Category: CPPM news

CPPM welcomes its next guest artist, Peader Kirk, for a two-week workshop beginning on 8 December 2025 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Known internationally for his bold performance-making practice across sound art, theatre, and site-responsive work, Kirk returns to CPPM with a new intensive that moves fluidly between theory and practice, engaging with the urgent tensions of our contemporary world and the role of the artist within it.

In this workshop, participants will work principally through practical exploration, while also stepping back to reflect on their creative processes and the moment we collectively inhabit. Kirk invites students to set aside the notion of “creative solutions” and instead dive into the strategies, processes, and provocations that underpin performance making today. Through task-based exercises, compositional approaches, and collaborative enquiry, students will generate material, build encounters, and create moments of performance that question how a work comes into being—and how it works. Along the way, they will explore physical languages, text generators, identities and personas, games that don’t yet exist, spontaneous composition, grids, resources, and the seeding of change. There will be rigorous questioning, imaginative experimentation, and laughter.

Central to Kirk’s methodology is the idea that artistic work emerges from a question about how the world is right now – a question impossible to answer in words alone, one that demands a creative response. This workshop asks participants to consider the fraught terrain of the future: Is it something we can shape, or something predetermined? Is it close at hand, or still out of reach? What might a “better future” look like, and better for whom? These provocations will guide the group through hands-on explorations that bridge performance, politics, imagination, and lived experience.

Running 8–19 December 2025, the workshop culminates in an Open Class on 19 December at 19:00 in the EMTA Black Box, where audiences are warmly invited to witness the outcomes of this dynamic, exploratory process.

This intensive forms part of CPPM’s commitment to world-leading postgraduate education, international collaboration, and advanced artistic training. Situated at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn, CPPM continues to offer transformative training opportunities for artists seeking to expand their creative development, physical performance, and performance-making strategies.

CPPM is welcoming its next guest artist, Mart Kangro, for a week-long workshop starting 1 December 2025. Kangro is one of Estonia’s most influential contemporary dance and performance makers, known for his conceptual, philosophical, and deeply reflective approach to embodiment, presence, and the semiotics of the stage. His practice bridges choreography, devised theatre, and performative research, making him an exceptional mentor for international artists seeking advanced professional development in physical performance.

Throughout this intensive, participants will engage with Kangro’s signature themes: presence and disappearance, memory and forgetting, embodiment as inquiry, and the subtle dramaturgies of gesture. Drawing from his extensive background, from classical ballet and work at the Estonian National Opera to major European collaborations, Kangro guides CPPM students through a process of movement research, text work, reflection, and sensorial awareness. The focus lies in understanding performance as “philosophy in action,” where thought becomes physical, minimal action becomes meaningful, and performers cultivate precision, intelligence, and vulnerability.

The workshop runs 1–6 December 2025, culminating in an Open Class on 6 December at 19:00 in the EMTA black box. Everyone is warmly invited to join and witness the week’s research and discoveries shared by an international group of artists.

This workshop is part of CPPM’s ongoing mission to foster artistic innovation, international collaboration, and high-level professional development for contemporary performance makers. Through intensive workshops, international masterclasses, and renowned guest artists, CPPM continues to position Tallinn as a leading hub for postgraduate education in physical theatre, choreography, performance making, and advanced creative research and development.

CPPM at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn continues its commitment to high-level professional development by welcoming its next guest artist, Clément Layes, for the workshop Dancing the Creature, starting today. Layes, a renowned choreographer, conceptual performance-maker and co-founder of the Berlin-based company Public in Private, brings to CPPM more than two decades of artistic research integrating contemporary dance, physical theatre, circus, visual arts and philosophical inquiry. His internationally acclaimed work has been presented at leading venues and festivals worldwide, including Théâtre de la Ville, Kaai Theatre, Walker Art Center and the Venice Biennale.

The workshop Dancing the Creature invites participants into a playful, poetic and cross-disciplinary exploration where the body encounters objects, imagination and conceptual thought. Rooted in somatic attention and the agency of both human and non-human bodies, the workshop opens pathways into altered states of creativity, object play, sensory fine-tuning and installation-making. Participants explore humour, repetition, failure, and the subtle architectures of attention that support artistic vitality. Rather than a linear technique class, the process unfolds as a shared journey, offering performers tools to expand their physical performance language and rethink collaboration, presence and creative development within contemporary dance and performance making.

The workshop runs throughout this week, and CPPM warmly invites everyone to an Open Class on 29 November at 19:00 in the EMTA Black Box, where the participants will share insights and outcomes from their intensive research with Layes. This workshop forms part of CPPM’s broader mission to create world-leading training opportunities and international masterclasses that support postgraduate education, artistic innovation and the evolving landscape of contemporary physical performance in Tallinn and beyond.

