Please join the Other Theatre School for its third workshop and expedition of the year!

For about twenty years we have been making annual expeditions to the Suwalki region of Poland, where village residents have preserved the local tradition of the “Alleluia Going.” The event, prepared through the collaboration of workshop participants, alludes to rural forms of Easter carolling; however, it is also a search for multicultural, theatrical and authentic continuity oriented equally toward the past and the future. The group's “going” in the rural Suwalki borderland area is based on spring-themed folk songs from various regions of Poland, Belarus and Ukraine. The journey ends in a final meeting of the village residents (and guests) on the night of “Wet” Easter Monday. The shared holiday celebration culminates in a performance created by workshop participants. Each year the development of this performance is an attempt at answering the question of how to work with traditional material. The turning point along this journey occurred in 2010, when we chose the theme of “roots and shoots” (named after Jane Goodall's organization). Elements such as earth and water, present in the oldest rituals, became a canvas for reflection on the future of the world. In this way we created the pieces “Water 2030” and “Earth B,” which draw attention to imminent global environmental crises.

This year we invite people who are active and willing to take creative risks to participate in the next cycle of work from a new set of elements.

Alelujki, The Other Theatre School 2012

3 - 10 April

workshop and expedition

The workshop program includes the study of traditional motifs related to Easter carolling in the Polish-Lithuanian-Belarussian borderland, as well as the following:

physical and voice exercises

various forms of folk dance from different parts of Europe

improvisation

development of work with carnival masks

creation of a performance with masks

The workshop will end with the expedition and Easter Carolling in the Suwalki region

If you are interested in participating in this project, we ask that you email us by 14 March at the latest. People who are new to The Other Theatre School's workshops are requested to provide three short descriptive statements

1. A description of your practical interests.

2. A description of related experience (participation in creative workshops run by theatre groups, musical groups, etc.)

3. A description of what you hope to gain from your participation in this venture.

Acceptance notifications will be sent by 18 March. Please be advised that space is limited. The workshop fee includes room and board, meals and transportation throughout the expedition to Suwalki.

The fee will be 450 PLN maximum. If we manage to find a more economical means of transport to the Suwalki region, this fee may be reduced to 390 PLN.

Previous participants of The Other Theatre School's workshops may receive a reduced fee.

You will be required to bring warm comfortable, waterproof shoes and loose exercise attire, a warm sleeping bag and foam pad. The workshop will begin at 19.00.