Embodied Dramaturgy

Welcome

Dear Reader

 

Thank you for your interest in our 1-Year postgraduate program in Embodied Dramaturgy, which is offered as a collaboration between arthaus.berlin international school and the Thomas Prattki Centre for Integral Movement and Performance Studies. The program addresses advanced practitioners in the performing arts with an interest in professional development within a laboratory style environment, which combines advanced training, research and project development in the field of devised performance. The program is made of 4 modules, which investigate the shaping of what we consider personal identity, the quest for self realisation and our relationship to the world we live in through different already existing theatrical languages and newly emerging performative formats created by the participants. All the modules have one thing in common : An approach to artistic and personal individuation through the practice of embodiment, which allows for the emergence of individual or collaborative new work within a context of embodied creation and dramaturgy. Concurrent with completing these modules you will embark on an independent research project – the IRP, either alone or in collaboration with fellow artists. The research project can take place in Berlin or any location/country of your own choice.  The program finishes with a presentation of your project – either at the school or through video documentation.

 

Each module investigates through means of performance a different aspect of embodiment and how it shapes one’s sense of  identity, individuation and Self realisation. The different modules form all a thematic unit in itself, making it possible to apply to a specific module of your own choice without completing the full program, or to complete the program in your own timing.

 

We wish to create an environment, where practitioners from around the world can research and create, feel challenged and inspired and learn from and with each other to develop a culture of creative autonomy and collaboration in the field of devised performance and beyond.

 

We look forward to welcome you at our campus in Berlin.

the arthaus.berlin team

Welcome

Dear Reader

 

Thank you for your interest in our 1-Year postgraduate program in Embodied Dramaturgy, which is offered as a collaboration between arthaus.berlin international school and the Thomas Prattki Centre for Integral Movement and Performance Studies. The program addresses advanced practitioners in the performing arts with an interest in professional development within a laboratory style environment, which combines advanced training, research and project development in the field of devised performance. The program is made of 4 modules, which investigate the shaping of what we consider personal identity, the quest for self realisation and our relationship to the world we live in through different already existing theatrical languages and newly emerging performative formats created by the participants. All the modules have one thing in common : An approach to artistic and personal individuation through the practice of embodiment, which allows for the emergence of individual or collaborative new work within a context of embodied creation and dramaturgy. Concurrent with completing these modules you will embark on an independent research project – the IRP, either alone or in collaboration with fellow artists. The research project can take place in Berlin or any location/country of your own choice.  The program finishes with a presentation of your project – either at the school or through video documentation.

 

Each module investigates through means of performance a different aspect of embodiment and how it shapes one’s sense of  identity, individuation and Self realisation. The different modules form all a thematic unit in itself, making it possible to apply to a specific module of your own choice without completing the full program, or to complete the program in your own timing.

 

We wish to create an environment, where practitioners from around the world can research and create, feel challenged and inspired and learn from and with each other to develop a culture of creative autonomy and collaboration in the field of devised performance and beyond.

 

We look forward to welcome you at our campus in Berlin.

the arthaus.berlin team

Module 1 Night Sea Journeys

Night Sea Journeys

This Intensive offers a drift through the archetypal images, myths and stories of humankind which talk about the Underworlds, their terrifying monsters and hidden treasures and the journey of those individuals who dared the descent. 

Taking myths, tales, fantasy novels and contemporary paintings as a point of departure, participants are invited to explore the fears and fantasies of humankind around the inner shadowlands, which seem to hold the keys for our creativity. The artistic approach to this exploration will be done through the language of Object Theatre, Puppetry and a Theatre of the Fantastical. 

 

This Intensive is offered in collaboration with the Thomas Prattki Centre at arthaus.berlin and can be taken as part of the training in Integral Movement and Performance Practice.

For more information contact the TPC. 

