Applications for Archa Theatre’s International Summer School on Theatre in Social Context, from the 22ndAugust – 4th September 2022 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 2022 to send two NI based practitioners. The bursaries will cover the tuition fee in full (€600) as well as support in the region of £450 that can be used for travel, accommodation, or expenses while at the Summer School. 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 €600.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 600€ tuition fee bursaries as well as support in the region of £450 that can be used for travel, accommodation, or expenses while at the Summer School 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.
Applicants must submit their application by 14th June 2022. There is a limited capacity for participation. Selection of participants will be announced by 22nd June 2022.
Course structure
The summer school will start with the performance Bark Beetle, created by Amálie Poledníčková, a previous summer school student. In the first part of the school, students will have the chance to participate in workshops focusing on the Viewpoints/text/light, sound design, and video. After this period, participants will form independent creative groups to work on a short performance that they will present at the Archa Theatre using the theatrical skills they have acquired. During this creative process, instructors will be available for artistic consultation. All participants will also be able to attend the presentations given by the international experts, the complementary workshops, the roundtable.
At the end of the school, Robert Palmer will moderate an open discussion involving Jana Svobodová, the professional team, participants, and audience, focusing on the role of the summer school and the experience of those involved. After the summer school, participants will have access to an e-book which will serve as a supportive material based on creation of social-specific theatre.
Issues being focused on
· How is reality transformed into an artistic image?
· Which artistic disciplines serve this purpose?
· How can artistic activities influence social reality?
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
· Martin Krupa: Moving image for stage
Complementary Atelier:
· Lise Grimelund-Kjelsen: Finding your textual material
Roundtable
• Merve Mutafoğlu: Socially engaged theatre in Turkey
Exclusive presentations
Participants will also have the chance to attend exclusive presentations by internationally acclaimed artists and scholars including:
· Henk Keizer: Creating site- and social-specific art
· Pieter De Buysser: Why the oak tree doesn’t write
· Ása Richardsdóttir: IETM and its role in international collaboration
· Ondřej Hrab: Theatre and sociology, Historical roots of social-specific theatre
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 and, money towards accommodation, 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.”