Our summer retreat The Artist Within - Ways of Seeing, will take place in Berlin Monday 14th September - Saturday 19th September 2026 for theatre practitioners and creators seeking time and space to develop their craft and creativity.
The workshop is an opportunity and place for artistic practice, research and expression, professional and personal growth, igniting artistic inspiration, and unlocking ideas that may be harnessed and developed further. Actors, writers, directors, dancers; it is for those interested in connecting with and delving deeper into their creative potential.
With a focus on taking our environment into our work, we will be generating material in and outside of the studio, in the urban city of Berlin with its unique architecture. How does a city influence how you move and feel? Where do we find the extraordinary in the ordinary? Looking at composition, physical theatre, devising, embodiment of materials and music as a stimulus for writing and creation.
Ways of Seeing is a space for innovation, investigation and curation. Participants will undergo a series of exercises each day in the studio, in group and solo work. There will be presentations, sharing of the work and feedback, working towards artists leaving the retreat with seeds, that they can plant wherever they choose.
Workshop leaders
Heather Ward and Yarit Dor
Dates
5 days from Monday 14th - Friday 18th September in the studio, within the beautiful gardens at Eden Studios, Berlin, Germany, followed by a site seeing day on Saturday 19th September with planned itinerary for artists.
Timetable
Mon - Fri - taught workshops 10:00-16:00 plus creation time 16:00-18:00
Evening activities (between 18:00 to 22:00 depends on the day):
Monday evening - No activity scheduled. Time to settle in. Optional: Free jazz social at the A-Trane Jazz Club for anyone interested in networking and experiencing Berlin’s jazz scene.
Tuesday evening - Optional meditation/free writing by candlelight
Wednesday evening - Optional additional creative time
Thursday evening - Optional additional creation time
Friday evening - Presentation of your draft creations or any research & development of work made during the week.
Saturday - free day to socialise and enjoy Berlin together as a group, with planned itinerary. Optional theatre trip in the evening.
Fee
EARLY BIRD - £250 if paid for by 12th July
After 12th July the fee is £395
£100 deposit to secure place/early bird rate.
Accommodation and travel not included and to be organised individually by participants (we can assist in recommendations and connect/coordinate the group).
Extra activities on the site seeing day such as entrance to museums, or tours will also be paid separately by participants.
If you are interested in applying please contact us at: info@directorscuttheatre.co.uk with your expression of interest and information about your experience/training (or CV/spotlight etc).
Reviews
“An inspirational week that was truly the artistic reset I needed. Heather and Yarit were so encouraging in providing a space for exploration and curiosity. The daily workshops gave me lots to think of as tools to bring into my directing practice. Alongside the workshops, I loved the reflection time that was set aside for us in the evenings for meditation and journaling, which is something I don’t think of making time for myself when I’m caught in the everyday hustle. The tours we took through Berlin gave way to so many creative ideas on how to, as artists, respond to an environment, and this is something I’ve taken with me back to London in slowing down and seeing how inspiration can come by taking in the world physically around me. I would highly recommend this retreat for anyone looking for a creative boost! I loved every minute of it and would do it again in a heartbeat!”
- Kay Brattan, director
''When I signed up for the Directors Cut retreat in Berlin last year, I hoped it would reignite my creativity and give me some space to think differently. I never imagined just how much it would shape what happened next.
Looking back now, it genuinely feels like one of those pivotal weeks that quietly changed the direction of my creative life.
Each day was thoughtfully structured, balancing practical workshops with time for reflection, creativity and connection. We worked in the most beautiful studio, flooded with natural light, with huge trees peeking in at us through the large windows, the space was a calm and inspiring environment to explore and take creative risks - just what I needed.
Heather and Yarit are exceptional practitioners. They created a space that felt both safe and gently challenging, inviting us to step outside our comfort zones while feeling completely supported. Through movement, play, devising, improvisation, dance, writing and deeply restorative candlelit guided meditations, they encouraged each of us to discover new ways of creating and expressing ourselves.
Berlin itself became part of the process. I fell in love with the city! Exploring its extraordinary architecture, complex history, vibrant communities and even its graffiti inspired us all to create original work that we shared with one another during a truly magical evening towards the end of the retreat. I was blown away by the imagination, honesty and quality of the work everyone produced.
Perhaps the greatest gift of the retreat, however, was the connections it fostered. During the week I had the opportunity to work closely with Emma Kelly, and we immediately recognised a shared creative vision. We left Berlin talking about collaborating together and that conversation changed both of our creative lives.
