: emerging theatre-makers
Aged 18-30?
Live in or around Hackney?
Interested in performing, devising & storytelling?
This special edition of our theatre-making programme is designed for past participants of our workshops and those eager to dive deeper into FA’s approach to performance-making. Using our production Where I Call Home as a starting point, you’ll collaborate with FA’s Co-Artistic Directors and key company members in a FREE theatre-making experience.
Over four evenings and a weekend intensive, you’ll explore our work—from cross-cultural storytelling and translation to ensemble work and site-responsive performance. Through this process, you’ll develop new creative tools and techniques to shape your practice. The programme will culminate in an informal sharing of your work.
Applications close at noon on Monday 24 February.
March 2025
Tuesdays, 18:00-21:00
4, 11, 18, 25 March
plus
Saturday 29 March, 10:30-16:30
Sunday 30 March, 10:30-17:30 (including sharing)
meet the team
The programme is led by Trine Garrett, Co-Artistic Director and an experienced facilitator who leads our creative learning programmes and has directed several of our productions, including Where I Call Home.
Throughout the series, you’ll also work with FA company members, including Eugenia Low (FA Associate and long-standing ensemble member), Youness Bouzinab (FA Associate and embedded critic for Where I Call Home), and Ria Samartzi (FA Associate and long-time collaborator as dramaturg and director). Charis Ainslie, who translated Where I Call Home from French to English, will also join one of the sessions.
The programme is supported by Camila França (Co-Artistic Director), who ensures that both the team and participants feel well-supported and welcomed throughout.
An FA workshop is always an invitation to step into our home.
the programme
Programme Details
This workshop series is an invitation to step into FA’s approach to theatre-making—where translation, cross-cultural collaboration, and performance in unexpected spaces come together in a playful, ensemble-driven creative process.
Over four evening sessions and a weekend intensive, you’ll experiment with text, movement, and devising exercises, using our production of Where I Call Home (Gens du pays) as a starting point to reinterpret and reimagine in your own way.
Each session includes:
- A dynamic warm-up to activate body, voice, and group connection.
- Hands-on exploration of FA’s creative methods, offering practical tools and skills.
- Playful, collaborative exercises leading to short devised pieces.
The programme will conclude with an informal work-in-progress sharing on Sunday 30 March. This relaxed, supportive event will give you the chance to present your ideas, connect with company associates, and share conversations over refreshments. The sharing will be open to an invited audience of friends, family, and company associates.
With only 12 participants, this programme offers focused time for deep collaboration and creative exploration. It’s designed to foster strong ensemble work and provide personal attention, ensuring a rich, collective experience.
Workshop Overview
Below, you’ll find an overview of each session, offering an idea of what to expect and how each session contributes to the overall experience.
Tuesday 4 March, 18:00-21:00: Ensemble & Co-Creation
- Get to know your fellow participants through interactive ensemble-building exercises. We’ll explore group dynamics, shared focus, and collaborative storytelling techniques to foster trust and creativity.
Tuesday 11 March, 18:00-21:00: Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Exchange
- Through playful exercises, we’ll explore how language, culture, and lived experience shape the way we tell stories. Expect to uncover new perspectives, challenge assumptions, and ignite your creativity!
Tuesday 18 March, 18:00-21:00: Translation
- We’ll work with scenes from Where I Call Home to experiment with different phases of translation, from word-for-word versions to creative adaptations. How does a story transform across languages? Don’t worry – no knowledge of French required!
Tuesday 25 March, 18:00-21:00: Translation Beyond Language
- What happens when words aren’t enough? We’ll explore how movement, gesture, and sound can express meaning beyond language, using creative techniques to build rich, dynamic scenes.
Saturday 29 March, 10:30-16:30
Morning: Performing in Unexpected Spaces
- We’ll experiment with site-responsive performance techniques, exploring how performance can transform when it’s not on a stage. We’ll look at how the size, shape, and environment of a space can change the dynamics of a scene.
