Those Who Speak for Themselves

Aim of the school

The Archa Theatre's summer school promotes individual and collective discoveries in theatrical creation, and helps participants find their own voice in their creative processes. The summer school is a platform for reflection on and communication of experience, knowledge and ideas in the field of documentary and social-specific theatre. We strive to achieve new ways of thinking by creating open formats of interaction between participants.

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 presentations:

Participants will also have the chance to attend exclusive presentations by internationally acclaimed artists and scholars.
•      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

Closing discussion:

Reflections on the process of the summer school and role of social-specific theatre practice, moderated by Robert Palmer.

Course structure:

The summer school will start with the performance Bark Beetle, created by Amálie Poledníčková, one of the students of the previous summer school. In the first part of the school, students will have the chance to participate in one of the ateliers focusing on the Viewpoints/text/light, sound design, and video. After this period, participants will form independent creative groups. These groups will work on a short performance that they will present at the Archa Theatre by using the theatrical skills they acquired from the ateliers they attended. During this creative process, the instructors of the ateliers will be available for artistic consultation. Besides this main program, all participants will be able to attend the presentations given by the international experts, the complementary atelier, the roundtable. At the end of the school, Robert Palmer will moderate an open discussion involving Jana Svobodová, the professional team, the participants, and the audience, focusing on the role of the summer school and the experience of those were 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.

How to apply

► Please submit a motivation letter and a CV with a photo to the e-mail address summerschool@archatheatre.cz. You can also include visual materials showing your work to date.
► Applicants must complete their application until June 14th 2022.
► Tuition fee: 600 EUR

In exceptional cases, participants can request a discount on the tuition.

NOTE: There is a limited capacity for participation. Selection of participants will be announced by 22 June 2022.

For more information, please write to ► summerschool@archatheatre.cz

Supported by the peoples of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants.