Directing Workshop - July 2017 - Austria

The workshop is highly recommended to directors interested in learning about ensemble building, directing, structuring the rehearsal process, to clarify and hone what they already know and to get exposed to new techniques and methodologies, and ultimately, to network with practitioners from different countries and establish future creative partnerships with like-minded people.

• - "Irresponsible" composition of crazy ideas.

• - Avoiding cliche and stereotypes.

• - Composition of style.

• - Determination of the genre.

• - Search of the form of the performance.

• - The period time of expectation and ripening.

• - Enlightenment.

• - Check-up by the play.

• - Director, composer, designer, choreographer – the team of leaders.

• - Some words about casting.

2) Ostrenko method of rehearsal - from exercises to building up a scene.

Composing the Performance:

- Emotional penetration into the play - repeated reading, contemplation of images, active story telling, etc.

- Formulation of the plot - brief story about the main conflict.

- Discovery of the basic events and actions - initial, final, main and central events; through actions of all characters; counter-actions and conflicts.

- Analysis the given circumstances - space, time, objects.

- Exploring the main traits of the characters - what does the script itself reveals about the characters and what do the characters reveal about themselves and other characters.

- Immersion into the material - exploring the epoch, biography of the author, personal correspondence of the author, critiques and reviews of the time.

- Formulation of the super-objective of the performance - connecting all characters through actions and the super-objective.

Analysis of the play:

1) Director's preparation from reading of the play until meeting with the actors.

In the evenings participants will become acquainted with Ostrenko Method of director's preparation, formed and inspired by the Russian Theatre Tradition. The group will develop enlightening and informative discussions, analyze their discoveries and explore relevant topics on contemporary theatre making.

LECTURES & DISCUSSIONS

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. In this way directors practically explore the role of the physical training in working with actors, how the systematized psychophysical approach fosters connection and cohesion among the actors, 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 will observe the practical process of how to provide the guidance to the actors in creative process: how to help the actor to build up images, 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 on the way to the light and joyful acting. The practical study of the relationship director ----> actor is essential in Ostrenko method of preparation for directors. This means creative "interpenetration" and living experience which can gained only in living practice with performers, and not merely intellectually. The method of a director who works with actors is never static, it is in constant development, improvement and growth.

OSTRENKO LAB PROGRAMME - PRACTICAL SESSIONS

The training is designed as the multidisciplinary intensive lab with participation and practice together with performers from different techniques and countries. Multidisciplinarity and multiculturality is one of the most important priciples of IUGTE programs. In real life in professional practice directors always have to work and collaborate in a team of specialists. This means the ability to establish effective relationships with all colleagues involved in a production. This requires mutual understanding and particular art in today's changing world. Thus, IUGTE programs for directors provide a unique opportunity to practice in groups with performers and artists from various disciplines - choreographers, dancers, actors, etc. Such practice creates a "full circle", completeness, mutual exchange and complementarity, so valuable and unique in any creative process in the world of arts.

The programme includes intensive practical training, lectures and discussions under the guidance of the theatre director, choreographer and teacher Sergei Ostrenko. Ostrenko Method will introduce some of the effective techniques and approaches towards contemporary performance practice in the context and the circumstances of the short rehearsal time and multicultural aspect of creative team.

The workshop is open to practicing theatre directors working in various genres, techniques and styles interested to acquire reliable director's toolkit to create contemporary professional productions.

IUGTE Directing intensives open the door towards unique professional development opportunities for directors - participation in collaboration projects and performance productions with professional actors at repertory theatres.