Category: Ülemajalised uudised

The Latvian Theatre Award ceremony, held at Dailes Theatre in Riga on Thursday, 23 November 2023, unfolded into an evening of theatrical splendour as “Malleus Maleficarum. The New Pact” took centre stage. Masterfully directed by CPPM alumna Iveta Pole, the production earned widespread acclaim, clinching the title of the year’s best and setting a new benchmark in big-scale physical performance.

Iveta Pole, an esteemed Latvian performance artist and actor, embarked on a transformative journey during her studies at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre’s CPPM program from 2019 to 2021. Here, Pole developed a deep interest in contemporary physical performance, leading to the inception of “Malleus Maleficarum”. Inspired by the theme of feminine energy and its often misunderstood dimensions, Pole envisioned a production that explored these complex dynamics.

Drawing from Heinrich Kramer’s medieval treatise “Malleus Maleficarum” or “The Witch’s Hammer”, Pole and her creative team sought to challenge and reinterpret the historical perception of women as inherently dangerous. The production delves into a pre-labelled era of feminine energy, questioning its role and potential in the past and future.

Pole describes the production as an emotional and heart-centred journey, emphasising the importance of approaching it beyond mere intellectual analysis. She highlights the natural flow and primal energy embodied in the show, likening it to being in the womb or a flowing river.

The cast, including CPPM alumni Martina Georgina from Malta and Lea Blau from Croatia, is part of this artistic exploration. Show participant Katrīna Neiburga reflects on the production’s uniqueness, focusing on feminine energy rather than women per se. Lea Blau, another participant, shares her experience of working in a predominantly female creative team, highlighting the dynamic and sometimes explosive energy this brought to the process.

Spectators and critics have praised the show for its courage, self-irony, and exploration of deep-seated themes. Theatre critic Tom Chever commends the play for addressing significant issues beyond gender. In contrast, Henrietta Verhoustynska, another critic, acknowledges the powerful sense of sisterhood and primal connection to the earth experienced during the performance.

“Malleus Maleficarum” is a testament to Iveta Pole’s visionary direction and the collaborative spirit fostered by the CPPM. This production marks a significant achievement in Latvian theatre and sets a high standard for future productions, inspiring artists and audiences with its innovative approach and exploration of deep-rooted themes.

Resources:

Baltics News. (2023, June 6). Witches and Feminine Energy in the Play “Malleus Maleficarum: The New Contract”. Baltics News. https://baltics.news/2023/06/06/witches-and-feminine-energy-in-the-play-malleus-maleficarum-the-new-contract/

Photo: Marshall Stay

Sasha Pepelyaev is a director and choreographer. His first steps in theatrical arts were made while still in secondary school, where he attended drama classes. while studying chemistry at Moscow University, he started learn pantomime and spent all his free time in the studio – learning, performing, improvising and directing. after graduating from university, he continued his theatrical career in the Taganka theatre and Moscow concert agency as a mime soloist.

in 1984, he became an artistic director at the mime studio of Moscow State University. the studio transformed into one of the first independent theatre studios in Moscow in 1987, during the beginning of perestroika. The company was called “poor yorik”. During this time, Sasha entered the State Institute of Theatrical Arts, where he studied drama for four years.

In 1990, after closing down the “poor yorik”, he worked successively as a director and choreographer in a circus, on TV, and in drama theatres in Moscow and abroad. in that period, he also visited Western Europe, took different dance classes in Amsterdam and participated in various theatre dance projects.
in 1994, he started the “The Kinetic Theater” project in Moscow, which led to the creation and performance of a string of experimental works. The project eventually became an intensive search focused on the definition of contemporary Russian dance. since the winter of 1995/96, the idea of combining postmodern Russian texts, contemporary dance and traditional Russian dramatic style continued in the company’s productions.

Workshop: The Third Eye

The workshop will focus on building a structure of visual-physical performance and methods that can be used. This will include initial concept, rough realisation, verification, modifications, analysis of available tools for those tasks, search for influences, affecting phases and patterns of the whole process. The creation of “sign” as a key element of visual communication and the importance of “code” as a collection of homogeneous “signs”, which implement content and desired statement (or meaning) of the performance will be observed and, in a positive scenario, realized. Objects and environments will be inspected as building elements of “code”. Themes for improvisations will be suggested to participants and later stay as the basis for dramatic structure (“story”). They will be mixed and transformed by choreographic patterns, including elements of dance, acrobatics, contact improvisation, etc. The core idea of the workshop is to vary the scope of tools available for creation and emphasise the visual content of stage production. A model of performance will be a goal, but not necessarily.

We are thrilled to announce the opening of applications for our esteemed MA in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) program, starting March 1, 2024.

Key Dates:

• Application Opening: March 1, 2024
• Application Deadline: July 1, 2024
• Auditions: August to October 2024 (Globally and Online)
• Studies commence in February 2025.

“MA in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) is a ground-breaking course that takes postgraduate education out of the classroom and puts practical experience with world-leading makers of performance at the heart of the learning process. Students will work alongside some of the most exciting directors, choreographers, performance makers, artists and companies across the world to further their own artistic practice through active collaboration, devising and performance”, said CPPM Course Leader professor Jüri Nael.

CPPM alumni Seren Oroszvary adds that “CPPM inverted and rearranged my perspective of myself, of people, of performance, theatre and what it is to be an artist. It has shaped my identity in an organic, unique way. I don’t feel the halo of an institution above me but rather my own master of my journey and artistic practice. The course has also helped me to recognise and embrace the power of being a multimodal artist and a flexible creator in the current social, political and ecological climate.”

As a CPPM student, you’ll be part of a diverse, international community, experiencing a dynamic learning environment that fosters experimentation, collaboration, and high artistic standards. This program is a journey of transformation and self-discovery, demanding physical and mental endurance, creativity, and a readiness to be transformed through the creative process.

More detailed information about the application process, entry criteria, tuition fees, and the comprehensive list of guest artists for 2025-2027 will be published on CPPM admission page on March 1, 2024.