Shamanic dimensions within theatre practice today

Rachel Karafistan B.A. Ph.D.

Shamanism, the tacit wisdom behind performance, is a much misinterpreted and misunderstood concept. For the past eight years, I have attempted to trace and relocate the shamanic roots of theatre practice as I have encountered them during my training and research.

Rachel has taught extensively on the subject of Shamanism & Theatre in the UK, throughout Europe and Brasil and runs regular workshops in Europe. Rachel regaularly collaborates with Professor Brain Bates, author of 'The Way of Wyrd'.

Publications:May 2003:
New Theatre Quarterly, Cambridge University Press "The spirits wouldn't let me be anything else…" Shamanic dimensions within theatre practice today

August 2004:
New Theatre Quarterly, Cambridge University Press The Shysters Theatre Company: Revisioning the Actor with Learning Difficulties

FROM THE SHAMAN TO THE ACTOR WORKSHOPS

COSmino runs regular workshops in shamanism and performance.

24 – 25 January 2009 , London UK. WORKSHOP NOW FULL

25 - 26 April 2009, London UK. BOOKING NOW

FROM THE SHAMAN TO THE ACTOR with Rachel Karafistan Ph.D. & Professor Brian Bates

Tribal shamans are the original inspiration for many aspects of artistic creativity. This workshop reconnects the timeless power and insights of the shaman with the demands of contemporary performance. Drawing from exercises from both eastern & western performance trainings, the workshop will relocate the tacit wisdom of the shaman in the work of the actor and, more generally, in our lives.
(Brian Bates will give a talk and run practical exercises on the Saturday afternoon only.)
For both professional performers and interested public.

BRIAN BATES www.wayofwyrd.com

Professor Brian Bates’s work on ancient Anglo-Saxon shamanism and his book The Way of Wyrd, have been described by the Guardian as a ‘quest for a western tradition which, as a way of psychological and spiritual exploration, offers not just uncanny similarities with some of our present thinking but notions which we seem only now to be rediscovering’. For ten years he taught and directed at RADA. His productions ranged from the shamanic ‘The Body Project’ in which actor’s own life experiences of their body became the subject matter of the performance, to the deep psychology of his expressionistic theatre version of Hermann Hesse’s ‘Steppenwolf’. He trained and directed many notable actors such as Kenneth Branagh, Jane Horrocks, Ralph Fiennes, Juliet Stevenson, Sean Bean, Timothy Spall and Mark Rylance. Brian is author of six international bestselling books, including the novel The Way of Wyrd, The Human Face (with John Cleese), and The Way of the Actor. Currently he works with shamans on a worldwide project – ‘The Council of Elders’ – working closely with tribal elders and medicine people to protect and document their knowledge. These Elders recently ceremonially honoured him as ‘wizard’ in recognition of his work in reconstructing the shamanic traditions of the ancient Anglo-Saxons. Brian is now a Senior Research Fellow at the Sussex Institute, University of Sussex.

Venue & Cost: Islington Arts Factory
2, Parkhurst Road
London, N7 0SF

How to get there:
Islington Arts Factory is a converted church building opposite the entrance to Holloway Prison and on the Parkhurst Road / Camden Road one-way system.
Nearest tube: Holloway Road or Caledonian Road (Piccadilly Line)
Buses: 4,17,29,43,91,153,253,259,271,279,359

Workshop times:
Saturday: 10.30 - 17.00
Sunday: 11.00 - 13.30

Cost: £100 / £80 concessions

Contact:
Cherie Karafistan
email: workshops@cosmino.org

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any comments, ideas or require further details concerning my work.

3 February – 24 March 2009 Berlin

The East, the West, the Shaman – principles of performance with Rachel Karafistan PhD of COSmino Theatre

This 8 week workshop brings together training principles from Eastern & Western styles of performance and the ancient wisdom of shamanic ritual. Participants will develop and extend the dialogue between body, mind and myth and investigate a range of physical and vocal approaches to creating theatre. Liberate yourself from cliché and discover your own unique physical and vocal creativity in performance. The workshop will be taught in English. Open to actors and non actors. Participants limited to 12.

Venue & Cost:

Time: Every Tuesday 18 – 20Uhr
Place: Tatwerk – Hasenheide 9, HH, Aufgang A1, 3 Floor, Kreuzberg, Berlin
Duration: 8 weeks : 3 February – 24 March 2009
Price: 75 euro for whole course or 10 euro per session
Booking: workshops@cosmino.org