CPPM is welcoming its next guest artist, Jeremy Nedd, for the workshop Reimagining Marginalised Movement Languages, taking place 3–8 November 2025 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn.

Based in Basel, Switzerland, and originally from the United States, Jeremy Nedd is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and sound designer celebrated for his innovative approach to dance and cultural expression. His practice bridges the precision of classical ballet and contemporary technique with the dynamic energy of urban and social movement forms. Nedd’s artistry has earned him prestigious recognitions, including the New York Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award and the Swiss Performing Arts Award (2023), confirming his status as one of today’s most visionary and boundary-defying dance artists.

In this week-long intensive, CPPM students will explore how dance can serve as a form of cultural memory and collective storytelling. Drawing on Nedd’s collaborations with Impilo Mapantsula, Trajal Harrell, and a wide network of international artists, participants will be invited to engage the body as an archive, reclaiming movement languages often overlooked within contemporary performance contexts. The workshop blends physical precision, improvisation, rhythm, and sound design, offering participants an embodied encounter with the political, poetic, and spiritual dimensions of dance.

The workshop culminates in an Open Class on Saturday, 8 November at 19:00 in the EMTA Black Box, where audiences are warmly invited to witness the outcomes of this powerful exchange. Through its ongoing international guest artist programme, CPPM continues to champion artistic innovation, professional development, and cross-cultural collaboration within the field of contemporary physical performance making.

CPPM is welcoming its next guest artists, Roel Swanenberg and Arjan Gebraad, for the workshop The Readiness is All, taking place from 27 October to 1 November 2025 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The workshop will culminate in an Open Class on 1 November at 19:00 in the EMTA black box, offering audiences a chance to witness the collaborative outcomes and the evolving creative processes that have shaped the week.

Roel Swanenberg, a multidisciplinary theatre artist born in the Netherlands and based in Belgium, is known for his ability to bridge classical texts with contemporary performance. His creative work brings together embodied storytelling, poetic dramaturgy, and audience engagement, forming a distinctive voice within the Flemish and Dutch theatre landscape. Over the past two decades, Swanenberg has collaborated with companies such as Het Nationale Theater, Het Zuidelijk Toneel, Theater Artemis, Het Toneelhuis, and Het Nieuwstedelijk. In 2008, he co-founded the theatre company kinderenvandevilla with Wanda Eyckerman, creating internationally recognised performances including Alleen op de Wereld and Leeghoofd. His solo work Shall I…? explores Shakespeare’s sonnets through contemporary media and personal narrative, revealing his continued curiosity for how language, body, and sound intertwine. Alongside his stage work, Swanenberg teaches at LUCA School of Arts in Genk, mentoring film and acting students through an approach that values creative autonomy, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and physical awareness.

Arjan Gebraad, also from the Netherlands, is a performer, director, and dramaturg whose practice expands across theatre, dance, and circus. After studies in Cultural Sciences at the University of Tilburg and directing at the Maastricht Academy of Performing Arts, he trained with both SITI Company and Mary Overlie, experiences that profoundly shaped his understanding of ensemble performance and non-hierarchical composition. His artistic work is remarkably diverse: he has served as dramaturg for urban dance and hip-hop projects, made short dance films, performed as a simulation actor in training contexts, and developed socially engaged works with the artist collective Tilburg Cowboys. As the founder of The Windmill Collective, Gebraad continues to experiment with new forms of performative research, exploring how performers can become authors through embodied investigation and creative dialogue.

Over the years, Swanenberg and Gebraad have formed a strong artistic partnership grounded in shared values of experimentation, curiosity, and pedagogical innovation. They have collaborated as co-directors, teachers, and researchers, and are both active ambassadors of the Mary Overlie Legacy Project, dedicated to extending her ideas to new generations of artists. Their joint teaching embraces The Six Viewpoints as a living practice, treating performance as a field of observation and participation rather than creation from hierarchy. Their approach invites performers to attend to the materials of Space, Shape, Time, Emotion, Movement, and Story, allowing compositions to emerge organically through collective attention and spatial listening.

The workshop The Readiness is All draws its title from Hamlet’s final words — a reflection on presence and acceptance that resonates deeply with Overlie’s philosophy. Throughout the week, CPPM students will engage in physical training, improvisation, and compositional exercises that investigate how perception can become a tool for creation. By combining physical theatre, textual exploration, and ensemble awareness, participants will learn to use composition as both a technical and poetic method for making performance. The process emphasises curiosity, responsiveness, and the dismantling of hierarchies between performer, director, and text, nurturing the performer’s authorship and sense of artistic independence.

