Launched in 1982, the UC Davis Granada Artist-in-Residence
program is unique in American university theater, bringing
prominent theater artists—directors, playwrights, choreographers,
or filmmakers—to Davis each academic quarter to teach and create
a work for public performance. A special opportunity for graduate
and undergraduate students to work closely with major theater and
dance practitioners, it is a unique cross-cultural experience.
Established with funding provided by Britain’s Granada
Television, the program originally hosted British practitioners
exclusively, but in the 1990s, it was expanded to
include distinguished artists from all parts of the globe,
including the U.S., to better reflect the rich cultural mix of
students at UC Davis.
Since its inception, the Granada Artist-in-Residence program has
brought a roster of gifted artists to UC Davis. These artisans
include playwrights Philip Kan Gotanda and Mark Ravenhill,
directors Irina Brown and William Gaskill, as well
as choreographers John Jasperse, Bill T. Jones
and Doug Varone. Former Granada Artists Mindy Cooper and
Peter Licthtenfels are now members of the Department of Theatre
and Dance faculty.
Various distinguished artists have served on the Granada
Artist-in-Residence program advisory committee including actress
Dame Judi Dench, director Sir Peter Hall and film and television
producer Derek Granger.
All Granada artists work closely with the permanent faculty to
integrate their unique talents and areas of interest into the
existing curriculum.
Shinichi
Iova-Koga is the Artistic Director of the physical theater
and dance company called inkBoat. The company has received
five San Francisco Izzie awards and has toured in Europe, Asia
and the United States. Iova-Koga’s approach to mobility,
composition, feeling states and time stems from his experience
with Daoist Internal Arts, Action Theater (improvisation
training), Butoh Dance, Aikido and Noh Theater.
Annie Saunders, a multidisciplinary creator and director of
site-specific experiences, is the fall 2021 Granada
Artist-in-Residence for the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Saunders will be joined by her core collaborator Jackie! Zhou, a
Los Angeles-based artist and sound designer.
Originally the Department of Theatre and Dance faculty conceived
of establishing a relationship with a professional production
company in order to draw upon the expertise of eminent
professionals who would come to the department for a limited time
to create and teach.Faculty member Dan Snyder, who had worked as
a designer for Granada Television Ltd (best known in the U.S. for
its productions of Brideshead Revisited, The Jewel
in the Crown, and Lost Empires), suggested that the
department approach Granada, which had a wealth of contacts in
British theater.
Annie Saunders, a multidisciplinary creator and director of
site-specific experiences, is the fall 2021 Granada
Artist-in-Residence for the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Saunders will be joined by her core collaborator Jackie! Zhou, a
Los Angeles-based artist and sound designer.
