Physical Theatre Laboratory
under the direction of Sergei Ostrenko
February 22 – 27, 2010
Leitring bei Leibnitz, Austria
The Lab is open to performers from different creative genres and techniques inspired by Physical Theatre as a bold, vibrant and multidimensional approach to contemporary theatre performance.
Participants will explore Physicality as the principal creative instrument. Theatre, dance, circus or any other kind of performance, performer’s trained body is inspiring, astonishing and surprising spectator’s feelings.
PARTICIPANTS
Actors of physical, dramatic, dance and musical theatres, circus performers, dancers, directors and choreographers.
The Lab is the opportunity to enrich professional arsenal with new practical methods and devices, to discover new impulses for future creative work and to make new contacts with colleagues from different parts of the world.
PROGRAMME
Physical training is the core of the Lab programme. Participants will explore physicality as the key to form, style, atmosphere and emotional palette in contemporary performance. The process includes intensive practical training, lectures and discussions.
Practical sessions develop in the form of various exercises which progress from simple to compound. Gradually the group is proceeding to group improvisations and structures. Every day is setting advanced creative tasks, developing the preceding steps. Through the system of consecutive exercises the group is growing common language and trust, ability to collaborate and create together.
Each day begins with morning warm-up. The warm-up combines breathing, movement and imagination.
It helps participants to wake up and to prepare for the intensive practical work during the day. Participants will learn one of Meyerhold’s Biomechanics Etudes.
Practical training. Part I.
Training by method of improvisation.
Practical training. Part II.
From exercises to performance.
Theoretical Part: Lectures and Discussions: Performer’s Physicality in the methods of Meyerhold, M.Chekhov, Stanislavsky: Biomechanics, Psychological Gesture and
Physical Action.
SERGEI OSTRENKO
Sergei Ostrenko is a Russian director and teacher working in professional theatre about thirty years. His creative way has passed through the Cold War of the 1980s, collapse of the USSR in the 1990s, creative ordeals in the period of the interethnic tension in the Baltic and joining the New Europe.
Ostrenko began his professional carrier in performing arts in 1979 as a stage designer. Later he continued his education as an actor and then as a director. Ostrenko also studied contemporary techniques of performing arts: Feldenkrais, Alexander, Laban, Pilates, Suzuki, Contact and Structural Improvisation, Kinetic Environment, Butoh, method of Eugenio Barba, and psychology of creation. He also spent ten years working in dance theatre.
The creative work of Ostrenko is the synthesis of the Russian Theatre School and the newest experiments in various performing arts. Ostrenko has dedicated many years to exploration of world theatre traditions working with multicultural groups of performing artists. His approach is known internationally as the effective method of growing cohesion and creation of live performances within limited time. Theatre workers from Russia, Europe, America, Asia and Australia who trained with Ostrenko have been using his method of physical training in their own creative practice.
At present the principal professional interest of Ostrenko is investigation of theatre methods between tradition and contemporaneity. International theatre projects under his direction take place in different countries: Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, Malta, and the United Kingdom.
REGISTRATION
To apply for participation, candidates should send a letter of motivation stating the Lab dates and CV/résumé with photo to globtheatre@gmail.com
Participation fee:
250 EUR if payment is made before December 31st. (320 EUR if payment is made before January 15th).
The fee covers participation in the programme: intensive practical training, lectures, discussions.
For IUGTE Members – 20% discount.
IUGTE can help participants
to organize accommodation and meals
during the Lab in Leitring bei Leibnitz:
Accommodation with meals:
Shared twin room: 215 EUR per person.
The fee covers five nights of accommodation in shared twin room and three meals per day – breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Single room: 250 EUR per person.
The fee covers five nights of accommodation in single room and three meals per day – breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Accommodation without meals:
Shared twin room: 125 EUR per person.
The fee covers five nights of accommodation in shared twin room.
Single room: 160 EUR per person.
The fee covers five nights of accommodation
in single room.
The Lab will take place in the 15th century castle.
All the rooms have telephone, TV, radio, shower/wc, shower gel, hairdryer. There is Internet access in the castle as well as free Wi Fi in the neighboring café.
Find out more about accommodation and venue…
The official day of arrival is Monday, Feb 22nd.
The day of departure is Saturday, Feb 27th.
Website: http://www.iugte.com/projects/OstrenkoLab.php
