2 Week Theatre Directing Lab

2-Week Intensive Practical Lab

For Choreographers, Movement Directors, Directors of Physical Theatre

Dates provided upon request, contact us

Russian Repertory Theatre

The 2-week international Lab offers a unique opportunity to take part in the intensive practical training together with Russian professional actors at the Russian repertory theatre.

REGISTRATION

Participants who successfully finish the Lab can receive IUGTE Certificate.

CERTIFICATION

LAB OBJECTIVES

  • To provide unique international space stimulating creativeness;

  • To create opportunity for new experience of creative collaboration in multicultural and multilingual theatre environment; To study practically the heritage of the Russian Theatre Tradition as the source of precious knowledge for directors in contemporary theatre; To inspire the search of the universal “intercultural” language in contemporary performance; To provide a safe place for creative risks and challenging environment for new professional skills - on the way to light, creative and joyful performance.

The working languages are English and Russian (knowledge of one of the languages is sufficient).

The morning practical sessions develop in the form of various exercises based on improvisation, space exploration and interacting with partners. Individual, pair and group exercises develop in particular sequence from simple to more compound. According to Ostrenko Method, each set of exercises follows out of the previous and is connected with the subsequent one. Through the intensive physical training participants will explore how the systematized psycho-physical approach fosters connection and cohesion among the performers, creates particular atmosphere and dynamics in the group. After the lunch break the group proceeds to ensemble structural improvisations which gradually evolve to little etudes and performances. Directors and choreographers will be able to learn how to provide the guidance to the performers in creative process: how to propose a physical language to actors, how to help them to build up images and characters, how to connect various modules and elements into the whole performance fragments, how to unfold the actor’s creative nature, encourage his relationship with artistic space, his freedom in improvisation and spontaneity.

Participants will research the connection between physical action and voice, gesture, movement, dance and word, explore performer's physicality as the key to form, style, atmosphere and emotional palette, learn to build up the composition of the form and the artistic space of the performance, gain helpful practical tools and valuable tips for mounting contemporary performances. The understanding of the basic principles of a methodological directing approach concerns any genre, whether it is a dance performance, physical theatre performance, drama performance or musical theatre.

During the Lab participants will become acquainted with Ostrenko's method of psycho-physical training and rehearsal, formed and inspired by the Russian Theatre Tradition. Methods of Stanislavsky, Meyerhold and M.Chekhov, Meyerhold's Biomechanics Etudes, Tai-chi for performers, training by method of improvisation, scene composition from exercises to performance: these are some of the elements uniquely transformed and combined in Ostrenko's teaching system.

The Lab in Russia is open to choreographers and directors of physical theatre working in various techniques and styles interested to acquire reliable toolkit to create contemporary professional productions in limited rehearsal time.

PROGRAMME

The Artistic Director of the Lab is the Russian theatre director, teacher, the Head of IUGTE Russian Theatre Department, Sergei Ostrenko.

The programme is organized in the framework of the Theatre Directing Lab, IUGTE International Department which offers unique “launchpad” opportunities for directors and choreographers from all over the world.

Siu Hei Chung, Hong Kong

"You changed my entire approach to acting and directing that my students and I will treasure forever. It's wonderful to see that you continue to spread your technique to theatre artists from around the world."

Lorna Strand (USA)

"I greatly miss everyone I met and worked with in the workshop and I truly hope that I can work with all of them again one day. I ended the workshop on a positive note, knowing that I have grown and developed in my acting skills - with knowledge that I can also impart to my very own young speech and drama students in Singapore".

Jamie Shawn Tan, Singapore

"Throughout my long career in theatre I have had the chance to study with a great number of instructors, unfortunately an excessively great number of them were a waist of my time, where I had to force myself to find what was it exactly the thing I was learning. I am so grateful that you made this few days of training so creatively rich. There was so much substance to work with and develop, that the time seemed to be always too little".

Daniel Dewald, Finland

"As I look back on the workshop I realise I’ve taken the first steps in my journey to develop a coherent way of working, and of thinking like a director. I’ve been shown the key to form, style, atmosphere and the emotional palette in contemporary performance. I know now the job of a director is to hold the attention of the spectator ‘always’, and to think about what makes the spectator respond ‘constantly’"

Donna Maria Banicevich Gera, New Zealand

"I loved the international aspect of the group, connecting with people from different cultures and the cross-disciplines of actors, directors and choreographers. I enjoyed the social outings to dinner and the laughs, fun and conversations we shared. It was stimulating to discover how other people made theatre work in their country and what challenges they faced, both personally and professionally."

Audrey Jenkinson, UK

"I learnt how to give clear and brief instructions to actors through the process I was given instructions. Compared with knowledge learnt through words, what I could learn through body was wisdom, which might last longer with a greater effect. As a director, I realized that getting actors involved and experienced somatically was much more effective than intellectual discussions".

For registration conditions and more practical details, please Contact Us.

The group is forming on a competitive basis. Only several spots are available.

For application and more practical details, candidates should send the following documents to iugte.projects@gmail.com

    • Letter of motivation stating interest in joining the Lab.

    • Detailed CV.

    • Latest head shot and 2-3 additional photos.

    • Any information confirming directing/choreographic experience: web links to past projects, performances, photo, video, reviews, articles, interviews, etc.

Welcome to IUGTE Photo Gallery of the Past Projects!

Organized by IUGTE in collaboration with "ArtUniverse"

For partners and collaborators: if you are interested in having this project at your theatre, university, organization, etc. please contact us for practical details.