THE UNIVERSITY OF EURASIAN THEATRE

In 1990, in collaboration with the University of Bologna, ISTA established a new activity: The University of Eurasian Theatre. Since then sessions have been held in different Italian cities. The University of Eurasian Theatre addresses a wider spectrum of participants, stretching from beginners in acting and directing, university students and scholars, to theatregoers who are interested in the secrets of the craft.

"When I speak of Eurasian theatre I am not thinking of theatres within a geographical area, but of a mental dimension, an active idea which has inspired the theatre of our century. This concept implies the experiences which for all artists, whatever their cultural origins, constitute the essential points of reference for their theatre practice: from Ibsen to Zeami, from the Peking Opera to Brecht, from the mime of Decroux to Noh, from Kabuki to Meyerhold's bio-mechanics, from Delsarte to Kathakali, from ballet and modern dance to Butoh, from Artaud to Bali theatre, from Stanislavski to Natya Shastra.
We could say that Eurasian theatre represents a common country: that of our craft, of our professional identity. Or else, it is a legacy, that which remains and can be shared equally in the country of transition which is theatre".
Eugenio Barba

The University of Eurasian Theatre carries out periodical activities. These consist of conferences and encounters of a theoretical-practical character. It has held the following sessions:

18th Session of the University of Eurasian Theatre

Raccontare a teatro

Scilla, Italy, 23 - 28 June 2010
with Eugenio Barba, Julia Varley (Odin Teatret)
Franco Ruffini and Mirella Schino (Roma 3 University)

Ferdinando Taviani (L'Aquila University)

Nicola Savarese (Theatre Historian)

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion.

 

Further information >>

 

17^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Theatre and Music

Reggio Calabria, Italy, 25-28 June 2009

with Eugenio Barba, Julia Varley and Frans Winther (Odin Teatret)

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University)

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University)

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion.

 

This was a closed session for the actors and musicians of Teatro Proskenion and ten students of L'Aquila University. Julia Varley and Frans Winther worked practically in the morning with Teatro Proskenion divided into two groups. The afternoons were devoted to lectures and discussions also referring to Eugenio Barba's new book Burning the House - On Directing and Dramaturgy and Julia Varley's book Stones of Water -  Notebook of an Odin Actress.

 

 

16^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
The Subterrenean History of Theatre: Dimensions, Strategies, Techniques and Destinies

Caulonia, Italy, 1-8 September 2008

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret)

Deborah Hunt (Maskhunt, Puerto Rico)

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University)

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University)

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion.

 

During this session the 30 participants worked practically in the morning with Deborah Hunt and Julia Varley creating characters with masks, voices and costumes for a montage which was shown on the last day  at Donna Luna in Caulonia. The afternoons were devoted to lectures and discussions.

 

 

 

15^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Dramaturgy and Theatre Space

Lamezia Terme, Italy,  3-11 June 2007

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret)

Antonella Diana (set designer, Teatret Om, Denmark)

Luca Ruzza and David Dalmazzo (architects and set designers, OpenLab, Italy)

Jacek Dominiczak and Monika Zawadzka (architects, Poland)

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University)

Franco Perrelli (Torino University)

Franco Ruffini (Roma 3 University)

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion.

 

Programme 15th session

 

 

14^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Poetry and Improvisation

Bologna, Italy, 4-8 October 2006

with Eugenio Barba, Kai Bredholt, Tage Larsen, Augusto Omolú, Mia Theil Have, Julia Varley, Torgeir Wethal and Frans Winther (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Marco de Marinis (Bologna University).

 

Organised by Teatro Ridotto

 

A theoretical-practical workshop on dramaturgy and staging based on texts by Tonino Guerra directed by Eugenio Barba with Odin Teatret's actors and participants. Five days, with five hours of practical work in the morning, lectures in the afternoon and performance demonstrations in the evening, for 50 participants.

 

Programme 14th session

 

 

 

 

13^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
The dancing statue and Don Giovanni: presence and simulation Ravenna, Italy, 15-19 June 2006

with Eugenio Barba, Roberta Carreri, Tage Larsen, Iben Nagel Rasmussen, Julia Varley, Torgeir Wethal (Odin Teatret);

Silvia Carandini and Luciano Mariti (La Sapienza University);

Michele Monetta (ICRA, Centro Internazionale di Ricerca sull'Attore, Napoli);

Ettore Rocca (Istituto di Ricerca su Søren Kierkegaard and Reggio Calabria University);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University);

Silvia Baudin, Tiziana Barbiero, Luigia Calcaterra, Caterina Scotti, Simona Zanini (Teatro tascabile di Bergamo).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

Programme and introduction 13th session

 

 

12^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre

Theatrical text and technical principles
Caulonia, Italy: 21-27 June 2005

with Eugenio Barba, Julia Varley, Mia Theil Have (Odin Teatret);

Ana Woolf (Argentina);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

For 45 participants.

