A sequence of Saturday monthly workshops

with Sarah Kane

These one-day workshops provide an opportunity to explore practically the core elements of the truly artistic acting techniques developed by Russian actor Michael Chekhov in the middle of the twentieth century. Chekhov’s approach aims to inspire and empower actors for their future work by building a living and sensitive bridge between the movement and imagination of an actor and the character to be played.

Although the workshops are designed as a series and build from one to the next, each workshop is an entirety in itself and can be taken individually.

Imagination is the real, eternal world, of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow.

William Blake

Saturday 11 January 10am - 5.30pm ~ The Actor’s Imagination
To start the new year, this workshop will explore what imagination is and how an artist can engage with, develop and strengthen it in his or her creative work.

Saturday 22 February 10am - 5.30pm ~ Exploring the Psycho-Physical Basics
What is a gesture? And how can gestures make us more creative? Starting with movement this workshop will explore what are called archetypal gestures as tools to express a character’s inner impulses and bring the character to life.

Saturday 8 March 10am - 5.30pm ~ Gesture and a Character’s Objective: The Psychological Gesture
From archetypal gestures we will move on to individual gestures and develop them in relation to text to express the embodied essence of a character, what Chekhov calls the psychological gesture.

Saturday 12 April 10am - 5.30pm ~ Individualising Psychological Gestures: Qualities
The third session on gesture will investigate the final step in the process of individualisation and explore how qualities can enhance and refine any gesture, making them truly specific.

Please bring clothes and shoes suitable for the Chekhov workshops as a well as a piece of text such as a monologue or poem known by heart, so that it can be used in the exploration in practice of any aspect of the techniques.

Workshop Fees:

1 workshop day: £55

4 workshops: £195 (Bookable on the first date)

To book: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/e-dmmzoq

Sarah Kane trained in Steiner’s approach to speech and voice, then Chekhov’s approach to acting with many of his original students. She now integrates them in her teaching, directing and performing, which takes place internationally.

TO FOLLOW: CREATING CHARACTER

April – July 2025