| CONTRA/DICTIONS |
Studio Matejka Workshop Led by Matej Matejka Assisted by Zuzana Kakalikova and Guillaumarc Froidevaux Sat-Thu 23–28 March, 10am–5pm Na Grobli Studio  In this work session, we will explore the territory of “contradictions” as a source of research for the performer. Contradictions are not a limitation, but rather, by focusing simultaneously on opposite ideas, they open doorways for the inner, primal sources of the body to flow. The world exists as a dynamic fusion of contradictions in which the performer is able to discover a path to his total essence. Through a laboratory model that seeks to break the borders between dance, theatre and movement techniques, we aim to unlock the potentialities for beginnings, where action is born. This is an invitation to delve into the rigorous and experimental workspace that defines Studio Matejka. The aim is not to create bodies that are plastic devices in service to the storytelling of theatre, but on the contrary, to instill a practice that keeps the physical body a well-cleaned instrument, capable of complex subtle expression. By engaging the entire body-mind, the body becomes a luminous reflection of the inner thoughts and the channel for the self. Participants will be introduced to elements of: • respectful and focused working environment • the building of a personal, daily physical practice • sensitivity and listening through partner and group relation • awakening the anatomy of the body to develop readiness for action • transformation from physical training into creative improvisation • composition of physical structures • group rhythmical pulse and body rhythm The workshop is targeted towards practitioners with an interest and experience in theatre or dance. It is open both for professional actors and dancers. This challenge requires serious focus and precision from all engaged in the work. It is open to those who are willing to explore less common fields of physical expression. Creative Preparation Chosen participants will be asked to bring: • three images of any personal inspiration (printed hard copies) • bring a text which has personal value (written by other author or participant) (printed copies) • if you have any competency with a musical instrument, please bring it to the session Conditions for Work • comfortable training clothing for dynamic movement and strenuous work (spare shirts recommended) • actors should be present in the space 20 minutes before a session begins for individual warm-up and stretching • only water and notebook/pens will be allowed in the space in order to keep a clean and hygienic working atmosphere Studio Matejka began its activities in 2010 as a physical theatre laboratory exploring 21st-century performance techniques that specifically work across borders: Borders between performance genres, borders between training techniques, and borders between individual expression and collective resonance. Through practical investigation, the performers work to develop the strength, agility and dexterity to physically “speak” through a diverse range of ideas, images and vocabularies. The Studio is led by Matej Matejka and composed of eight performers from seven countries. Additionally, the Studio is regularly accompanied by external affiliates. Vivien Wood (UK), Sarie Mairs Slee (UK/USA) and Milan Kozanek (Slovakia) assist the leader in the psychophysical research. Ditte Berkeley (Denmark/UK) and Jaros³aw Fret (Poland) lead music training and supervise music composition. Bryan Brown (USA) collaborates on the dramaturgy of the performances. The academic team of the Studio is supervised by Sarie Mairs Slee (USA) assisted by Torbjorn Oppedal (Norway) and Ragnhild Freng Dale (Norway) who record, contextualize and inform the laboratory research. The Studio’s film and documentary team is comprised of Adam Hanuljak (Slovakia), Peter Kotrha (Slovakia) and Karol Jarek (Poland). www.studiomatejka.com Matej Matejka is the founder and leader of Studio Matejka. He studied acting at the State Conservatory in Bratislava, Slovakia, later at JAMU University, Brno, Czech Republic. From 2001–2006 he was an actor with the theatre studio Farm in the Cave, Prague, and co-creator of the projects and performances Dark Love Sonnets, Journey to the Station and Sclavi/The Song of an Emigrant, which won a Total Theatre Award, a Fringe First Award and a Herald Angel Award at the 2006 Edinburgh Fringe. Since 2005 he has collaborated with the Grotowski Institute, where he is engaged in research of physical expression in the theatre. He is also an actor and leader of physical training in Teatr ZAR, performing in Gospels of Childhood, Caesarean Section: Essays on Suicide (winner of a Total Theatre Award and a Herald Angel Award at the 2012 Edinburgh Fringe) and Anhelli: The Calling. He leads his own work sessions called Wakening the Listening Body at the Grotowski Institute, as well as with Teatr ZAR, both in Poland and internationally. In his work he searches for the performer’s “essence of communication” where both dance and drama are only vehicles for the actor’s expression. Zuzana Kakalikova was born in Slovakia and studied acting at the Academy of Arts in Banska Bystrica from 2000–2003, and later at the Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts in Bratislava, where she completed her MA in Dramatic Arts in 2005. Her interest in movement led her to Scuola Teatro Dimitri in Switzerland, where she practiced pantomime, tai-chi, dance and acrobatics from 2005–2006. She is co-founder of the multicultural ensemble T-d’U, with which she has created Silence... and Ôkô, two performances which toured Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Zuzana participated in many different workshops with companies like Farm in the Cave, Les Slovaks, as well as with Dominique Duszinski and Ana Stegnar. She is part of Studio Matejka’s team of artists, as well as continuing to work with her company in Switzerland. Guillaumarc Froidevaux was born in Switzerland, and graduated from Scuola Teatro Dimitri in 2005. Before this, he performed with TPR Theatre School’s Company and Théâtre Circus Junior. He has collaborated with groups such as Twof2, Palin Teatro, Teatro Paravento and DschungelWien, and is currently a member of the duo The Sunny Side Up. Other experience includes film, dance and cross-disciplinary collaboration. He co-founded, with Zuzana Kakalikova, the company T-d’U, which presented its first play, Silence..., in 2008, and is currently touring their latest production, Ôkô, which was created in 2010. He teamed up with visual artist Kelzang Ravach to create short films in Brussels. Guillaumarc was a teacher of acrobatics in LeZarti Cirque in Switzerland, and leads acrobatics and body rhythms sessions within the Studio work. |