University of the Peloponnese Hellenic Festival S.A. Faculty of Fine Arts http://www.greekfestival.gr Department of Theatre Studies http://ts.uop.gr Epidaurus Lyceum 2017 For the first in Greece an Ancient Drama School at the very place where it was born Subject: Invitation to Drama Schools and University Departments with Theatre Practice Direction (acting & directing) to participate in “Epidaurus Lyceum” International Summer School of Ancient Drama from Athens & Epidaurus Festival & the University of the Peloponnese Faculty of Arts Department of Theatre Studies Dear Sir, Madame, We are writing to you in order το invite your prestigious institution to take part as collaborating partner and sending students in the International Summer School for Ancient Drama in Epidaurus, the Epidaurus Lyceum, an ambitious new project of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival. The Epidaurus Lyceum will be an international centre for the applied study of ancient drama, addressed to young actors and drama students from around the world. For 2017 there will be one period of 15 days from 4rth to 19th of July. A major factor of the Lyceum is the place itself, as a practical research on the function of space in ancient drama, on the dynamics of open air theatre in contrast to the usual theatrical practices which take place in an indoors venue. The rationale of the program will take into account and will be especially designed in relation to the space aiming to bring the students in contact with the earth, the light and the sky, elements fundamental for the formation of ancient drama. 1 Classes and events will be hosted in ancient theatre venues, such as the Ancient Theatre and the Little Theatre of Epidaurus, at archaeological sites such as the ancient Stadium and the Asklepion, Byzantine monuments and other important sites and spaces in the greater area. The Epidaurus Lyceum is an educational initiative designed especially for its relation to the Epidaurus space, a fact which will determine the educational experience for each participant. The chosen theme of Athens & Epidaurus Festival for 2017 for the performances in the Ancient Epidaurus Theatre is ‘The eleusis of the Xenos’, The arrival of the Outsider. This theme will also form 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 global current turbulence. In this context, we would highly appreciate the participation of your institution in the inaugurational year of Epidaurus Lyceum in 2017, along with other institutions of similar status from around the world. We strongly believe that such an affiliation might promote and develop the dialogue on contemporary applied research of ancient drama and help build a network of drama academies and acting schools that would exchange expertise and excellence in contemporary theatre pedagogy and performance. Please, see below the Curriculum of Epidaurus Lyceum designed by Athens & Epidaurus Festival and the University of the Peloponnese as well as the attached PPT presentation. For more information on Epidaurus Lyceum, the teaching staff and the day-to-day program, see the webpage www.greekfestival.gr (by February 2017 an especially designed webpage on Lyceum Epidaurus will be linked). Thank you in advance and looking forward to your answer. Sincerely, Ms. Georgina Kakoudaki, Consultant of Educational Programs, Athens & Epidaurus Festival (http://www.greekfestival.gr), Email: [email protected], tel: 0030 6977913140 & Dr. Christina Zoniou, Member of the Specialised Teaching Staff (acting & social theatre), Department of Theatre Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of the Peloponnese (http://ts.uop.gr), Email: [email protected], tel. 0030 6972887744 On behalf of 2 Mr. Vangelis Theodoropoulos Artistic director of Athens and Epidaurus Festival 3 EPIDAURUS LYCEUM International Summer School of Ancient Drama CURRICULUM Overview Epidaurus Lyceum is an international summer school of ancient drama, an international centre of ancient drama studies and practice, located at the area of ancient Epidaurus, operating annually during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival and aiming at the participation of students from Theatre Academies, Drama Schools, Performing Arts' Universities, as well as young actors around the world. Epidaurus Lyceum is implemented as a project of the Athens & Epidaurus Festival in collaboration with the Department of Theatre Studies, Faculty of Fine Arts, of the University of the Peloponnese. Its main focus lies on research on ancient drama (tragedy, comedy, satyric drama) on a practical / experiential level, combining a wide range of approaches, from the most traditional to the most experimental aesthetic tendencies, artistic schools, methods, and interpretations. At the end of every season