Masterclass: Drama – Making Theatre Anew

Join St Paul’s School former Head of Faculty, Creative Arts, Edward Williams as he returns to deliver a four part virtual series of masterclasses on some of the key drama practitioners of the 20th Century.

Most of us are reasonably familiar with ideas like ‘method acting’, minimalism, political theatre, actor training, total immersion, alienation effects and audience involvement which have become almost commonplace elements of theatre over the last thirty or forty years and these classes aim to take us back to the originals and initiators of those important ideas: four key practitioners whose impact on twentieth and twenty-first century theatre (and of course film and television) could not be over-stated. In each session we shall explore the theories and practice of one of those four practitioners, starting with Konstantin Stanislawski and Antonin Artaud, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries and then moving on to Berthold Brecht and Jerzy Grotowski in the mid twentieth century: four figures whose influence, despite their working originally in Russia, France, Germany and Poland respectively, spread far and wide across Europe and the Americas in particular.

This virtual masterclass series will run for 4 weeks on the dates below:

• Monday 20 September
• Monday 27 September
• Monday 4 October
• Monday 11 October

Zoom log in details will be sent to participants closer to the event.

Please note, these Masterclasses are for parents and alumni not for current pupils.  Please note, this Masterclass series is currently fully booked; if there are any cancellations the booking link will be re-opened.

About our Masterclass Series

Our Masterclasses are run by members of our remarkable teaching staff here at St Paul’s, who have volunteered their time to share their knowledge and expertise with the School’s community, allowing parents and Old Paulines insight into today’s teachings, whilst engaging with new and exciting subjects.

If you would like to show your appreciation for our free Masterclasses and the efforts and expertise of our teachers, you can do so by supporting our Shaping our Future bursary appeal. We are proud to be working to provide the very best in education and, amid the anxiety created by the pandemic, one positive conclusion is clear: education matters more than ever. If you are able to, please support our bursary and partnerships work so we can expand our impact on our local and wider community by making a donation or by joining our giving group, the 1509 Society, and setting up a regular gift from £1.59 a month, here.

Suggested donation for the Masterclass series – £50.

Find out more about St Paul’s Talks and Masterclasses here