Archa Theatre International Summer School
International Summer School on Theatre in Social Context
22 August - 4 September 2022
Archa Theatre, Prague, Czech Republic
Download the Archa Theatre Summer School 2022 Brochure
There has been an increased focus on social and political issues in theatrical creation. Archa Theatre promotes artistic practices that have the courage to examine topical issues expressed in a specific theatrical language. The International Summer School is a platform for experimentation and investigation in the field of contemporary theatre. The program promises students to get acquainted with theatre in social context with the help of Archa Theatre’s artistic vision and theatrical tools.
Working language of the school is English.
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 stated below. You can also include visual materials showing your work to date.
Applications should be submitted to:
► summerschool@archatheatre.cz
Applicants must complete their application until 14 June 2022.
Tuition fee:
600€
The fee includes daily practical exercises, ateliers, presentations, study materials (including the access to the e-book by Jana Svobodová), lunch, refreshments, and tickets to the accompanying program at the Archa Theatre. In exceptional cases, participants can request a discount on the tuition.
For more information, please write to ► summerschool@archatheatre.cz
NOTE: There is a limited capacity for participation. Selection of participants will be announced by 22 June 2022.
Watch the Archa Theatre Summer School 2021 video:
Participants come back!
To develop their projects, summer school participants can apply for a short-term residency in Archa.lab in the following year. Each residency ends with a public presentation and debate.
In 2018 residencies at Archa.lab were obtained by: Sahar Rezaei, Joana de Brito Silva, Christa van Rijn, Cliona O'Connell
In 2019 residencies at Archa.lab were obtained by: Huyen Vi Tranová and Rosa Malinská, Daisy Alexander, Millie Done, Çiğdem Erdöl, Varja Hrvatin, Kristýna Doležalová, July Yang, Lise Andrea Grimelund-Kjelsen and Tom Jasper.
In 2021, residency was obtained by Amálie Poledníčková.
Supported by the peoples of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Grants.