 

Workshop Leaders :

Lionel Menard / France is a director and choreographer who has worked beyond others at the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Luxembourg Philharmonic, the Warsaw Mime Centrum, the Valencia Festival in Venezuela and the Sydney Festival. 

He has collaborated for many years with the company of Philipp Genty, famous for its unique use of puppetry, visual and physical theatre. He has also been a member of the Company Marcel Marceau for 10 years. 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 

After the end of Module 1 is launched the IRP:

 

Launch of IRP

Module 1

Module 1 / 5 weeks 

Night Sea Journeys

 

This Intensive offers a drift through the archetypal images, myths and stories of humankind which talk about the Underworlds, their terrifying monsters and hidden treasures and the journey of those individuals who dared the descent. 

Taking myths, tales, fantasy novels and contemporary paintings as a point of departure, participants are invited to explore the fears and fantasies of humankind around the inner shadowlands, which seem to hold the keys for our creativity. The artistic approach to this exploration will be done through the language of Object Theatre, Puppetry and a Theatre of the Fantastical. 

 

This Intensive is offered in collaboration with the Thomas Prattki Centre at arthaus.berlin and can be taken as part of the training in Integral Movement and Performance Practice.

For more information contact the TPC. 

 

Workshop Leaders :

Lionel Menard / France is a director and choreographer who has worked beyond others at the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Luxembourg Philharmonic, the Warsaw Mime Centrum, the Valencia Festival in Venezuela and the Sydney Festival. 

He has collaborated for many years with the company of Philipp Genty, famous for its unique use of puppetry, visual and physical theatre. He has also been a member of the Company Marcel Marceau for 10 years. 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 

After the end of Module 1 is launched the IRP:

 1 week – Launch of IRP

Module 2 Distortions of Normativity

Module 2 / 4 weeks

Distortions of Normativity 

Taking  the Buffonesque and the Carnivalesque and their playful celebration of “Otherness” as a point of departure, this Intensive explores the freedom of the artist to unmask, distort and play with norms, rules and conventions as we find it in the work of Rabelais, James Joyce, Action Painting and the performance art of Marina Abramovitch.

Through a playful approach to the archetypal image of the buffon as agitator, anarchist and visionary, through painting, collage and other forms of creative expression, participants will be invited to practice the art of distortion in order to open a space for new visions to be born and constructed. 

 

This Intensive is offered in collaboration with the Thomas Prattki Centre at arthaus.berlin and can be taken as part of the training in Integral Movement and Performance Practice.

For more information contact the TPC. 

 

Workshop Leaders 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 + Members of the arthaus.berlin team

Module 2

Module 2 / 4 weeks

Distortions of Normativity

 

Taking  the Buffonesque and the Carnivalesque and their playful celebration of “Otherness” as a point of departure, this Intensive explores the freedom of the artist to unmask, distort and play with norms, rules and conventions as we find it in the work of Rabelais, James Joyce, Action Painting and the performance art of Marina Abramovitch.

Through a playful approach to the archetypal image of the buffon as agitator, anarchist and visionary, through painting, collage and other forms of creative expression, participants will be invited to practice the art of distortion in order to open a space for new visions to be born and constructed. 

 

This Intensive is offered in collaboration with the Thomas Prattki Centre at arthaus.berlin and can be taken as part of the training in Integral Movement and Performance Practice.

For more information contact the TPC. 

 

Workshop Leaders : 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 + Members of the arthaus.berlin team

IRP Research Intensive

IRP Research Intensive / 4 weeks

This Intensive allows students on the full course to leave the school and dedicate themselves fully to a research period outside the studio. Whether they use this time for travels, encounters, explorations of any kind related to their project is up to them. Each student will have a mentor during this period.

IRP Research

IRP Research Intensive / 4 weeks

 

This Intensive allows students on the full course to leave the school and dedicate themselves fully to a research period outside the studio. Whether they use this time for travels, encounters, explorations of any kind related to their project is up to them. Each student will have a mentor during this period.

