CPPM GUEST ARTIST

Lucia Chocarro and Katie Lusby

Gecko

United Kingdom

Workshop
29.09-10.10.2025

Open class
10.10.2025 19:00
EMTA black box

Gecko

Gecko, a British physical theatre company founded in 2001 and led by its visionary Artistic Director, Amit Lahav, has carved out a distinctive identity in the global theatre landscape. Their work is instantly recognisable for its breathtaking physicality, stunning visual narratives, and an emotional depth that profoundly resonates with audiences.

The company’s creative process is a rigorous, organic journey, often spanning up to two years for a single production. Moving beyond conventional script-based theatre, Gecko integrates all elements: movement, sound, lighting, set design, and even multiple languages, from the very first day. Lahav emphasises patiently allowing initial thoughts and ideas to surface before meticulously organising and connecting them to construct complex, layered narratives. The international ensemble, diverse in their backgrounds and personal histories, enriches the rehearsal room, contributing to a vibrant tapestry of experiences that inform the work. Trust and a non-judgmental environment are crucial, fostering the emotional openness and physical discipline essential for Gecko’s highly expressive style.

Gecko’s productions are often described as vivid dreamscapes or compelling nightmares, characterised by intense physicality and athletic movement where performers exhibit remarkable strength, control, and endurance to convey intricate emotions and narratives. The ensemble’s seamless, synchronized movement and interaction create powerful collective imagery, embodying the company’s strength. Multilayered soundscapes and innovative lighting are integral to their storytelling, crafting atmosphere, guiding focus, and amplifying emotional states. While language is present, often in multiple tongues, it serves primarily as an emotional vehicle rather than the sole mode of communication, with visual language, gesture, and movement taking precedence. Furthermore, visually exciting and multifunctional staging ensures that sets and props are transformative, contributing to the dynamic and surprising nature of their performances, all while inviting audiences to engage with the work on a personal level, encouraging them to bring their own experiences to complete the narrative.

Gecko has garnered widespread acclaim for productions such as “Missing,” a long-running piece exploring memory and identity, and “Institute,” a captivating exploration of care and human connection. Their latest work, “Kin,” commissioned by the National Theatre, draws inspiration from Lahav’s own family’s migration story, delving into themes of racism, family, and belonging. Beyond their captivating stage performances, Gecko’s influence extends into educational realms; they are a prescribed practitioner on various drama and theatre syllabi. Their “Creative Engagement” program further offers residencies and workshops, inviting aspiring artists and the public to immerse themselves in Gecko’s distinctive methods of devising and physical expression. The company continues to tour extensively, cultivating strong international partnerships and consistently pushing the boundaries of theatrical conventions with their innovative and profoundly human work.

Lucia Chocarro

Lucia is a contemporary dance & physical theatre artist with vast experience in performance, facilitation, collaborative devising & making. She has performed for various dance makers and companies, such as Akram Khan Company, Punchdrunk, Gecko Theatre, Dickson Mbi and Maxine Doyle. Film credits include Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Paddington in Peru. Lucia is currently supporting directors and choreographers in their creative processes with assisting, rehearsal directing and dramaturgy as well as leading her own choreographic work and pedagogy methods through workshops & intensives. She is also a co-founder of Feet off the Ground, an all-female self-producing collective which creates outdoor work and deliver various educational and participation projects. 

Katie Lusby

Katie trained at London Studio Centre and London Contemporary Dance School. She has worked with Richard Alston Dance Company, the Van Huynh Company and New Adventures (Swan Lake tour and film). Katie performed in David McVicar’s Aida at the Royal Opera House and later remounted the choreography (by Fin Walker) at Den Norske Opera & Ballett in Oslo. Katie has also worked with choreographers such as Aletta Collins, James Cousins, Sarah Dowling, Akram Khan (Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games), Liam Steele and Didy Veldman. She joined Gecko  in 2015 for The Time of Your Life (BBC4).

About the workshop

Led by Gecko’s accomplished devising performers Katie Lusby and Lucia Chocarro, this two-week workshop invites participants into a carefully curated and collaborative creative environment. It is designed to foster openness, curiosity, and bold artistic experimentation, offering MA students the opportunity to connect, play, and co-create within a space that champions risk-taking and mutual exploration.

The workshop provides an immersive introduction to Gecko’s distinctive approach to physical theatre and devising. Participants will engage deeply with the creative processes that underpin the company’s productions, exploring the techniques and artistic philosophies that define its globally recognised style. Through practical tasks and improvisation, the group will be encouraged to discover new modes of expression and to experiment with performance-making from the inside out.

Working with Artistic Director Amit Lahav’s signature methodology, participants will experience ensemble-based training that integrates physically expressive work, the dynamics of breath and voice, and the art of serious play. The process emphasises emotional honesty, trust, and transformation, guiding artists from raw beginnings to fully formed performance material. The residency culminates in an open class, offering a space for reflection, dialogue, and shared celebration of the work developed together. Participants will leave with practical devising tools, renewed artistic inspiration, and a network of like-minded collaborators.

Professional Development Workshop

This workshop is open to external participants as part of the CPPM Professional Development series, and artists from all fields of the performing arts are warmly invited to join, to deepen their practice, refresh their creative tools, and connect with an international artistic community.

You will participate in the workshop alongside students of the MA in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT). Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate of attendance issued by EAMT, which will specify the workshop title, tutors, and the total number of contact hours completed.

Please note that places at this workshop are very limited, so we strongly recommend applying early. You can find the full list of all available workshops along with details about the application process on our Professional Development website.

Workshop Details

Dates: 29.09-10.10.2025
Location: Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre | (map)
Duration: 2 weeks | 10 days | Monday to Friday | 65 contact hours
Fee: 900 EUR

Workshop Schedule