From Drama to Drama (Theatre as the Art of the Present)
Total hours: 34h
Contact: obrador@salabeckett.cat
Registration for the course includes a ticket to see Licaó on July 11 at 12:30 p.m.
Dimitris Dimitriadis is one of the most important voices of contemporary theatre, author of plays such as Moro com a país, which premiered at the TNC. In 2009, the Théâtre Odéon in Paris dedicated a whole season to him as a recognition. His plays have been staged by directors such as Patrice Chéreau, Yorgos Lanthimos, Giorgio Barberio Corsetti or Michail Marmarinos.
In this workshop we will deal with issues related to the history of drama, together with its connection to each time. In addition, we will deal with the phenomenon of stage direction and the growing dimensions it is taking on today. Direction understood as a substitute for dramaturgy, and therefore the effects this may have for the dramaturgy itself, for its cohesion and continuity but also for the art of theatre in all its aspects. All these arguments will be addressed through excerpts from five of my plays, one per day. Through their reading and discussion, issues of writing and practice will emerge. Moreover, I have confidence in the role and contribution of freshly written plays of the participants, already written, along with the ones that we will create together during the days of the workshop. Thus, through a variety of creative activities and constructive dialogue, we will develop an explicit and unequivocal idea of what is happening in present-day theatre, what creative problems it is facing and what its future will be.
Dimitris Dimitriadis
Within the GREC 2022 Festival of Barcelona.
Dimitris Dimitriadis (Thessaloniki, 1944) is a Greek novelist, playwright, essayist and translator. A Belgian Government Scholarship offered him a chance to study theatre and cinema in Brussels, at the Institut National des Arts du Spectacle. At the age of 24, he staged his first play in Paris at the Théâtre de la Commune d’Aubervilliers. He returned to Greece in 1971 and worked professionally in translation. In 1978, he published his first work, a critical essay entitled I am dying as a country, which has been recognised as one of the most decisive works of contemporary European literature. He has written more than 60 plays that have been performed in many theatres around the world and have been translated into French, Spanish, Catalan, Arabic, Portuguese, Albanian, German, Romanian and Italian. In 2003 Anthropodia: An Endless Millennium was chosen as “Novel of the Year” by the Greek Ministry of Culture. In 2010, Dimitriadis was named Contemporary European Writer of the Year by Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe. In 2011 he was honoured as Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres medal. Since 2021, he has also been on the board of directors of the Greek National Opera.
In recent years, Dimitriadis has invested in seminars with young playwrights, actors and theatre directors, following his inner need for inspiration, enthusiasm and communication with the younger generation.
Admission to the course will be based on order of arrival and CV assessment, which should be sent (with photograph included), filling in the form on the right.
Places on courses are limited. Places will be reserved once the course amount has been paid. Payment must be made within one week of receiving the corresponding acceptance email.
The dates indicated for each course or seminar may be subject to variations in exceptional circumstances. These will be notified when applicable.
For the course to take place, a minimum number of students must be registered. If this number is not reached, the course will be cancelled and the student will have the option of registering for a different course (providing that there are places available) or alternatively will receive a refund of the amount paid (100%). If a student withdraws, a refund of 75% of the registration fee will be applicable, providing that written notice is given at least 10 days before the start of the course.