Module 3 Comedy and Chaos

Module 3 / 4 weeks

Comedy and Chaos

This module delves into the realm of comedy and conjures the world of chaos. With help from the clown, the shaman and the fool of old – we will playfully explore the liminal and step over the threshold of ‘normality’. With joy we will banish the beautiful and learn to embrace our idiosyncrasies, be in a moment and trust the rhythm of the ridiculous. Take back power with laughter and simple physicality and allow your creativity to be silly, free and unbridled. 

Participants will be invited to discover stories, creatures and places using a wide range of creative impulses. 

Come and make light of the darkness within and without and prepare to be seriously funny.

 

Workshop Leaders :

 

Rachel Karafistan / United Kingdom

Rachel is a British performer, teacher, academic and director with over 25 years of experience of working professionally as a theatre maker. She is the founder of Cosmino Productions (www.cosmino.org) which she runs with her partner and long term Blue Man, Kuba Pierzchalski.

Rachel is currently touring her latest solo performance Dreams Die Hard, which was inspired by the wartime diary of her Grandmother. Rachel trained with Odin Teatret, Philippe Gaulier and Frankie Armstrong and worked as an actor with internationally acclaimed Polish company, Teatr Biuro Podróży. As a director she has created performances with, among others, Greenwich Theatre, Northampton & Leeds Universities and the State Theatre of Salzburg. She is currently an External Examiner at East 15 Acting School in the UK. In 2001 she completed her PhD research into shamanic dimensions within contemporary theatre practice and has offered ‘From the Shaman to the Actor’ workshops often in collaboration with renowned author, Brian Bates. Rachel is relieved that after so many years of making theatre, it is still the greatest thrill imaginable.

Rob Rodgers / USA has performed professionally throughout the world in theatres and circuses including Cirque Du Soleil. He trained in movement, acrobatics and clowning at the San Francisco Circus School and in improvisation at BATS and LATS Improv under Barbara Scott, Regina Saisi, Tim Orr, Steven Kearin and Rafe Chase. He also trained with Keith Johnstone.  Rob is resident in Berlin and is director of ‘Scratch Theater Improv School’ which explores long-form improvisation and presents a live show in Berlin three times a month.

Module 3

Module 3 / 4 weeks

Comedy and Chaos

 

This module delves into the realm of comedy and conjures the world of chaos. With help from the clown, the shaman and the fool of old – we will playfully explore the liminal and step over the threshold of ‘normality’. With joy we will banish the beautiful and learn to embrace our idiosyncrasies, be in a moment and trust the rhythm of the ridiculous. Take back power with laughter and simple physicality and allow your creativity to be silly, free and unbridled. 

Participants will be invited to discover stories, creatures and places using a wide range of creative impulses. 

Come and make light of the darkness within and without and prepare to be seriously funny.

 

Workshop Leaders :

 

Rachel Karafistan / United Kingdom

Rachel is a British performer, teacher, academic and director with over 25 years of experience of working professionally as a theatre maker. She is the founder of Cosmino Productions (www.cosmino.org) which she runs with her partner and long term Blue Man, Kuba Pierzchalski. Rachel trained with Odin Teatret, Philippe Gaulier and Frankie Armstrong and worked as an actor with internationally acclaimed Polish company, Teatr Biuro Podróży. As a director she has created performances with, among others, Greenwich Theatre, Northampton & Leeds Universities and the State Theatre of Salzburg. She is currently an External Examiner at East 15 Acting School in the UK. In 2001 she completed her PhD research into shamanic dimensions within contemporary theatre practice and has offered ‘From the Shaman to the Actor’ workshops often in collaboration with renowned author, Brian Bates.

Rob Rodgers / USA has performed professionally throughout the world in theatres and circuses including Cirque Du Soleil. He trained in movement, acrobatics and clowning at the San Francisco Circus School and in improvisation at BATS and LATS Improv under Barbara Scott, Regina Saisi, Tim Orr, Steven Kearin and Rafe Chase. He also trained with Keith Johnstone.  Rob is resident in Berlin and is director of ‘Scratch Theater Improv School’ which explores long-form improvisation and presents a live show in Berlin three times a month.

