International Festival and at the Lyric Studio, London.
1991 THE OLD LAW. Radical adaptation of Middleton and Rowley’s play for Commonweal Theatre Co.
1987 FALLING PREY. Man in the Moon Theatre, London. The first play exploring the political impact of AIDS in Britain.
AWARDS
SONY AWARD FOR BEST DRAMA 1996 : for ALBION TOWER – a play for BBC Radio 3.
COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY AWARD 1996 : for ALBION TOWER.
Stewart Parker Award 1998 : nominated for MELTING DOVES, a stageplay for Yew Theatre Company.
Winner of New Performance Poet of The Year National Competition 1994. England.
ACTING
1977 – 1992. Extensive career in theatre and television.
Theatre: Seasons at Manchester Library Theatre; Bristol Old Vic; Lancaster Dukes Playhouse; the New Shakespeare Company; the Soho Poly Theatre; and Commonweal Theatre Company at the Lyric Theatre Studio, London. Roles included Brutus (Julius Caesar), Faustus (Doctor Faustus), Alan Strang (Equus), The British Soldier (The Hostage), Longaville (Love’s Labour’s Lost).
Television and film – LEADING ROLES: Our Winnie (Alan Bennett – BBC); Turn For The Worse (Alan Bleasdale – BBC); Through An Unknown Land (Phil Mulloy – CH 4); Happy (BBC); Kisses on the Bottom (BBC); Rottingdean (BBC); The Assassination Run (BBC); Soldiers Talking Cleanly (BBC). Numerous supporting roles.
Voiceover: Voice of Hans Christian Andersen for an animated series made in Ireland. [MAGMA FILMS Broadcast 2002]
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE
1988 – 1992. Administration of Commonweal Theatre Company, involving business law, registering as a Charity, funding negotiation, negotiation with the Arts Council, and direct contact with business and sponsorship managers.
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCES
2018 Article “What country,Friends is this ? Drama UK
2016 TEACHING VOICE published by Nick Hern Books 2016
Journal for Applied Arts and Health /Operating Theatre
Intellect Ltd
February 2013
An article describing the devising process of a theatre piece with Fourth Year Medical students on the subject of ‘Healing’ which explores the journey embarked upon by participants and facilitator, and its efficacy in opening up ethical discussion and general development.
Journal: RTDP: Theatre, Dance and Performance Training Manuscript
ID:804260
Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Manuscript Title: Postcards
By: Aita;Punpeng;Evans;Hafler;
Journal :The Clinical Teacher/Discovering emotional honesty
By: Hayes, Hafler,Cantillon.
ALIEN NATION -Playshare
National Association of Youth Drama Ireland
2005
Five individual plays for youth drama each written by a different author.
Alien Nation was a choral piece about the effects of racism on young people.It has been performed in schools and youth groups all over Ireland.
ATHE 2008 – Denver , Colorado. At the 2008 Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE) Conference in Denver, Colorado, I spoke on two panels and directed a staged reading of a new play.
Max Hafler - Radiating /Receiving 