The presentation of Studio Kokyu's work is a statement from the latest stage of research that the team consisting of Joanna Kurzyńska, Marta Horyza, and Marie Walker has been conducting under the direction of Przemysław Błaszczak since the beginning of 2022.
Interest in the classical text of Euripides' tragedy led us to attempt to confront the material behind one of the most ambiguous figures of European culture, i.e. Medea - poisoner, child killer, sorceress, princess, murderer and avenger raging with despair, and finally a victim of the patriarchal system. Studying, asking questions about Medea is one aspect of our search, while another is the question about the performer, or rather a performer, about the possibility of reducing the stage form to a precise, naked performative structure.
"Medea's Action" is intended to be a model and a tool for the performer/performer to work on herself, in action, with the other and towards the other. We are currently in the process of creating and composing material. In the next step, we would like to check how we can open the structure, so that, especially as part of the educational activities "Action Medea", slowly abolishing the division into viewers and actors, we could offer a way of active participation in the structure with varying degrees of dynamics. We ask ourselves a question about the possibility of creating an event based on precise lines of acting, which can be opened and, as it were, created from scratch each time with new participants, without losing or damaging the backbone of the structure.
30.07 - 10.08.2023 - Brzezinka, forest base of the Grotowski Institute (PL)
The 5th Summer School of Studio Kokyu is ten days (twelve, including the day of arrival and departure) of intensive physical and voice training focused on finding and building the presence of an actor-performer in the team, stimulating internal energy and creative imagination in working with movement, voice, word and song . The school is characterized by intensive physical and vocal work.
Marta Horyza, Marie Walker and Przemysław Błaszczak are experienced performers and theater teachers. They will lead the school participants through an individual and at the same time a joint artistic journey to the smoldering embers - the place from which the flame of a conscious creative process begins, in which I am today - my breath, my body, my voice. In order for a fire to emerge from the embers that will warm the house, attention, care, attention, concentration, effort and time are needed. The seed can be an opportunity to try to take care of this beginning, the center. An impulse to start moving, taking a breath, making a sound.
Physical training is to awaken the awareness of the movement potential of the participants, the inner vision and hearing of oneself, a partner, a team.
Voice training and work with songs will allow you to focus on the voice as a communication tool both on stage and in everyday life.
Working together and living in the space of Jerzy Grotowski's activities (para-theatre, Theater of Sources) is a unique time. A place with such a history inspires itself. Acting in nature, surrounded by a forest, stream, lake and all creatures living there, is an opportunity to calm down and rebuild healthy communication with yourself.