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

Programme 12th session

 

 

11^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Subterranean theatre history: Theatre directing

Caulonia, Italy, 20-30 June 2004

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Ana Woolf (Argentina);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

A session for 12 directors who present performances or scenes during the first 2 days to /and then  receive comments by Eugenio Barba and the artistic staff. Then a workshop for participants concentrating on montage and dramaturgy.

 

Programme 11th session

 

 

10^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Subterranean theatre history: Theatre laboratories

Scilla-Caulonia, Italy, 19-24 June 2003

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

For 50 participants.

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

 

9^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Subterranean theatre history: Dramaturgy and music

Scilla-Caulonia, Italy, 3-30 June 2002

with Eugenio Barba, Julia Varley and Frans Winther (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion.

 

The 9^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre took place within the framework of Linea Trasversale's meetings (3-19 June, Scilla, and 25-30 June, Caulonia). Practical work was led by Julia Varley and Frans Winther, with a final concert by the participants in the castle of Scilla.

 

 

8^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Dramaturgy techniques

Scilla, Italy, 9-22 June 2001

For 50 participants.

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

 

7^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Emigration, deportation

Scilla, Italy 10-28 June 2000
For 50 participants.

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

 

6^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Actor and character dramaturgy

Scilla, Italy, 22-28 June 1999

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Augusto Omolú and Ory Sacramento (Brazil, Candomblé dance);

Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

For 50 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Italy, Scotland, Japan and Spain.

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

Within the framework of Linea Trasversale's activities the programme included practical classes led by Julia Varley, Augusto Omolú and Ory Sacramento and lectures on different dramaturgical experiences from theatre history.

 

 

5^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Writing and narrating theatre: An invitation to the written testimony of theatre experiences

Scilla, Italy, 20-25 June 1998

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Franco Ruffini (Roma 3 University);

Nicola Savarese (Bologna University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

Guest: Jean-Marie Pradier (Paris 8 University)

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

 

4^th session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Learning to learn: The transition from action to reflection

Scilla, Italy, 1-8 June 1997

with Eugenio Barba and Julia Varley (Odin Teatret);

Kanichi Hanayagi and Sae Nanaogi (Buyo Kabuki, Japan);

Eugenia Casini Ropa, Marco de Marinis, Claudio Meldolesi and Nicola Savarese (Bologna University);

Clelia Falletti (La Sapienza University);

Laura Mariani (Cassino University);

Pier Giorgio Giacché (Perugia University);

Franco Ruffini (Roma 3 University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

Within the framework of Linea Trasversale's activities (1-20 June 1997), the session was accompanied by a theatre festival. The lectures had the theme:

"Tales, polemics and visions about theatre and dance in our century".

Practical work was led by Julia Varley, Kanichi Hanayagi and Sae Nanaogi with a final parade in town.

 

 

3^rd session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Solitude, technique, dramaturgy and revolt: The subterranean history of theatre

Scilla, Italy, 9-16 June 1996

with Eugenio Barba, Kai Bredholt, Julia Varley, Torgeir Wethal and Iben Nagel Rasmussen (Odin Teatret)

Vindenes Bro

Franco Ruffini (Roma 3 University);

Clelia Falletti (La Sapienza University);

Piergiorgio Giacchè (Perugia University);

Laura Mariani (Cassino University);

Marco de Marinis, Claudio Meldolesi, Franco Ruffini and Nicola Savarese (Bologna University);

Mirella Schino and Nando Taviani (L'Aquila University).

 

Organised by Claudio La Camera and Maria Ficara, Teatro Proskenion

 

Within the framework of Linea Trasversale's activities, the programme included practical activity and lectures. Julia Varley and Torgeir Wethal led two workshops while Iben Nagel Rasmussen worked with the participants  of her ongoing seminar "Vindenes Bro". Kai Bredholt was responsible for organising two barters.

 

 

2^nd session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
Parallel Dramaturgies

Fara Sabina, Italy, 21-31 May 1993

Dedicated to the memory of Fabrizio Cruciani, one of the founders of ISTA

with Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret

Sanjukta Panigrahi and her musicians

 

Organised by Teatro Potlach

 

A ten-day seminar for 30 invited specialists and one final day open to the public. The participants followed and compared two different directors' approaches: those of Sanjukta Panigrahi and of Eugenio Barba who were working with the same performers on an interpretation of Kalidasa's Shakuntala.

1^st session of the University of Eurasian Theatre
The Construction of Form

Padova, Italy, 2-8 March 1992

with Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret

Sanjukta Panigrahi and her musicians

Organised by Teatrocontinuo.

 

A five-day seminar open to the public with demonstrations of the creative process by Sanjukta Panigrahi and Odin Teatret's actors, using Franz Kafka's novel "Before the law". There was also a two-day seminar on "subtext versus subscore" for 30 invited specialists.