MSL Projects Photo by Zeroh

A unique chance to participate in outdoor theatre making with Teatr Biuro Podróży

MSL Projects, in association with 101 Outdoor Arts and Rose Bruford College, is offering a unique three-day workshop opportunity for performers, theatre makers and arts professionals with a commitment to outdoor arts, as they explain.

Based in Hastings, MSL Projects celebrate individual creativity, community and place, creating performances, exhibitions and installations that engage and inspire people and transform communities.

Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Freedom Festival and Hull UK City of Culture 2017 have co-commissioned Silence, a new show from one of the most important companies working in Europe. Based on interviews with victims of the Balkans wars in 1993-94, Teatr Biuro Podróży from Poland created a legendary street theatre production, Carmen Funebre, which explored the impact of war on civilians. The company returns to the theme with Silence, which combines physical theatre, fire, unusual staging, puppetry and music, and picks up the continuing story of refugees and migrants caught up in a spiral of war, fences and the dream of escape.

Still in rehearsal, it is developing as an extraordinary production on an important subject. Alongside the presentation of the show in the UK, we are offering an intensive residential workshop programme over three days to be held at the 101 Outdoor Arts site on Greenham Common. A small group of participants will be led by principal artists from Teatr Biuro Podróży through their process of making performance. During the programme the full company, set and props would be on site, integrating performance and methodology, allowing the participants a unique insight into the work of this major company.

Producers Margaret Sheehy and Simon Chatterton will offer insights into the business end of presenting a large-scale show to the UK, while Rose Bruford College will provide insight into the technical challenges of producing outdoor arts.

Programme:

• Sun 28 August: afternoon. Convene at 101 Arts – welcome, introductions, briefing, watch tech
• Sun 28 August: evening. Performance. Post-show reception with TBP.
• Mon 29–Wed 31 August. Workshops. (further details to follow)
• Location: 101 Outdoors Arts, Greenham Business Park
• Fee: £300/Bursary £150.
• Application: Send a short professional biography and a short note by email to admin@mslprojects.co.uk (subject line – TBP Workshop), saying why you would like to take up this opportunity, what skills, experience and viewpoint you would bring to it, and what you think you could draw from it. If you are applying to be considered for a bursary you must be: practicing as an artist (performer, designer/maker) or producer/production manager, based in the UK (for study or work) and experienced (at least 3 years).
• Accommodation & meals: Fee does not include meals, but limited caravan accommodation is available on site on a first come, first served basis. Please enquire in advance.

Contact for further information: Alison Levinson, Company Administrator, MSL Projects, 1st Floor, Rock House, 49-51 Cambridge Road, Hastings TN34 1DT. Tel 01424 234000. Alison@mslprojects.co.uk.

Margaret Sheehy has a distinguished track record in the arts as a director, writer and producer, working widely across the UK and specialising in celebratory and participatory art forms. MSL Projects was formed and has produced a range of work in the outdoor and visual arts sector, many with professional development components. MSL Digital was established in 2014 to develop a new strand of digital work, opening up offers for culture, heritage and tourism.