HOW TO: CHEKHOV, THE WORKSHOP
Chekhov’s plays revolutionised the stage by replacing "heroes and villains" with ensemble casts of ordinary, flawed people. For over a century, Chekhov has been an actor's most profound teacher, demanding a confrontation with our true selves within his worlds. His works explore a time and culture that, despite being from another era, feel strikingly familiar today: unequal, hungry, yearning for change, and clinging to fantasy.
This 4-day intensive facilitated by Award Winning Director Iain Sinclair and Associate Artistic Director Harry Haynes will introduce you to techniques that illuminate his delicate worlds and begin to understand his dark cosmic humour. Whether you’re portraying a wildly disillusioned young artist, a jaded literary hero or another lost soul caught in the quiet unraveling of time.
Through practical exercises, deep text exploration and scene study, this work forces you to build a rich, internal monologue that runs parallel to the spoken text.
*All workshop participants will receive a free ticket to the How To: Chekhov, 'The Seminar'*
This workshop is open to 16 participants.
WITH IAIN SINCLAIR AND HARRY HAYNES
COURSE BREAKDOWN
April 23rd-24th & April 30th-1st
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1. The Undercurrent (Subtext & Internal Monologue)
2. The Tragicomic Pivot (Finding the Absurdity)
3. Atmospheric Listening (Ensemble Connectivity)
4. The Illusion of Stasis (Active Longing)
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Engage in hands on exploration of iconic scenes from plays like The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard guided by 16th Street’s resident directors.
ANTON CHEKHOV
Chekhov, the ultimate actor-writer, challenges actors with roles of a lifetime, eschewing ego-driven direction in favour of genuine connection and truth. From the chaotic, youthful frustration of The Seagull to the primal domestic reckonings of Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and his final masterpiece The Cherry Orchard, Chekhov shatters the boundaries of plot-driven drama.
Born in 1860 to a peasant father in Taganrog, Anton Chekhov supported his family by writing hundreds of comic sketches while training as a physician. His subsequent short stories established him as the preeminent Russian writer of the generation following Tolstoy and Dostoevsky; these works became the foundation of his global fame, influencing masters from Maupassant to Raymond Carver.
Alongside his prose, Chekhov authored experimental plays that were so radically ahead of their time they initially baffled even Constantin Stanislavsky. While The Seagull bridged the gap from traditional theater, Uncle Vanya and Three Sisters perfected a new style: surface naturalism infused with expressionism and vaudeville. His final masterpiece, The Cherry Orchard, signaled a new direction just before he succumbed to tuberculosis at age 44, leaving behind an unfinished work set on an ice floe and a legacy as the architect of modern drama.
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April 23rd & 24th & April 30th- 1st
10am - 5pm
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$765 (inc. GST)
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16th Street’s intensives and courses provide actors with opportunities to hone their craft in celebrated techniques. We work alongside master teachers and highly trained acting specialists to deliver these unique courses to Melbourne.
The workshop is ideal for graduates and professional actors over the age of 18.
Apply Now. Limited Places.
Early Offers Apply.If you book for the seminar and are then offered a place in the workshop, we will deduct the seminar fee from your invoice.
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DETAILS
SEMINAR TICKETS
In this engaging and accessible session, you will witness firsthand the craft and commitment required to transform Chekhovs words into a vibrant, living experience. “How to: Chekhovs, the Seminar” provides a rare opportunity to delve into the art of interpretation and performance, serving as a perfect precursor to our 4-day intensive workshop.
*All workshop participants will receive a free ticket to the How To: Chekhovs, 'The Seminar'*