: emerging theatre-makers
Aged 18-30?
Live in or around Hackney?
Interested in performing, devising & storytelling?
Join theatre practitioner, stand-up comedian and feminist activist Krzysia Balińska for a FREE theatre-making workshop programme.
Over the course of six 2-hour sessions, you’ll explore different theatre practices and learn new skills and techniques to add to your theatre-making toolbox.
Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis until the workshop programme is full, so don’t delay, apply now!
April-May 2022
Thursdays 18:30 – 20:30
April 21, 28
May 5, 12,19, 26
meet your facilitator
Krzysia Balińska (she/her) is a Polish, London-based performer, drama facilitator, community organiser and a stand up comedian in training at Counterpoints Arts.
Krzysia’s practice stems from the belief that everyone is an artist and everyone can act as an agent of lasting, positive change. She is passionate about the power of theatre to challenge dominant narratives, foster resilience, and unapologetically celebrate the uniqueness of human experience.
Krzysia has performed and collaborated with multiple collectives and theatre companies including Good Wolf People, Idle Women, PSYCHEdelight theatre, Out of the Wings Festival, Migrant Connections Festival, Nordic Festival, Tbilisi International Festival of Theatre and Tara Theatre.
In response to the near-total abortion ban proposed in the Polish parliament in 2016, Krzysia co-founded the Polish feminist collective Dziewuchy London, and is currently organising around democratic participation and migration justice with Polish Migrants Organise for Change (POMOC).
Krzysia is trained in the Meisner technique and holds an MA in Applied Theatre from Goldsmiths University.
Krzysia & Foreign Affairs
Krzysia first joined Foreign Affairs in 2013 to co-create and perform in the production of To Moscow With Love, and refused to leave. She has appeared in multiple Foreign Affairs’ shows, including the UK premiere of Helmer Hardcore – A Doll’s House 2. She has been part of the core facilitating team at Foreign Affairs for the past five years, taking the ensemble on a musical journey through traditional Eastern European singing.
This workshop programme is part of a series titled Make theatre with … and each programme is designed in conversation with an industry professional with the aim to offer different perspectives and approaches to making theatre – no programme is ever the same!
the programme
What’s between the personal and the political?
Drawing on the practices of Joan Littlewood (UK), Augusto Boal (Brazil), Jerzy Grotowski (Poland) and many others, you’ll explore the practice of theatre-making that responds to the second-wave feminist slogan ‘the personal is political’ and examines the gap (or the lack thereof) in between.
Over the course of six practical workshops, you’ll explore different approaches to making theatre based on experience in ways that feel safe, honour the source of personal stories and prioritise joy in the creative process.
The programme will conclude in a public sharing on Thursday 26 May (open to an invited audience – friends and family).
This programme is for you if one or more of these is true:
- you’ve had some training (practical experience)
- you’re passionate about making theatre
- you’ve done some drama when you were younger
- you have exciting ideas you’d like to share with others
- you’re interested in pursuing a career in theatre
- you love the idea of working in a group
Please note that priority will be given to young people (18-30) living in Hackney, but we have some spaces allocated for young people outside the borough. So if you live in one of the neighbouring boroughs, you can still apply.
We’re keen to hear from applicants from the global majority and/or people who identify as first or second generation im/migrants.
Details
location
Rose Lipman Building, Haggerston
43 De Beauvoir Road, N1 5SQ
dates
Thursdays 18:30 – 20:30
April 21, 28
May 5, 12,19, 26
cost
FREE
Applications are now closed!
“... this programme is a wonderful opportunity for people to collaborate creatively and to learn and be exposed to the wider world of theatre-making.”
participantworkshop programme 2021
“Yes! I want to get back into theatre-making. Now knowing that theatre can be created in ANY space.”
participantworkshop programme 2019