Since then, Emma has written and we have co-produced our new theatre show, 'Wild Women', which I directed. We’ve staged successful performances in Brighton and Lewes, received five-star reviews and an incredibly positive response from audiences. We are now applying for Arts Council funding to take the show on a rural tour, as well as planning performances at Brighton Fringe and the Edinburgh Fringe.
It’s impossible for me to separate any of that from the week we spent in Berlin. Without that retreat, Emma and I would probably never have discovered how naturally we worked together. A single week led to a creative partnership, a new show, and opportunities that are still unfolding. For me, that’s the real legacy of the retreat. It wasn’t just a wonderful week in Berlin - it opened a door that I’m still walking through...
Here's a glimpse of the work it inspired for Emma and me:
🎭 Wild Women trailer: https://youtube.com/shorts/SU228wrUvPQ?is=fHOu9lMnMI8du_jh
⭐ Reviews:
* Brighton Source: https://brightonsource.co.uk/reviews/wild-women-review/
* The Reviews Hub: https://www.thereviewshub.com/wild-women-lantern-theatre-brighton/
- Deirdre Daly, director
''The DCT retreat to Berlin was so inspiring and magical - for lack of a better word! I was so fortunate to be amongst unbelievably talented artists who I feel really pushed me and helped me grow as a performer. When I applied I had no expectations of what the week would an entail or what the result would be at the end, but we ultimately devised really moving pieces, and I even began writing my first piece!
Eden Studios was a wonderful venue: beautiful grounds, in a safe neighbourhood, lots of great restaurants/cafes nearby and with easy access to the rest of the city. If that’s where you return to, I would definitely recommend trying to stay in a room onsite! It was roughly the same price as a hostel with massive rooms.
There was a good balance of creative/workshop time, but also free time to explore the city. The walking tours were incredible sources of inspiration, and a good way to work in sightseeing for those of us who hadn’t been there before.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this retreat to anyone who is looking for some creative exploration, and would quickly reapply if the retreat were to take place again.''
- Steffanie Freedoff, professional actor
''The retreat gave me time and space to think about my creative process and be part of an ensemble. In the supportive and warm environment that Heather and Yarit facilitated I was able to return to my performing roots as well as develop my writing. I honestly haven't moved, laughed and been so inspired in such a long time. There was the right amount of provocation, physical and mental development as we built a community. I felt part of something unique and exciting.''
- Emma Kelly, writer and director
''The Berlin Artists Retreat was such a transformative experience. Having a blank slate to work and create in such a vibrant and historic city unlocked inspiration and creativity that I wasn't expecting. From walking tours to candlelit meditations this experience pushed me to expand my ways of thinking, opening pathways for ideas and concepts to form. Having the opportunity to step out of my regular day to day life and into a whole new city in a whole new country gave me space to reconnect with the reason I chose this career path and has provided me with new life and motivation upon returning home. I would highly recommend this retreat to anyone who is feeling stuck creatively, seeking some creative community or seeking new horizons.''
- Ruby Wilde, professional actor
"Berlin, in my opinion, was the perfect city to host the retreat in. Myself and the rest of the group felt (and are still feeling) how heavy our current political climate is, and not just within the U.K. but across the world. Creatively, Berlin is a meat feast pizza (or a veggie supreme for the non-meat eaters), because there is so much inspiration to pull upon. It was honestly staggering just how dark and pivotal and divided the country has been but equally, amongst the volatility, there was still hope and resilience and innovation. And a commitment to never forget its own history. I absorbed so much of Berlin's history and culture while on this retreat which then fed into what we created in the space but it has also left its mark on me as an individual. It was just as much a cultural and educational retreat as it was a creative one which I absolutely loved. The group were fabulous to work with and both Heather and Yarit facilitated beautifully. On the first day there was an instant rapport, bearing in mind I had never met or worked with any of the participants prior to the retreat, and already within the first few exercises the space felt safe, playful, and supportive. That, of course, comes down to the energy the participants bring into the room but it also reflects the atmosphere that Heather and Yarit created and nurtured as leaders. It was gorgeous to be in a vibrantly creative space like that again and I think being in that environment reminded me why I love doing what I do. The work we showcased at the end of the retreat was awesome to be a part of and to observe. Everything shown had something to it, an idea or a thought, that was worth developing further.''
- Scott Thompson, professional actor
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