Intro to Acting for Theatre Directors

Intro to Acting for Theatre Directors: Honing their Empathetic Communication, facilitated by Maiya Pascouche

Are you a director interested in expanding and developing your communication with actors? Do you desire to understand the actor’s process as a way to collaborate more empathetically and effectively?

 The job of a director is as much about facilitation, collaboration, and discovery as it is about leading a team and conveying a central vision. In this directing workshop, we’ll play with physical acting techniques – Laban movement, Viewpoints, guided contact improvisation – as an entry point into the mind and body of an actor. Afterwards, we’ll put that exploration into practice through a short scene study. This workshop will be an openhearted, generous, and safe environment. We will ask ourselves and each other to embrace failure and take risks as we hone our collaborative communication, creativity, and conflict resolution skills.

What to Expect

• Playground vibes! We’re here to play, discover, and develop directing skills rather than get something correct or do something perfectly
• Vulnerability! You will be asked to be vulnerable with fellow participants through movement exercises, scene work, and open conversations
• Generosity! The space we’ll be cultivating is one where risk is encouraged and you’ll be expected to show fellow participants respect, care, and support
• Acting! Surprise – this is a chance to leave your director hat at the door and try on a new one that will potentially influence your practice or teach you something about the rigorous work of an actor
• Movement! Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a bottle of water with you

About Maiya Pascouche

Maiya Pascouche is a queer theatre director-producer-composer-writer-facilitator based between London and New York. Her work has been seen at The Glitch, Union Theatre, King’s Head Theatre, Spark Theatre Festival, New Ohio Theatre, The Center at West Park, The Tank, and Playwrights Downtown. Her multi-media production company, Missing Rib Collective, produced the 5-star, award-winning new play 4 girls the first letter e by maguire wilder at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, described by critics as “a revelation” (Binge Fringe) and a “patiently paced…sunlit horror” (The Scotsman). Her folk horror music theatre piece, untitled mermaid project, was recently developed at Fresh Ground Pepper’s BRB Retreat. 

https://maiyatorenpascouche.com/

Her passion is creating stories about young queer people that are challenging, breathtaking, and bold. She craves spaces that dream of big, impossible stories and has an insatiable appetite for process. She upholds collaboration first and foremost, cultivating teams of creatives from all walks of life who center truth and empathy. She is interested in the juxtaposition of safety and discomfort and how to explore this sensitively and empathetically. It is the vulnerable act of making theatre that keeps her alive.