Professional development with Punchdrunk

Posted on November 6, 2013

Punchdrunk Enrichment continues its programme of professional development opportunities with a range of production and design masterclasses. Events run alongside Punchdrunk’s The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable, which has been staged in a disused building near London’s Paddington Station. The masterclasses include an opportunity to work with Punchdrunk’s artistic director, Felix Barrett, and associate director Maxine Doyle.

November 23: one-day masterclass with Maxine Doyle

This one-day masterclass with Maxine Doyle, co-director and choreographer of the show, gives an insight into Punchdrunk’s performance style and devising techniques. Participants will work on the set of the current production to develop pieces of movement in response to space and sound. Places cost £100 per participant, with a limited number of subsidised places available.

November 25–29: five-day masterclass with Conor Doyle and Fernanda Prata

Over the course of five days, participants will work with associate artists Conor Doyle and Fernanda Prata in Punchdrunk’s performance style, using different devising techniques to create their own pieces of movement in response to space, sound, story and set. They will also learn and use elements of the choreography of the show. The masterclass will take place on the set of The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable, and is aimed at dancers or physical performers. Participants will be chosen based on experience and suitability for this programme. Places cost £400 per participant, with a limited number of subsidised places available.

November 30: one-day masterclass with Conor Doyle and Fernanda Prata

Conor Doyle and Fernanda Prata will lead a masterclass in Punchdrunk’s performance style. Working on the set of the current production, participants will use different devising techniques to develop pieces of movement in response to space, sound and set. This masterclass is suitable for developing artists who want to gain insight into Punchdrunk’s performing style. Places cost £80 per participant, with a limited number of subsidised places available.

December 2–4: three-day dance masterclass with Maxine Doyle

This three-day workshop is aimed at professional dancers and dance graduates, exploring presence, theatricality and choreographic storytelling. Participants will work both in the studio and on the site/set of The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable. The masterclass costs £260 per participant. Applications are by CV only.

For more information on all masterclasses, contact professionaldevelopment@punchdrunk.org.uk.

The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable, a co-production with the National Theatre, runs at Temple Studios until December 30.

Picture: Fernanda Prata and Jesse Kovarsky in The Drowned Man: A Hollywood Fable. Photograph: Birgit & Ralf

Zoe Anderson

Zoë was born in Edinburgh, and saw her first dance performances at the Festival there. She is the dance critic of The Independent, and has also written for The Independent on Sunday, The Scotsman and Dancing Times. In 2002, she received her doctorate from the University of York for a thesis on “Nationhood and epic romance: Ariosto, Sidney, Spenser”. She is the author of The Royal Ballet: 75 Years and The Ballet Lover’s Companion.