Fourth International Summer Workshop of Ancient Drama in collaboration with the European Cultural Centre of Delphi

Delphi 15-31 July 2019

The National Theatre’s of Greece Forth International Workshop of  Ancient Drama will be held at Delphi from 15 to 31 July 2019 in collaboration with the European Cultural Centre of Delphi. The Workshop will run artists from the University of Yale (U.S.A.) and Thodoris Abazis, Deputy Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Greece.

The aim of the Workshop is the study and dissemination of ancient drama, providing specialist knowledge to theatre professionals who wish to equip themselves with additional practice-based tools designed to be relevant to their work as well as enhancing global dialogue and reflection on ancient drama and its modern recruitment and stage approach.

The workshop is intended for young theatre professionals from Greece and abroad, including actors, directors, set designers, costume designers, choreographers and other theatre creatives, who want to deepen their study of ancient drama through in-depth focus with a practical foundation, while at the same time having the opportunity to work and live together, sharing their experiences, knowledge and skills in a creative environment.

This year’s workshop, run by the professors of Yale University Toni Dorfman (director) and Ellen McLaughlin (Playwright and Actor), the graduate and collaborator of Yale Shadi Ghaheri (iranian Director and Choreographer based in New York) and Thodoris Abazis (Director and Composer).

The Underworld
A performance workshop exploring journeys to and from the Underworld in myth and theater, with encounters between the living and the dead, as well as with the immortal ones called gods and the restless ones called ghosts.   

Week 1 Opening the Underworld
With ensemble exercises in voice, movement, rhythm and tempo, the senses, and embodying metaphor and etymology -- all supplemented by the readings below -- we move quickly to solo and scene work from Euripides’ Alcestis, Monteverdi/Striggio’s Orfeo libretto (1607), and Ellen McLaughlin’s Mercury’s Footpath, along with other scenes of the participants’ choice, in order to explore transformation, including that from embodiment to disembodiment, from insubstantial to substantial; and the phenomenon of wonder. 

Week 2 To the Underworld and back: performance workshop
Rehearsal and performance of selected scenes. 

The workshop will be conducted in Greek and English. Knowledge of English is also essential for Greek participants.

Participation fee: €450 (including tuition, transportation from Athens to Delphi, accommodation, breakfast and lunch). Those taking part in the workshop will stay in the guesthouses of the European Cultural Centre of Delphi.

Anyone interested in participating should send their CV and photo by 30 May to: cv@n-t.gr with subject 4 International Workshop of Ancient Drama.