Workshops

The ”ANCIENT DRAMA: INFLUENCES AND CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES” program is about founding an institution with a unique artistic and educational character, and falls in line with the general program of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation for the promotion of Ancient Drama research and study. Following three years of successful collaboration with the Stanford, Leeds and Jerusalem universities, comes the program’s 4th year of organization, which takes place from June 1-14 2015, in collaboration with the internationally acclaimed University of the Arts Helsinki/ Theatre Academy and the Aalto University/ School of Arts, Design and Architecture.

Alongside the performance, in the context of the 4^th organization of the Program “ANCIENT DRAMA: INFLUENCES AND CONTEMPORARY APPROACHES”, the visiting academic institutions will oversee a series of workshops, for a total of 12 hours, as well as a seminar by Dr Miika Luoto, Philosophy Lecturer, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki, who will expand on the topic of “The invention of Ancient Greece”, on the basis of theories by Hölderlin and Nietzsche. The workshops deal with the topics of the theatre stage as a musical instrument, the ancient comedy, and analyzing the Chorus in ancient drama. Administering the workshops, which -as in all the years of the program- students or graduates of drama schools and university theatre departments, or/ and other schools with objects relative to the performing arts, as well as schools for the Classics or education departments are free to attend, will be Dr. Markus Fagerudd, Dr. Liisa Ikonen, Dr. Tomi Humalisto and Anne Limell.

1st topic, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, 18.00-21.00

Title: Hamartia

Administrator: Dr. Markus Fagerudd, Composer and Music Lecturer, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki and

Dr. Minna Harjuniemi, Direction Lecturer, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

The Workshop is about defining the whole theatre stage as a musical instrument, or as an organism that is based on musical concepts, such as rhythm, chord, melody, choir, counterpoint, transpose and so on. What will these terms mean if you use them as a tool in a classic scene between classic characters? 
​The workshop will consist of several smaller groups. Each group will work with a theme, thought or a scene from Antigone. The group will strive to a short entity which will be performed the same day as the workshop.

2nd & 3nd topic, Thursday, June 4, 2015, 16.00-19.00, and Friday, June 5, 2015, 16.00-19.00

Title: What is comedy within 4 stages?

Administrators: Dr. Liisa Ikonen, Design for the Performing Arts Professor, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University and

Dr. Tomi Humalisto, Lighting Design Professor, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

In this workshop we will concentrate on creating spatial interpretations related to an idea of ancient comedy. If comedy is also understood as critical perspective towards dominators, rulers or leaders, by laughing at them, we are interested in how this critical angle appears in current societies, and how we could visualize it. This kind of mocking has served an important role in ancient society, and has created a playful relationship between people and their rulers. Within this kind of playfulness things could be seen in different light compared to everyday life.

The workshop consists of different assignments which participants will solve individually as well as in groups. This workshop method is based on quite usual approach how scenography is taught in Finland.

4th topic, Sunday, June 7, 2015, 19.00-22.00

Title: Choir, chorus, χορός, kör, kuoro

Administrator: Anne Limell, 5.th year student in directing, Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki

In this workshop we will concentrate on ancient drama choir. We will ask questions about choir and make approaches to ancient drama choir from present. What does its rhythm and sound tell to us? Can it be translated?

In the workshop we will have conversations about the subject, physical rehearsals and site-specific approach.