Devised theatre-making is a unique creative method that invites the performer to be a creator. This results in a process that engages the actors’ imagination, voice, body, writing skills and design concepts. Devised theatre usually does not start from a pre-written script but is created together through a collective rehearsal process. This creates original, moving, and relevant theatre, a direct expression and reflection of the imagination and bodies of a collective of individuals. 

Who Should Take This?

Led by Farm Arts Collective’s artistic director, Tannis Kowalchuk, this workshop invites actors, directors, writers, dancers, singers, and designers to explore devised theatre technique that includes, physical-movement theatre, voice work, and text-writing to create original theatre performance. Group and individual exercises will be taught to explore principles of movement, voice and song, and developing a “ready” body and imagination to create theatre. Participants are asked to wear clothes to move in and bring a pen and notebook.

What Will We Do In this Workshop?

Tannis Kowalchuk, she will share her life’s work making theatre with ensembles. In this concise 2 hour workshop, everyone will move physically, sing, write, and develop a short performance piece. The class will start with specific physical exercises that engage the complete body and get the participants moving in the space and interacting with others.  (Please wear clothes you can move in). We will explore voice and song together as a group, and then each participant will create an action and write a piece of text led by prompts from the workshop leader (please bring a notebook and pen).  The individuals’ material will be montaged into a complete ensemble score, a scene utilizing everyone’s creative material. This portion of the workshop might be of particular interest to directors and writers of theatre.

PAY WHAT YOU CAN at the door.