CPPM is welcoming its following guest artists, Lucia Chocarro and Katie Lusby from Gecko (UK), who are leading a 10-day physical theatre workshop for CPPM students, starting today, 29 September 2025.

For two weeks, Chocarro and Lusby will lead CPPM students into Gecko’s distinctive world of physical theatre and devising. Known for its emotionally resonant and visually striking productions, Gecko has built a global reputation for creating layered, physical narratives that transcend language. Under the vision of Artistic Director Amit Lahav, Gecko’s creative methodology integrates movement, sound, light, design, and text from the very beginning of the process. Students will be immersed in this holistic approach, developing tools to access trust, ensemble dynamics, serious play, and emotional depth through the body.

The workshop will run from September 29 to October 10, 2025, at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. The public is warmly invited to an open class on 10 October at 19:00 in the EMTA black box, where the outcomes of this creative journey will be shared. This event offers a rare chance to experience first-hand the expressive intensity and collaborative spirit that define Gecko’s work.

Lucia Chocarro

Lucia Chocarro is a contemporary dance and physical theatre artist with extensive experience in performance, facilitation, and collaborative devising. She has performed with renowned artists and companies, including Akram Khan Company, Punchdrunk, Gecko Theatre, Dickson Mbi, and Maxine Doyle. Her film credits include Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Paddington in Peru. Beyond performance, Lucia supports choreographers and directors as a rehearsal director, assistant, and dramaturg, while also developing her own choreographic voice through workshops and intensives. She is a co-founder of Feet Off the Ground, an all-female collective that creates outdoor works and community projects combining physical expression with social engagement.

Katie Lusby

Katie Lusby trained at London Studio Centre and London Contemporary Dance School before embarking on a diverse career across dance and theatre. She has performed with Richard Alston Dance Company, Van Huynh Company, and New Adventures (Swan Lake tour and film). Katie’s stage work includes collaborations with choreographers such as Aletta Collins, James Cousins, Sarah Dowling, Akram Khan (Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics), Liam Steele, and Didy Veldman. She has also performed at the Royal Opera House and Den Norske Opera & Ballett. Katie joined Gecko in 2015 for The Time of Your Life (BBC4) and has since become an integral part of the ensemble, bringing her expertise in movement, musicality, and theatrical storytelling to the company’s international productions.

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, as they foster the emotional openness and physical discipline essential for Gecko’s highly expressive style.

CPPM is welcoming its first guest artist of the second term, Eddie Martinez, for the workshop “Exploring the Legacy of Pina Bausch,” starting on 15 September 2025.

Eddie Martinez, an esteemed member of the internationally renowned Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, brings decades of rich experience directly from one of the world’s most innovative dance theatre companies. Participants in this workshop will experience firsthand the profound choreographic methods pioneered by Pina Bausch. Through exercises focusing on personal narrative, emotional authenticity, and improvisation, Martinez will guide students towards discovering how everyday movements can evolve into powerful theatrical expressions. This immersive workshop promises to deepen participants’ understanding of contemporary dance-theatre and encourage exploration of their own creative potential.

Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch

Founded in 1973 by visionary choreographer Pina Bausch, Tanztheater Wuppertal revolutionised contemporary performance by blurring the boundaries between dance, theatre, voice, and visual art. Known globally for its emotionally charged imagery and poetic physicality, the company has created groundbreaking works that explore deeply human experiences and resonate profoundly with diverse audiences. Over five decades, Tanztheater Wuppertal has toured internationally to critical acclaim, captivating audiences and inspiring generations of artists, while remaining deeply connected to its home city of Wuppertal. Today, the ensemble continues to preserve and perform Bausch’s iconic repertoire and fosters bold new creations, upholding her legacy of curiosity, experimentation, and artistic integrity.

The workshop runs from 15 to 26 September 2025, culminating in an open class on 26 September at 19:00 in the EMTA Black Box. We warmly invite everyone interested to witness this unique event, where CPPM students, under Martinez’s mentorship, will share their journey through the transformative landscape of Tanztheater.

More information here.

The MA in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre is excited to present an inspiring series of Professional Development Workshops for Autumn 2025. These workshops are designed for performing arts students, as well as early-career and mid-career artists from diverse disciplines, including contemporary performance, dance, theatre, physical theatre, circus, and interdisciplinary performing arts.

Each workshop provides dedicated space and time for artistic experimentation, critical reflection, and professional growth within a supportive yet intellectually and physically stimulating environment. Participants will collaborate closely with internationally celebrated artists, directors, choreographers, and innovative performance companies, gaining exposure to a rich variety of practices, perspectives, and methodologies.