Module 4 Embodied Storytelling

Module 4 / 5 weeks

Embodied Storytelling

From cartoon language to the grand emotions, from individual storytelling to ensemble work, from the comical to the dramatic, this Intensive explores different formats of embodied storytelling. Taking existing plays, movies and dramatic literature as a point of departure, the Intensive will move towards the creation of stories written and devised by the participants themselves, whether for solo performances or ensemble productions. While each format has its own inner structure, they all privilege the moving body and an embodied language /text in an otherwise empty space as the primary sources of expression, giving priority to the playfulness of the performer and the imagination of the audience. 

 

Workshop Leaders 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 + Members of the arthaus.berlin team

Module 4

Module 4 / 5 weeks

Embodied Storytelling

 

From cartoon language to the grand emotions, from individual storytelling to ensemble work, from the comical to the dramatic, this Intensive explores different formats of embodied storytelling. Taking existing plays, movies and dramatic literature as a point of departure, the Intensive will move towards the creation of stories written and devised by the participants themselves, whether for solo performances or ensemble productions. While each format has its own inner structure, they all privilege the moving body and an embodied language /text in an otherwise empty space as the primary sources of expression, giving priority to the playfulness of the performer and the imagination of the audience. 

 

Workshop Leaders 

Thomas Prattki / Germany is the director of arthaus.berlin. He has been working with the Swiss company Mummenschanz, which became known around the world for its inventive use of visual theatre,  masks and puppetry. He has been a guest director for actors in training at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis for almost 20 years and has taught in over 30 countries. He is also the former pedagogical director of the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris.

 + Members of the arthaus.berlin team

Final Research Projects

Final Individual Projects / 5 weeks

The final 5 weeks of the season are dedicated to the devising, rehearsal and presentation of the IRP projects. The season will conclude with an IRP “festival”.

The individual research projects give each student an opportunity to create a body of work, which reflects the nature of her/his journey as an artist and human being. The research projects can take place in a location of your own choice around a theme of your interest. You will be invited to document your research and to share your project.

Individual Research Projects

Final Individual Projects / 5 weeks

 

The final 5 weeks of the season are dedicated to the devising, rehearsal and presentation of the IRP projects. The season will conclude with an IRP “festival”.

The individual research projects give each student an opportunity to create a body of work, which reflects the nature of her/his journey as an artist and human being. The research projects can take place in a location of your own choice around a theme of your interest. You will be invited to document your research and to share your project.

Admissions

Applications and Auditions

 

Please send the following materials to the school via email

 

Completed Application Form (Download PDF  –  Download docx)

 

 

Statement of Interest

We would like to know more about your interest in the course. Please send us a scan of a hand-written letter of motivation explaining why you would like to study at arthaus.berlin. If your handwritten statement of interest is in a language other than english or possibly difficult to read, we ask for a legible version in English to accompany the scan.

 

Curriculum Vitae

Please give us an insight into your education, artistic training, theatrical experience and other fields of interest. Be sure to include complete contact information, your date of birth, and your nationality/passport country in your CV.

 

Letter of Recommendation

Please include a scan of one original letter of recommendation from a former teacher, director or training institute. No faxed copies or emailed letters will be accepted.

 

Evidence of Qualifications

Enclose scanned copies of relevant degrees, certificates or transcripts.

 

Budget plan

Please include a comprehensive financial budget plan explaining how you intend to pay for both the training and your costs of living in Berlin. Include any scanned bank statements where appropriate. If funded or supported by a relative or institution, include a signed statement from them which declares their financial support of your application, along with their full contact details.

 

Photo

Please include one recent photo of yourself – a passport photo is sufficient.

 

For any clarification about the application process don’t hesitate to