there will be a presentation of the accomplishments achieved during its research and learning program, shown on special public events that will form part of the Epidaurus Festival artistic program. More specifically, the Epidaurus Lyceum will offer modules, masterclasses, educational visits and other activities that will take place at various venues around the Epidaurus area, such as ancient theatres, archaeological sites, open air spaces, school facilities that fit the purposes of the Lyceum, in collaboration with the respective administration bodies. EDUCATIONAL GOALS / LEARNING OUTCOMES A meeting place for actors, playwrights, directors, musicians, choreographers, artists, as well as theatrologists, anthropologists, musicologists, the Epidaurus Lyceum aims at crafting a space where tradition and innovation, ancient and modern civilization will share a creative coexistence, fueled by two equally important factors, ancient drama and the actor. 4 On an educational point of view, the Epidaurus Lyceum‟s courses will focus on applied research and the teaching of acting techniques, rather than on “informing” students of the long list of directorial approaches to ancient drama. To that end, the curriculum consists of courses providing experiential learning and carving a space for research on specific expressive techniques and tools of stage presence. Visiting teachers are chosen based on this ability. Therefore, the learning outcomes the Lyceum strives to achieve are: 1) Providing young actors with extra abilities, technique knowledge and acting tools to match with a varied spectrum of directorial perspectives on ancient drama. 2) Facilitating coexistence between teachers and actors from different cultural backgrounds, through the process of intercultural communication. 3) Acquainting young artists with Ancient and Modern Greek civilization. TARGET GROUP The Epidaurus Lyceum is addressed to: 1) Students of Theatre Academies, Drama Schools, Performing Arts and Theatre Studies Universities with direction on theatre practice, at an undergraduate or postgraduate level, from around the world. 2) Young artists up to 32 years old from around the world. NUMBER OF STUDENTS Maximum 150 students per year / 15-20 students per workshop. CANDIDATES' SELECTION Students will be selected by the Lyceum‟s Academic Committee, in cooperation with an international network of collaborating drama schools, universities and art institutions. Young actors will be also selected by the Lyceum‟s Academic Committee. The specifics will be announced at the time of the open call (interview, CV, show reel). ACADEMIC FIELDS Ancient drama, acting, theatre anthropology. LOCATION Selected open air spaces, in close proximity to the natural environment of Epidaurus area, so as to liberate the teaching process from indoors course practice, enhancing educational benefits and students‟ experience. ACCOMODATION For the didactic and accommodation needs of the Lyceum of Epidaurus an ecologically designed camp is being contracting at a 25,000 m2 space, 1,5 km off the archaeological site of Ancient Epidaurus, by special allocation of Epidaurus Municipality, that is intended to host students, teachers and visitors of the Lyceum by 2018. Additionally to this infrastructure, it is foreseen for this summer of 2017 the teachers to be hosted in selected hotels of the region. Students will also be hosted to the hospitable hotels and houses in the village of Lygourio, reviving an old tradition of the first years of the Epidaurus Festival in the „50s, when actors and directors were being hosted by the villagers, offering in this way a long cultural heritage to the whole rural area. The Lygourio villagers are once more willing to open up their homes to the cosmopolitan world of theatre. The hotel list will be uploaded at www.greekfestival.gr 5 TEACHING FACILITIES Specially arranged plots inside the space intended to host the natural environment of the residence camp, as well as school yards, church yards, other venues in the nearby area around the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Some courses will frequently take place at archaeological sites. For educational purposes the local branch of the Archaeology Ephorate of the Ministry of Culture has granted the Lyceum the use of - The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus - The Ancient Stadium at the Sanctuary of Asclepios - The Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus The Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus is one of Lyceum‟s main venues for workshops, seminars, performances. TIME OF THE YEAR 6 The Epidaurus Lyceum is scheduled to start at the same time as the Athens & Epidaurus Festival, with the explicit goal for both institutions to become supplementary to one another,