Our summer retreat The Artist Within - Ways of Seeing, will take place in Berlin 10th - 14th August 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
4 days from Monday 10th - Thursday 13th August in the studio, within the beautiful gardens at Eden Studios, Berlin, Germany, followed by a site seeing day on Friday 14th August with planned itinerary for artists.
Timetable
Mon - Thurs - 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.
Tuesday evening - Optional meditation/free writing by candlelight
Wednesday evening - Optional additional creation time
Thursday evening - Presentation of your draft creations or any research & development of work made during the week.
Friday - free day to socialise and enjoy Berlin.
Fee
Email info@directorscuttheatre.co.uk for info
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.
Due to the nature of the work we will be doing in the space, if you are a writer, some professional training/experience in performing will be required.
Reviews
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
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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