An activity by 
Why
Border Crossings offers regular training courses for theatre-makers and community workers. Led by our Artistic and Associate Directors, this dynamic week-long course focused on the Border Crossings play-making process, using devising and writing techniques to create work that responds to cross-cultural encounters.
The course began with an encounter between participants and the city – and grew to encompass creative writing and improvisation, exploring how theatre can help us understand one another.
This course involved organisations and artists from the UK, Mauritius, Sweden, India, Greece, Germany and Denmark. Many participants were supported by their National Agencies under the EU’s Erasmus + programme.
Location
Chocolate Factory 2, Coburg Road, London, United Kingdom/-0.11307499999998072,51.59419270000001,4/1000x300.png)
Characteristics
Area
The course sent participants into a range of communities across London, exploring the incredibly diverse nature of the city and the way creative artists are responding to that.
Audience
How it was done
How
Photography
Theatre
Travel
Workshops
Writing
Interviews
Drawing
Exhibitions
Results
Participant comments include:
“It’s a bit of a revelation, really.”
“It was a moment for me to get back to artistic playfulness…. It was very special for me.”
“I want to be an artistic actor, and that is what I have found here.”
“I’m so thankful that I’ve met Border Crossings.”
“This is a very high level of workshop. I have been studying devising in many ways and this is a new level.”
“I found the workshop to be a very enriching experience on many levels. I have always benefited hugely from working with Michael. I feel he is one of the rare theatre makers who is generous with sharing his process. What I specifically find refreshing is that the starting point is the participant/creator and this naturally leads to an open/democratic process. This workshop was especially critical given the current climate that exists with Britain leaving the EU. His work is always responsive to what’s going on outside the studio/rehearsal room and always informs the creative process.”
“It actually propelled me to think more deeply about my own ability towards working with people with different command of English, as well as different professional background, and on this level, it was a very valuable intercultural experience which could, and should be introduced in a refugee/migrant setting.”
“Thank you for a great week!”
How it went
Main lessons learned
Benefits of taking part
- Internationalise your theatre practice
- Learn from acknowledged experts in the field
- Discover clear methodologies for creating intercultural theatre
- Meet other people working in similar areas and exchange best practice
- Develop your own creative ideas in a suppor- tive environment – ready to be developed towards performance!
Credits
Workshops led by Michael Walling and Lucy Dunkerley
in association with Exchange Theatre
Activity Timeline
2016
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Intercultural Theatre Training Laboratory
For further info and to book future labs, please visit http://www.bordercrossings.org.uk/take-part/education-research/courses-training