3 – 21 July at the Au Brana Centre, France
A three week intensive residential workshop led by Kate Papi, Oliviero Papi, Eilon Morris and Fabian Wixe of OBRA Theatre.
OBRA propose a 3 week immersion into their rigorous and innovative approach to theatre making; focused upon the relationship between the physical life of the actor and poetic language in performance.
Participants will be led by the 4 practitioners in different areas of theatre techniques and apply these training tools to generate and shape performance material in response to poetic language.
The training will cover these main areas:
- Investigating flow state in relation to group and individual listening
- Improving performers proprioception and physical articulation
- Developing understanding of vocal technique for placement and articulation of voice for text
- Expanding individual and group awareness and sensitivity to rhythm
- Developing performers’ capacity to work with complex language
- Exploring approaches to creating physical material from different sources
- Working collaboratively with a director to map and shape text and action
This practice enables the performer to work in a highly sensitised state of listening and simultaneity, bringing together precise physical and vocal technique and performance elements. The workshop invites participants to develop their personal practice and capacity to embody language, and offers different approaches to apply these skills to devising and performance. The work is rigorous, precise and demanding with a generous and supportive pedagogical team.
CREATIVE TEAM
OBRA is an international theatre ensemble based at the Au Brana Centre in Southern France; a farm they converted into an artistic residential space. OBRA make theatre rooted in the relationship between language and the physical life of the performer via a laboratory practice, adapting texts not originally destined for the stage to create innovative theatre for modern audiences.
OBRA are currently touring Gaudete, a triptych adapted from Ted Hughes’ poetic novel of the same name. The approach for this performance has been developed in collaboration with Eilon Morris and Fabian Wixe over a 7 year research and development period which has created the foundation for the pedagogical approach.
Oliviero’s work for the voice and text is a technical and detailed process which develops the actor’s understanding of their vocal apparatus, and provides a clear approach to working with complex texts, starting from the structure of the language on the page.
Fabian Wixe brings a detailed body of work on movement and individual physicality, shaped by his dance and circus training. His practice develops the individual performer’s proprioception, strength and fluidity in physical expression via technical training and improvisation.
Eilon Morris’ practice uses rhythm as a training tool to develop the actor’s understanding of composition, dynamism and simultaneous tasks in performance. His work facilitates heightened qualities of attention, group connectivity and physical coordination.
Kate is the director of OBRA’s performances and has developed an approach to generating and shaping material which is a balance between the dramaturgical needs of the text and the individual capacity of the performer. Her work weds all the different elements of the training and research to shape and montage material, creating dynamic and expressive performances and choreographies.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
The fee for the workshop is €750 for 17 days of training for a minimum of 6 hours per day
Accommodation on site, with all meals included is available for an additional €25 per day, equal to €500 for the full period. Early bird reduction of €50 for anyone booked in before January 31st.
This will be on a first come first served basis, with a maximum of 15 participants, and to secure a place you will need to complete an application form and pay a non-refundable deposit of €200 (refunded if we cancel).
Successful applicants will need to cover their own travel expenses, arriving at Au Brana 2nd July and departing July 22nd. The nearest airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux. (Flight bookings made well in advance range from €40-€60 return)
Please download an application form and return it to Kate at info@aubrana.com
For more information about OBRA see www.obratheatre.co
Please see www.aubrana.com for more information about the centre.
For information about Eilon Morris go to https://eilonmorris.com/
To see films of Fabian’s work go to https://www.facebook.com/