Though we are fully intending to start some in-the-room workshops over the summer , including a back-to-the-room studio day on May 28th here in Galway, for the time being there still seems to be a lot of support for online learning . As I have talked about many times on our pandemic journey, there are many pluses to the online situation but also some downsides. Though we are being told we will be able to shed the masks one of the great trials of last year for me was trying to teach voice in the room with masked students. It was completely counter intuitive. Recently I ran a voice class online …it was a delight. It seems to us that what is important is variety and also connection between the participants from all over the globe! Right now, Rena Polley from Michael Chekhov Canada and I are running a course on COMEDY DRAMA and TRAGEDY .
CTPI is making a few changes, one of which is welcoming Declan Drohan my colleague, Lecturer at IT Sligo who teaches on the BA in Performing arts, and the MA in creative practice, as a co partner in the organisation. We have been co-teaching together both in the room and online very successfully for the past few years and hope now to provide online, in the room, projects and hybrid classes teaching, sometimes together and sometimes alone . In addition we are hoping to invite other international teachers to work with us.
‘ I am honoured and excited about my increased role in CTPI. I see our legacy role as being to consolidate and and further deepen the possibilities of exploring the transformative Chekhov work in our live and online projects for our Irish community of actors, teachers, directors and facilitators , and our increasing international audience. I am looking forward to exploring how we apply the technique in all the varied settings our community work in , and exploring the possibilities of directing with the Chekhov tools, and incorporating them into our teaching and workshop practice.
Declan Drohan
NEW COURSES MARCH – JUNE
. MARCH 16/23/30 THE ART OF SOLO PERFORMANCE
Using Brian Friel’s ‘Faith Healer’ , we will explore solo characterization through application of core Chekhov technique approaches, including direction, atmosphere and polarity . We will explore the architecture of performance, that is the shape and three fold aspect of beginning, middle and end as it applies to any section of text. The beginnings of characterization – the character as a figure in a landscape, as yet undefined.
This template can be used by you to develop full , rich , embodied characterizations in your future work.
Choose one character and two short, contrasting extracts as a basis for our exploration.
3 2hr sessions , Wednesdays 6 – 8 GMT March 16/23/ 30TH ONLINE
Cost 70 waged / 60 low waged / 40 unwaged.
Declan Drohan
Declan Drohan M.A H.Dip.Ad.Ed. lectures on Performing Arts Hons Degree Programme at IT Sligo. Former Course Leader of Acting Programme at Conservatory of Music and Drama DIT Rathmines, Declan trained with Gaiety School Of Acting and Michael Chekov Europe. Recent acting work includes award winning short films ‘ The Date ‘ and Mr L’s Limbo. He is a member of the popular Dark Leaves Theatre Co vintage radio company. His directing credits include Cathleen Ni Houlihan at Lisadell House and the Hawkswell Sligo, and Frank Pig Says Hello and Beneath the Bone Moon at the Dublin Theatre Festival.
March 29/April 5/ April 12/ april 19. SPEAKING THROUGH THE BODY. 4 90 MINUTE SESSIONS . Using the Chekhov technique and a short given piece of Shakespeare, participants will use the body as a conduit to find truth and variety, particularly in the voice and text they are speaking . EXPANDING CONTRACTING /RADIATING RECEIVING qualities… using the body for Feeling and language….
Tutor Max Hafler Mondays 4.30-6 GMT
cost 85 waged/65 low waged/ 45 unwaged.
MAY 28TH…. 10-4. WE INVITE YOU TO RETURN! The Theatre of Joy (a one day workshop)
Chekhov Training and Performance Ireland
Activate – Connect – Radiate venue TBC
After our long Covid hibernation, Max and Declan invite you a day long, celebratory return to live engagement.
We will explore breath, connection , energy, playfulness and ensemble . We will stoke the fires of imagination and begin to chart our course for future work….
Looking forward to seeing you there ! Venue and cost TBA
4th May/11th May/18th May/ 25th May PRACTICAL MAGIC (IMAGINATION AND THE BODY) 4 90 MINUTE SESSIONS ONLINE
TUTORS MAX HAFLER and DECLAN DROHAN
A revisiting connecting up the body, imagination, feelings and voice which are at the absolute core of the Michael Chekhov approach.
Wednesday 4.30-6.00pm cost 85 waged/65 low waged/ 45 unwaged.
Max Hafler - Radiating /Receiving 