WORKSHOP

REBIRTH

Taking inspiration from the Italian Renaissance and our surroundings, we will work as a group to create larger than life characters within a compelling narrative. There will be Machiavellian intrigue, Galilean discoveries, and da Vinci-esque invention within the walls of Palazzo Buttaoni.  Together with your teammates, you will strengthen your abilities to generate bold, believable characters, and navigate through scenes with other strong personalities while holding onto your viewpoint. You will grow your narrative skills, understanding how to create an engaging story for an audience without stress or fear. You will strengthen your acting skills and give emotive, impassioned performances that will blow away an audience. You will understand even better how to approach conflict within improv scenes, and create tension and drama for your characters without tension and drama for you, the actor. For this workshop it would be useful for participants to do some research beforehand: read some renaissance literature or plays, learn about some of the renaissance artists of the time, or just do a general google dive. Some recommended reading: The Divine Comedy – Dante, The Prince – Machiavelli, The Book of the Courtier – Castiglione, The Lives of Artists – Vasari, The Medici – Strathern, etc. 

SITE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE

REBIRTH

What is a renaissance? A moment in history, a cultural movement, an increase in human knowledge? Join our merry band of players as we explore the lives and livelihoods of people in a time of restoration and revitalisation. Will they be able to move with the times, or be pulled apart in the upheaval? 

BIO

Rhiannon Jenkins is an internationally recognised improv and performance teacher. She teaches vocal technique, acting technique, and a variety of improvisation classes. She has taught for Hoopla Impro, The Nursery Theatre, Boom Chicago, and a wide range of international improv festivals. She also taught with The Baked Bean Theatre Company, teaching adults and teens with learning disabilities.  Rhiannon has had a varied career in theatre, from working in immersive and interactive shows to staging full-production musicals. She has worked across a variety of improv projects including musical improv, one-off projects for festivals, and Living. Dying. Dead., a show she co-directs with Owen Scrivens about death and grief. She has directed for theatres such as The Young Actors Theatre in London and The Hideout Theatre in Austin. She also writes her own solo projects.