Lyceum at Epidaurus
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Epidaurus Lyceum An International Acting Summer School for ancient Greek drama in Epidaurus The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is the most celebrated place for modern restaging of ancient drama. Epidaurus Lyceum aims to bring the international creative voices of drama together and re-imagine the art of drama in the land of its roots What is the Epidaurus Lyceum • An international ancient drama practice centre at Epidaurus, Greece, addressed to drama students and young actors. • A meeting point for actors, drama teachers, directors, musicians, choreographers, theatre theorists, anthropologists, musicologists and other artists & theorists. • An initiative which will ultimately lead to a much needed new approach to ancient tragedy and comedy. • A creative encounter between tradition and innovation, and between ancient and contemporary civilization – an encounter based on the twin pillars of ancient drama & the actor. An open-air summer camp where nature meets art Epidaurus Lyceum’s topos • The program will be planned around selected open spaces and supplemented by performances of ancient drama held at Epidaurus’ two ancient theatres. • Classes & events will take the natural environment as well as and the area’s ancient, byzantine & modern monuments into account and be influenced by them. LYCEUM VENUES The Epidaurus area will liberate drama education from its usual enclosed setting and allow the dynamics of open space to impact on both the educational processes & the students experiences The stadium of The Ancient Theatre of Asklepion Epidaurus in Asklepion The Little Theatre of On the road to the Ancient Epidaurus Lyceum’s camp The Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus is one of the main venues of the Lyceum where seminars, workshops and performances will take place The Stadium is found inside the ancient healing centre of Asklepion and will be a venue of the Lyceum where seminars, workshops and performances will take place Sacred places, nearby monuments and churches’ courtyards to host Lyceum’s workshops and lectures The courtyard of the church of Agia Marina to be used as one of the Lyceum’s outdoor spaces The olive grove as an archetypical symbol of Greek myth and wisdom to be examined on its most suited environment. Indoor spaces such as the dance hall and the gym in nearby Ligourio village Lyceum’s venues & spaces • Students and teachers will be hosted as guests in houses and hotels in the village of Ligourio, as well as in a specially- designed open-air eco camp, an experience which will enhance the inspiration they glean from the natural environment and the sense of community. • The Lyceum’s workshops will be held in specially designed places within the camp, but also near monuments, and in pine woods and olive-grove forests in the surrounding area. • Indoor locations, such as school facilities, the High School in Ligourio, the school gym and hall, and the precincts of historical churches will also be used. • The Little Theatre of Epidaurus will also be made use of a variety of ways, serving as one of the main venues for Lyceum. Epidaurus Lyceum’s location The summer camp will be set up in a 25.000m2 area of pine-tree forest between Ligourio village and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, which is also conveniently located by the local health centre. Epidaurus Lyceum’s Accommodation As the works in the summer camp are still in progress, accommodation for this summer of 2017 will be at the hospitable hotels of the Lygourio village. All rooms include reception / wireless internet access / A/C unit / kitchenette / TV set. Epidaurus & surroundings map Epidaurus Lyceum Epidaurus Lyceum’s philosophy • At the very heart of Epidaurus Lyceum is our desire to connect the educational process with the works of ancient drama performed at Epidaurus. • The Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus will be oriented towards a repertoire linked directly to the classes taught at the Lyceum with a focus on: - subjects related to early forms of theatre in Greece - rituals and ceremonies - folklore and folk traditions, circle dances - traditional music and music performances influenced by tradition - art inspired by ancient drama - and work that in some way connects ancient drama with our cultural roots but also with universal themes of myth and drama. • To enhance the intercultural perspective on ancient drama, will also be organised events dedicated to traditional Eastern forms of theatre such as the theatre of China, Japan and India. Epidaurus Lyceum’s 2017 schedule • The Lyceum will operate the summer of 2017 for a 15-day period from 4 July - 19 July 2017 • The aim is for the Lyceum to coincide with the Epidaurus Festival so as the artistic program of the latter and the