Firmly rooted in the philosophy of the pioneering, practice-led CPPM Master’s programme, the workshops encourage participants to challenge traditional norms, expand their embodied knowledge, and cultivate their unique artistic voice through rigorous practical engagement. Working alongside an international cohort of CPPM MA students, 16 artists from 13 countries, attendees will benefit from an exceptional opportunity for cross-cultural dialogue and creative exchange.

Autumn 2025 Workshop Schedule:

• 15–26 September: Eddie Martinez (Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Germany)
• 29 September – 10 October: Lucia Chocarro & Katie Lusby (Gecko, United Kingdom)
• 13–18 October: Mirko Rajas & Taavi Tõnisson (Estonia)
• 27 October – 1 November: Roel Swanenberg & Arjan Gebraad (Netherlands)
• 3–8 November: Jeremy Nedd (Switzerland/USA)
• 24–29 November: Clément Layes (France/Germany)
• 1–6 December: Mart Kangro (Estonia)
• 8–19 December: Peader Kirk (United Kingdom)

Workshop Practicalities:
Sessions take place daily from 11:00–14:00 and 15:30–19:00 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn. One-week workshops run Monday to Saturday, comprising 38 contact hours; two-week workshops run Monday to Friday with 65 contact hours. Upon successful completion, participants receive a certificate from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

Application Information:
To apply, please submit the online application form along with your CV, detailing your academic and professional background, relevant skills, and experiences. Additionally, you are encouraged to include an optional Letter of Motivation outlining your interest in the workshop and how it aligns with your artistic goals.

Before applying, please carefully review the Conditions for Participation, which include essential details about fees, accommodation, cancellations, attendance requirements, and other practical considerations.

As workshop places are strictly limited, we strongly recommend applying early. Applicants will receive a response within ten working days. Successful candidates will be provided with further details, including preparatory materials, detailed schedules, and logistical information.

For more details and to apply, visit: CPPM Professional Development Workshops.

Join us in Tallinn this autumn and become part of our vibrant international community dedicated to advancing contemporary performance making!

The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT) is honoured to welcome internationally acclaimed choreographer and director Lloyd Newson OBE for a one-week residency with students of the Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) master’s programme. The residency, taking place from 19 to 24 May 2025, will focus on blending movement, spoken word, and real-life testimony to create politically and socially engaged performances.

Newson, born in 1957 in Albury, New South Wales, is best known as the founder and artistic director of DV8 Physical Theatre, a company he established in 1986. A graduate in psychology and social work from the University of Melbourne, Newson discovered his passion for dance during his studies and went on to train with Margaret Lasica’s Modern Dance Ensemble. His early professional years included work with dance companies in Australia and New Zealand before relocating to London in 1980 to study at the London Contemporary Dance School. He later danced with Extemporary Dance Theatre but grew disillusioned with the lack of substantive content in contemporary dance.

In response, Newson founded DV8 Physical Theatre, pioneering a new form of performance that fused dance, theatre, film, and socio-political themes. His early works such as My Sex, Our Dance (1986) and Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men (1988) set the tone for a body of work committed to exploring complex social issues. Dead Dreams was also the first DV8 production adapted for film in 1990.

DV8 continued to garner critical acclaim with productions including Strange Fish (1992), Enter Achilles (1995), and The Cost of Living (2003), the latter of which was staged site-specifically at Tate Modern, London. In 2007, Newson began incorporating verbatim theatre into his work, using interview transcripts to shape narratives around issues such as homophobia (To Be Straight With You), freedom of speech (Can We Talk About This?), and redemption (JOHN).

Throughout his career, Newson has received over 55 national and international awards, including an OBE in 2013 for services to contemporary dance. He is widely regarded as one of the 100 most influential figures in the arts in the last century, as recognised by the UK Critics’ Circle. In 2016, marking DV8’s 30th anniversary, Newson paused the creation of new work to reflect on the company’s future.

DV8 Physical Theatre, under Newson’s leadership, produced eighteen acclaimed stage works and four award-winning films. DV8 Films Ltd., founded in 1991, produced film versions of Strange Fish, Enter Achilles, and The Cost of Living. The company’s legacy includes national and international tours and boundary-pushing explorations of physical, political, and psychological themes.

EAMT is proud to host this extraordinary artist and visionary whose work has deeply influenced the landscape of contemporary physical theatre worldwide.

Public events

Friday, 23 May at 19:00 – Open Lecture: Lloyd Newson (Free Entry)
In this public lecture, Newson reflects on four decades of creating theatre that responds to contemporary social and political challenges.

Saturday, 24 May at 19:00 – CPPM Open Class with Lloyd Newson
This final session offers the public a chance to observe the outcomes of the weeklong workshop and gain insight into Newson’s collaborative process.