: emerging theatre-makers
Aged 18-30?
Live in or around Hackney?
Interested in performing, devising & storytelling?
Join multi-disciplinary actor, theatre-maker and drama facilitator Pepa Duarte for a FREE theatre-making workshop programme.
Over six 2.5-hour sessions on Tuesday evenings, alongside one full-day workshop on a Saturday, you’ll explore various performance practices and acquire new skills and techniques to enhance your performance-making repertoire.
Applications are now closed.
April-May 2024
Tuesdays, 18:00-20:30
16, 23, 30 April
7, 14, 21 May
plus Saturday 18 May, 10:00 – 16:00
meet your facilitator
Pepa Duarte is a Peruvian theatremaker, workshop facilitator and actor based in London.
As a multi-disciplined actor who is ‘always writing and always moving’ her unique process creates from the performative space and often explores themes of identity, migration, feminism and belonging.
Her work has been generously supported by Arts Council England, Counterpoint Arts, CASA festival, Poplar Union, amongst many others. With acclaimed productions like ‘Eating Myself’ (UK TOUR, Brixton House, FAE Lima, Feast Fest Shangai), ‘Migran-te’ (Migration Matters Festival, PLATFORMA Festival, Feast Fest London) and ‘Senorita Rita’s Show’ (Camden’s People Theatre, The Pleasance, Somerset House).
Pepa’s practice has always been accompanied by her love for teaching. She began delivering workshops in improvisation in 2009 and has delivered acting, physical theatre, devising and applied theatre programs ever since. Pepa has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds offering an exciting space to develop creativity and self-confidence. Pepa has collaborated with institutions The Old Vic Theatre, Tender & Education, King’s College, Latin American Women’s Rights, GRAEAE, RADA, Google, amongst others and was the director of the Southwark Playhouse’s Youth Company between 2020-2022.
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
Eating Stories
In this eight-session workshop programme, we’ll explore the art of making theatre inspired by the world of food.
Drawing inspiration from Pepa Duarte’s acclaimed show, Eating Myself, you’ll delve into the dynamics at play in the kitchen and around the table. You’ll examine the stories woven into our meals and explore how food shapes our perception of body and identity, while also questioning traditional gender roles.
The workshops will create a space to explore how food plays a vital role in preserving cultural heritage and strengthening the bonds between generations.
During the programme, you’ll:
- Strengthen creative skills through practical exercises
- Engage in movement training to explore physical storytelling
- Explore Pepa Duarte’s method for devising and proposing new ideas for theatre
Exercises will include movement, improvisation, imagination work and free writing.
The programme will conclude with a public sharing on Tuesday 21 May (the eight session), which will be open to an invited audience of friends and family plus company associates.
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.
Session 1: Preparing the Body
- Improvisation, ensemble work and movement explorations
Session 2: The Senses
- Enhancing sensory awareness
- Movement and imagination work
Session 3: The Body – My Body
- Movement work and creating/writing around body perceptions
- Ensemble work and devising space
Session 4: Memories & Family
- Exploring the role of food in connection with family and home
- Reflecting on dishes that evoke memories
- Devising space
Session 5: Eating Myself
- Exploring our relationship with eating and food
- Writing exercises, movement work and devising space
Sessions 6 & 7: Food for Others & Myself
- Sharing dishes representing family and cultural heritage
- Writing, devising space and rehearsal
Session 8: Final Sharing
- Presentation of our work in an informal sharing for friends and family
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
Participants are expected to take part in the following scheduled activities, without exception!
Session 1: Tuesday 16 April, 18:00-20:30
Session 2: Tuesday 23 April, 18:00-20:30
Session 3: Tuesday 30 April, 18:00-20:30
Session 4: Tuesday 7 May, 18:30-20:00
Session 5: Tuesday 14 May, 18:30-20:00
Sessions 6 & 7: Saturday 18 May, 10:00-16:00
Session 8: Tuesday 21 May, 18:00-20:30
Extra: Participants are also invited to a performance of Black Swans – Foreign Affairs’ latest production – at the Omnibus Theatre on Friday 3 May at 19:30.
Participant Eligibility
This programme is for you if one or more of these is true:
- you’ve had some theatre 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 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 immigrants.
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.
Please note, Centre 151 is not step-free.
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 Hackney Council, 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.
black swans
by Christina Kettering
Translated by Pauline Wick
Would you trust a robot to take care of your elderly mother?
Two sisters face a difficult decision: how to best care for their elderly mother as her health declines. Rosie, a humanoid care robot, seems like the perfect solution. But soon they have to reckon with the unforeseen consequences of bringing an artificial intelligence into their lives.
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