Workshops for Professional Contemporary Circus Artists

About the Workshops

• September 5: Workshop in dramaturgy with Jarkko Lehmus

  Time: 09:30-12:30 
  Venue: Bærum Kulturhus 

  This short lecture and workshop gives an introduction to dramaturgical thinking through the exploration of a set of questions that I have found to be useful during the creative process. I aim for all of the participants to come away with a set of tools that they can use to support their own work.   

  Dramaturgy comes from the Greek word dramatourgía combining drama (deed, act, or a play) with -ourgia (working or crafting). It is literally the "work" or "craft" of making a performance. Dramaturgy does not show itself as a separate part of a performance. Instead it lives in between all of the elements of the performance, such as the performers, objects, space, movement, light and sound. As a performance dramaturg I deal with the qualities, relationships and changes of the elements of the performance, and the emerging structures, experiences and possible meanings. I support the creative team through critical questions. From one perspective I am a meta-artist who works with the work of the other artists of the creative team. From another, I try to look at the performance taking shape from the perspectives of the possible audiences before it is possible for them to be present. 

  About Jarkko Lehmus: 

  Jarkko Lehmus is a performance dramaturg and the director of Cirko - Center for New Circus in Helsinki, Finland. He has worked both on and off the stage for over 30 years in over 30 countries, in and with over 100 productions that have reached over one million audience members. Contemporary circus is his home and what inspires him the most. His past experience ranges from physical theatre to classical ballet and conceptual performance art to commercial television productions. 

• September 6: Practical Dramaturgy in Contemporary Circus with Geordie Brookman

  Time: 09:00-12:00 
  Venue: Bærum Kulturhus 

  Dramaturg and director Geordie Brookman will guide participants through the application of practice based dramaturgy structures in a session focussed on maintaining clear artistic intent while operating within the production realities of the industry. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience Geordie will deliver a session centred around directorial and visual dramaturgy toolkits that artists can use within the context of any creation process.

  About Geordie Brookman:

  Geordie Brookman is a director and dramaturg, currently serving as Artistic Director and Dramaturg at Chamäleon Theatre in Berlin, where he also leads the theatre’s residency programme. With more than 20 years of experience across theatre, circus, musicals, opera and live events, he has worked on a wide range of international productions.

  From 2021 to 2022, he was Associate Director and Creative Producer at Circa, and since relocating to Berlin in 2019, he has worked as a freelance director, dramaturg and creative producer across Europe, Australia and Asia. He has also taught and lectured at several arts and theatre institutions internationally.

  Geordie is particularly interested in directing and visual dramaturgy, and in how artistic intent can be developed within the practical realities of a production.

   

• September 9 – seminar/workshop in light design with Jere Mönkkönen and Bærum Kulturhus tech department

  Time: 09:30-12:30 
  Venue: Bærum Kulturhus 

  The workshop with Jere will focus on artistic approach as well as functionality, practicality and safety, design for touring and communication between circus maker and light designer.  
   
  In addition, technical director Kjetil Moslåtten and light technician and designer Benjamin Fjellman will give insight to working with lights in Bærum Kulturhus. 
   
  About Jere Mönkkönen:

  Jere Mönkkönen is a Finnish lighting designer and technical producer specializing in contemporary circus and interdisciplinary performing arts. His lighting designs have toured to more than 40 countries, making him Finland's most internationally established lighting designer in the circus field. 
  His work has been presented at Finland's leading stages and major international festivals. Alongside his design practice, Mönkkönen has contributed to the development of contemporary circus in Finland through his work as a technical producer with organizations such as the Helsinki Festival and Cirko – Center for New Circus. 
  As a lighting designer, his primary interest is in supporting the core essence of each performance, using light to strengthen its emotional, narrative, and visual impact. 

   

• Registration:

  The workshop is aimed at professional contemporary circus artists in the early to mid stages of their careers who are engaged in artistic creation.

  Registration is via Dans Sørøst-Norge at danssorost@baerum.kommune.no.

  Please include the following in your email:

  Full name:
  Contact information:
  Which workshop(s) you would like to attend:
  A short bio about yourself and your artistic practice/work. In English! (approximately 5–6 sentences)