Afternoon: Structuring the Performance
- Time to bring it all together! We’ll start assembling the different pieces created over the four weeks, shaping them into a structured sequence for sharing.
Sunday 30 March, 10:30-17:30
Morning: Rehearsals
- A focused rehearsal session, fine-tuning movement, transitions, and performance details.
Afternoon: Sharing & Reflection
- This informal sharing is an opportunity to present the work and ideas developed over the past few weeks. It’s not about a grand performance but a chance to celebrate your creativity in a relaxed setting. After the presentation, we’ll reflect on the journey together and connect with company members and associates—complete with beverages and snacks!
Venues
The programme will take place at Centre 151 (all workshops) and at the Rose Lipman
Building (the sharing).
Centre 151
151 Whiston Road
London
E2 8GU
Please note, Centre 151 is not step-free.
Rose Lipman Building
43 De Beauvoir Road
London
N1 5SQ
The Rose Lipman Building has step-free access
Schedule
Due to the immersive nature of the programme, participants are expected to attend all scheduled sessions:
Evening Sessions:
Tuesday 4 March, 18:00-21:00
Tuesday 11 March, 18:00-21:00
Tuesday 18 March, 18:00-21:00
Tuesday 25 March, 18:00-21:00
Weekend Intensive:
Saturday 29 March, 10:30-16:30
(Lunch break: 13:00-14:00 – participants to arrange their own lunch)
Sunday 30 March, 10:30-17:30
(Company lunch provided – we’ll order pizza!)
Refreshments such as fruit and biscuits will be available at all sessions.
Participant Eligibility
This programme is designed for alumni of FA workshops and programmes who want to continue developing their practice.
We also welcome applications from those with relevant experience who are eager to explore FA’s approach to theatre-making, particularly our focus on international and cross-cultural collaboration.
You should apply if you:
- Have participated in one of our past workshops or programmes and want to continue developing your practice.
- Are excited about working collaboratively in an ensemble-driven process.
- Have practical experience in theatre-making, movement, or performance—whether through training, past projects, or personal exploration.
- Are interested in international and cross-cultural storytelling, translation, or multilingual performance.
- Want to be part of a creative community, with the potential to shape our FA Next Gen Ensemble.
Please note that priority will be given to young people (18-30) living in Hackney, but we have some spaces allocated for people outside the borough. So if you live in one of the neighbouring boroughs, you can still apply.
We’re particularly interested in hearing from applicants from marginalised genders, including women, women-identifying individuals, and non-binary and gender non-conforming people.
Additionally, we encourage applications from individuals from the global majority and/or who identify as first or second-generation migrants.
Accessibility:
We are dedicated to ensuring that our workshop programmes are as accessible as possible wherever feasible.
There is no fee to participate, and we can offer some financial support for travel and other costs associated with joining the programme. Applicants will be asked about their access requirements to ensure appropriate resources can be provided.
We accept 2-minute voice notes in place of a written response for the main application question. Any information provided is strictly confidential and will not impact your application in any way.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Cost
Thanks to the generous funding from The National Lottery: Community Fund and Arts Council England, this programme is entirely free to attend, but places are strictly limited!
Why free?
We strive to make our work as accessible as possible and we continue to look for new ways to break down barriers. Since 2018 all in-house workshops and training programmes have either been free or part of our Pay What You Can scheme.
A Note on Commitment:
To help us maintain a supportive and engaged community, we have a one-strike policy in place. If you accept a spot but don’t show up, you won’t be able to apply for the next two programmes. We really appreciate your understanding and commitment to making this experience valuable for everyone involved!
For an easier-to-read version of the programme description, click here.
how to apply
Download our Application Guidelines: This document includes application form questions, allowing you to draft your responses in a separate document before adding them to our online form.
Apply via our online Application Form: Please note that you will not be able to save your progress, so ensure that you have prepared everything in advance (see guidelines).
Applications close at noon on Monday 24 February.
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