ISTA-Scene June 08

A BRIEFHISTORY OF1978-1979 – The first High School Theatre Festival at theAmerican School in London, England with 8 schools present. HighSchool Festivals continued for a few years in Frankfurt, Brusselsand Paris with roughly 150 students at each, representing 10schools.1982-1983 – An all-night director’s meeting resulted in theformation of the Association. We became a non-profit organisationand membership was opened up. An Executive Council wasformed, statutes were written and an official philosophy formed.The first Travelling Troupe was created and produced The Crucibleunder the direction of Bill Smart. The ISTA logo, based on anancient Persian symbol for Lady Sun and designed by Pat Zich,was adopted.1983-1984 – Student Directed Scenes were introduced; the firstbeing from Rosencratz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The ISTAnewsletter first started with editor Bev Meyer.1984-1985 – Two festivals took place for High School studentsand Pat Zich was hired as part-time Executive Consultant. Shetook over the ISTA newsletter; we presented at ECIS for the firsttime and the first Teacher Conference was organised.1985-1986 – We moved to 3 High School Festivals and theTeacher Conference moved to Stratford-upon-Avon.1986-1987 – The first Middle School Festival took place in Zurich.The position of Executive Consultant became full time and Pat’sbook Teaching Ensemble Technique in Theatre was published.1988-1989 – Michigan State University began to offer graduatecredit to participants in the ISTA Teachers Conferences. TheTravelling Troupe, sadly, was discontinued due to lack of funding.1989-1990 – Membership exceeds 50 and we buy our firstcomputer equipment. Our first summer programme ISTASUMMERTIME takes place in Lancashire.1990-1991 – Two Middle School Festivals for the first time; thirtynine schools were involved in High School Festivals and MiddleSchool Festivals had participants from four continents – Asia, NorthAmerica, Australia and Europe.1991-1992 – A landmark year with membership reaching 60 andwe held our first festival in Asia. Three new monographs joined thenewly computerised publications Teaching Ensemble Technique inTheatre and Dramantics (by Tim Willliams). ISTA SUMMERTIMEmoved to York and Council elections were opened to themembership.This year also saw our first International Baccalaureate Theatre ArtsProgramme Symposium in Stratford with 90 teachers andstudents.1992-1993 – Our first High School Festival in Asia. ISTA ‘centre ofoperations’ temporarily moved to Upstate New York as Pat caredfor her son Rick. Executive Council meeting held in Amsterdam inMay.1993-1994 – For the first time in the history of the organisation,with sound financial planning recommended by August Zemo, ISTAended the year with a surplus!1994-1995 – Four High School and four Middle School Festivalsthis year. Our first festival in Australia hosted by NarrabundahCollege.1995-1996 – Staff retreat hosted by Tim Williams in Spain andISTA became a registered Company and Charity in the UK.1996-1997 – Dinos Aristidou took over as President. TedMiltenberger was recognised for his leadership of the organisationsince its founding. TAPS continued in Stratford with, this year, DrIan Hill attending from the IB. We hired our first Asia PacificCoordinator (Sally Robertson). ISTA SUMMERTIME continued atTASIS in London.1997-1998 – We organised our first Teacher Conference in Asiacalled The Balinese Experience. ISTA ceased its own summerprogramme, but began lending support to ENCORE! summerprogramme, based in the South of France.1998-1999 – First TAPS held in Asia Pacific, in Australia at StLeonard’s College. The IB Middle Years Programme, Drama andTheatre Experience took place for the first time in Vienna.1999-2000 – Our first festivals in Africa and the Middle East(Tanganyika and Bahrain respectively).2000-2001 – Mike Pasternak took over as President. Pat retiredand Sally Robertson took over as CEO of the organisation. SallyDellow took over the Asia Pacific Coordinator role. First ‘personnel’began work for ISTA as Jo Webb took over accounts. ISTAproduced 10 events this year.2001-2002 – First Primary Teacher Experience and first TAPS inNorth America. ‘Scene’ ISTA’s quarterly journal replaced themonthly newsletter. The Executive Council was replaced by theBoard of Trustees and our Memorandum of Articles was amendedby special resolution. We held our first Tech Festival in Malaysia.2003-2004 – A second landmark year with membership exceeding100. We produced 13 events this year. We also introduced a newrange of publications beginning with Drama and the Middle SchoolCurriculum, IB Projects in Practice and the IB Handbook. Our firstStrategic Plan was created by David Lightbody and SallyRobertson.2004-2005 – The number of events moved to 14 this year. Weheld our first Primary Festival, which took place in Amsterdam; andwe had two Primary Teacher Experiences, one in Europe and onein Asia. IB North America were approached regarding ISTA’s role inrunning workshops for teachers in the region; we were invited tobe workshop provider. Ted Miltenberger retired from the Board ofTrustees. We introduced a new role within the organisation – thatof Honorary Life Member – Ted became our first. The main ISTAoffice moved ‘down under’ to Perth in Western Australia.2005-2006 – Mike Pasternak retired as President and DavidLightbody replaced him. Mike was invited to be Honorary Lifemember, along with Dinos Aristidou. We produced 16 events thisyear including 4 TAPS; our first in North America with full IBsupport in San Francisco. We also began a new collaboration withthe Sherman Theatre in Cardiff for TAPS. ISTA worked alongsidethe IB to produce the new Teacher Support Material for the IBTheatre course.2006-2007 – ISTA produced 19 events. The Strategic Plan isupdated (including a new Growth Strategy). Our main officereturned back to Cornwall.2007-2008 – We introduced our first Bonsai Festival, which tookplace in Berne. We are now supported by one full time employeeand four part time personnel. A Memorandum of Understandingwas created between the IB and ISTA. Three interim Boardmeetings were set up, to supplement our main annual meeting inorder to discuss long term planning and growth. We will finish theyear with 145 members and look ahead to 24 events on nextyear’s calendar…Scene | 2007-8 June Issue 4 | 21