Applications for Archa Theatre’s International Summer School on Theatre in Social Context, from the 25 August – 7 September 2023 in Prague are now open!

Archa Theatre’s International Summer School is a platform for experimentation and investigation in the field of contemporary theatre. Archa Theatre promotes and welcomes artistic practices that have the courage to examine topical issues. The summer school will get you acquainted with theatre in social context with the help of Archa Theatre’s artistic vision and theatrical tools.

Everyone who is over the age of 18, professionally involved in theatre or who uses theatrical methods in their professional work can apply!

Theatre and Dance NI have supported NI artists to attend the Summer School since 2019 and are delighted to be able to provide two bursaries for 2023 to send two NI based practitioners. The bursaries will cover the tuition fee in full (€700). Information on how to apply can be found below.

How to apply?

Please submit a motivation letter and a CV with a photo to the e-mail address stated below. You can also include visual materials showing your work to date.

The tuition fee is €700. The fee includes daily practical exercises, workshops, presentations, study materials, e-book, lunch, refreshments, and tickets to the accompanying program at the Archa Theatre.

Theatre and Dance NI will provide two €700 tuition fee bursaries for two NI based practitioners to attend. Participants wishing to apply should apply directly to summerschool@archatheatre.cz

Please include a line within the application email that states you are wishing to avail of a Theatre and Dance NI Bursary. These two artists will be selected by Archa Theatre and notified by them directly. You must be a member of Theatre and Dance NI and based in Northern Ireland in order to avail of this bursary. To become a member, please click here.

If you require additional financial support for travel and accommodation, please include this in your application.

Applicants must submit their application by 20th May 2023(the deadline for non-TDNI applicants is 15th May). There is a limited capacity for participation. Selection of participants will be announced by 22nd May 2023.

Course structure

What’s on offer:

  • Creative international environment
  • Archa Theatre premises for your work
  • Technical equipment for creation
  • Artistic direction & experience of internationally acclaimed artists
  • Professional mentoring

Main ateliers:

  • Jana Svobodová: Textual sources and the Viewpoints technique in documentary theatre
  • Pavel Kotlík: Light as a space for action
  • Ladislav Štěrba & Jan Sedláček: Sound design for stage
  • Martin Krupa: Moving image for stage

Complementary atelier:

  • Lise Grimelund-Kjelsen: Finding your textual material

Roundtable:

  • Merve Mutafoğlu: Socially engaged theatre in Turkey

Exclusive lectures by Ondřej Hrab:

  • Theatre and sociology
  • Historical roots of social-specific theatre

Structure of the Summer School: 

The first part of the school is devoted to work in ateliers. Each of the atelier has a special focus: Moving image, sound design, Viewpoints & the text and light design. Participants of the summer school will be divided into individual ateliers before arriving at the Archa Theatre.

The second part of the school is dedicated to independent creation.
The graduates of the ateliers will form creative groups in which they will continue to create with the equipment and in the premises of the Archa Theatre. The summer school will end with a unique premiere in which participants will present the short performances they create in this process to a general audience.  During this process, the Archa Theatre will turn into a playground where the artists can freely create.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to approach Archa in a non-traditional way using its advanced theatrical tools.

The atelier leaders will be available for artistic consultation in this process, providing a supportive net for free experimentation. Besides this main program, all participants will be able to attend the exclusive presentations, the complementary atelier, the roundtable, and the screenings.

Testimonial from previous attendee:

“Theatre and Dance NI provided a unique learning opportunity and invaluable personal and creative experience.  Thanks to the organisation I was able to attend an International Summer School in Prague with my course fees paid – fees I wouldn’t have been able to afford on my current wage.  This enriching two weeks brought provocation, debate and reflection into my theatre practise. It has also helped bring me into contact with future collaborators and future opportunities internationally, something I wouldn’t have thought possible before the school.”

You read more about the programme here