What to expect? 

Once selected, you will meet with İbrahim (Ibo) and your cohort weekly over a 5-month period (there will be breaks, please see the detailed timeline below). These sessions will involve a mix of readings and discussions of different dramaturgical approaches to theatre making, devising, mentoring sessions, feedback sessions, and rehearsal time. The program is designed to activate the theatre makers in you by enabling you to observe and contribute to the entire process of generating and performing a theatre piece.   

This year’s EMBOLDEN performance outcome will be realised via a process initiated by a director’s pitch. Ibo will share a concept with the EMBOLDEN participants through ideas, provocations, inspirations and specific theatre making processes. The program is designed to simultaneously build an ensemble and generate a show where everyone involved are co-devisors, evolving and enriching ideas to solidify a performance piece in a way that is beneficial both to the work and to their own careers. 

Over the course of 5 months, we will learn about traditional and contemporary dramaturgies, see and respond to theatre pieces and films, deepen our understanding of theatre making, be an ensemble, devise, refine, rehearse, and then go through the steps of staging, including all the tech elements and what goes into producing a theatre piece.  

There is no cost or payment associated with EMBOLDEN. 

EMBOLDEN is a free training program that provides the participants with the opportunity to be a part of a devising process that concludes with a fully supported and produced theatre piece. During the program, the participants will be able to observe, work alongside and assist industry professionals.  

Your participation is dependent on your ability to commit to this approach and timeline.