educational program of the former can complement & enhance each other. Epidaurus Lyceum’s students • There will be 150 places available for each of the two fortnightly periods. • The educational program will be addressed to students and graduates of drama schools, theatre academies and acting departments of univeristies as well as young actors. • Working language will be English. Teaching language will depend on the teacher; however, English translation will be available. Epidaurus Lyceum’s curriculum • An overall of 170 hours of practical and theoretical workshops and educational activities. • 8-10 main workshops led by selected teachers (compulsory modules) • To be supplemented by shorter selective workshops led by additional teachers. • To be enriched by lectures, walks & other events – some to be shared with the local community and the public at large. • Classes related to the body, movement, music and song will be provided every year by artists taking part in that year’s Epidaurus Festival, and tutors from participating institutions and schools both from Greece and abroad. • 6 ECTS credit units provided by the University of the Peloponnese Lyceum’s guidelines - modules 1. RITUAL • Anthropological perspectives on theatrical practice • Influences and tools of collective local events • Influences and tools of non-Western theatrical practices and traditions • The actor and the tragic condition 2. THE TRAGIC BODY • The post-Grotowski conditions of the function and presence of the actor’s body. • The body itself and in relation to the open-air space • Group work. Collective actions and interaction of bodies on stage. • The multiplicity of the body and its transformations. • Body and costume • Body and gender 3. VOICE: MUSIC-LAMENT-SPEECH • The rhythm of tragic speech. • Narration as bodily action. • Tools of multi-voice practice. • Breath, speakers and open space. • The limits of voice. 4. CONNECTING MYTH AND REALITY • Devise and production of texts: the actor’s tools. • Narrative theatre. • Documentary as tragic element: the actor-researcher. • The actor in site-specific works. • The actor as agent of myth in contemporary reality. • Paratheatrical actions. Learning outcomes • The acquirement by the young actors of competences, techniques, and tools, in order to serve various contemporary directing approaches on ancient drama. • The co-existence of teachers and students from various cultural contexts in an intercultural environment. • The contact of young artists with ancient and modern Greek culture. Epidaurus 2017 theme: “Eleusis of the Xenos” The arrival of the Outsider The chosen theme of Athens & Epidaurus Festival for 2017 for the performances in the Ancient Epidaurus Theatre is ‘Eleusis of the Xenos’ The arrival of the Outsider This theme will also inform the content of the classes at the Lyceum. The subject relates to the dilemmas that Europe faces today and encourages a reappraisal of the political theatre of antiquity in the light of current global turbulence. The god of Dionysos – pictured left – it is claimed that his origins were uncertain, and in some cults arrives from the East as the Asiatic Xenos Plays in Program for the 2017 season Epidaurus open space theatres • The Persians and Iketides (The Suppliant women) by Aeschylus • Medea, Cyclops, Alkestis by Euripides • Oedipus Rex by Sophokles • Irini (Peace) and The Frogs by Aristophanes • Staged Homer’s Odyssey’s Ω rapsody world music, circular dances performances and local fairs will give a great insight to the discussion of the ancient drama in today’s time. International Partnerships • International partnerships and collaborations are an integral part of the Lyceum’s activity and core philosophy. • The Lyceum aims to partner up with key institutions from around the world in order to build a network of drama academies, universities and acting schools that exchange expertise and excellence in contemporary theatre pedagogy and performance and on applied research of ancient drama. • Learning agreements with the Department of Theatre Studies of the University of the Peloponnese will be set up to assure the accreditation of the studies with ECTS units and the possibilities of Erasmus+ mobility and partnership projects for Higher Education. Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnerships • Partnerships in the field of higher education between 24 and 36 months • Application to the Greek National Agency (of the country in which the applicant organization is established) • Among other activities: Intensive Study Programmes for HE students, with invited HE teaching staff and other relevant HE experts • 3 – 10 partners • Deadline: 29th of March 2017 – starting date: between September 1st and December 31st, 2017 Important Dates • Open call and applications: approximately February 1st – March 15th, 2017 • Submission of Erasmus + Project: