Curt L. Tofteland was the fifth Creative Fellow of the University of Auckland’s Creative Thinking Project. Curt has worked in professional theatre for 37 years as a director, actor, producer, playwright, writer, teacher, programme developer, and prison arts practitioner.
ABOUT CURT TOFTELAND
Curt is the founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars, an internationally acclaimed personal transformation programme which combines art, theatre, and the works of William Shakespeare to create Restorative Circles of Reconciliation in prisons. Shakespeare Behind Bars is the subject of Philomath Films award-winning documentary: this began its life at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and traveled to more than forty film festivals around the world, winning eleven awards. After nearly 20 years, Shakespeare Behind Bars is the oldest Shakespeare programme of its kind operating in North American prisons.
During his visit (18 to 28 May), Curt Tofteland made public presentations in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington.
At these public presentations, he discussed the difference creativity can make in people’s lives:
- the creative process and the power of art to heal and redeem–in a place where the very act of participation in theatre is a human triumph and a means of personal liberation.
- the way in which creativity provides hope and courage to act, despite prisoner’s fears and the odds against them.
- the relationship between creativity, empathy and trust.
View Curt Tofteland’s talks and profile on TedXBerkeley.
Read the NZ Herald article on Curt Tofteland and his visit to New Zealand, published 1 May 2015.
Hear Curt Tofteland on KickArts on Radio PlanetFM 104.6 with Richard Green from Shakespeare in Schools, broadcast 16 May 2015.
Read Shakespeare Behind Bars founder in New Zealand, an article by Shane Cowlishaw, posted on Stuff.co.nz on 18 May 2015.
Watch Curt Tofteland interviewed on TV3 News on 22 May 2015.
Listen to Curt Tofteland in conversation with Wallace Chapman on Radio NZ National’s SUNDAY MORNING programme, aired 24 May 2015.
Watch Curt Tofteland’s interview with the US Embassy on YouTube.
Watch the Creative Thinking Project interviews with Curt Tofteland below.
CURT TOFTELAND’S PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS
AUCKLAND PUBLIC LECTURE
Date: 18 May 2015
Time: 6.00 pm
Venue: Library Basement Lecture Theatre B10, University of Auckland General Library, 5 Alfred Street, Auckland
CHRISTCHURCH PUBLIC LECTURE
Date: 26 May 2015
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: Te Puna Wanaka, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT), 130 Madras Street, Christchurch
WELLINGTON PUBLIC LECTURE – Creativity: The Possibilities of Hope
Date: 27 May 2015
Time: 6.00pm
Venue: Soundings Theatre, Level 2, Te Papa Museum of New Zealand, Cable Street, Wellington
These events proudly supported by:
THE CHARTWELL TRUST and THE FERNYHOUGH VISUAL ARTS AND EDUCATION TRUST
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