International Theater Observatory

The International Theatre Observatory was created in 2014. It grew out of the International Theatrical Resource “Song of Songs” (Years 2007 – 2015). Over the course of 8 years, more than 100 actors and singers from different countries were involved in this theatre work, with 15 sessions taking place in Turkey, France, Latvia, Russia, Ukaraine, and in Poland (with the support of the Grotowski Institute). The last session took place in France, organized by Fabrice Nicot, producer and director of the Tarkovsky Festival of Sacred Arts at the Abbey of Pontigny in Burgundy. The ITO is led by director Sergei Kovalevich, and has developed during a year-long artistic investigation between Mr. Kovalevich and actors from France, Poland, Russia, Croatia, and the United States. The work of the ITO is to create a shared international artistic environment, comprised of both practical and theoretical work. We aim to work with the actor as a site of anthropological investigation, that through theatrical practice can reveal new existential possibilities. We strive and work for attentive observation, unceasing reflection grounded in the body to create open action in the space of theatre. The International Theatre Observatory is supported by: Abbey Pontigny (France), and Andrei Tarkovsky Festival of Sacred Arts (France), Academy of Guardiance (Russia)

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In this workshop, we will work on your text and on the songs that you bring, starting from the point of inner silence. These will be songs that you will have prepared: one song must be old, one must be in your native language, and one must be in a foreign language. These songs should have meaning for you, for your history. The texts that you choose should also mean something to you. then from a quiet emotional point, from silence, you will make it sing. This workshop is not about changing you as a person. Maybe it will. But not in the way of "this is the training that is gonna change my life, I am finally gonna be a real actor blablabla". You must come for the Art, not only for yourself. It is about doing. Doing it everyday, every second. You need to answer Life through Art, leaving nothing for tomorrow. Eternity is in the instant, here and now. And you must devote yourself to it. Devote in the sense of giving, of generosity. Serving. About receiving what is here, now, in this incredible, unique place that is Pontigny. Receiving and then offering. Through text, physical action.Through art.

We invite you to participate in this veture with us! You are free to come!

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Sergei Kovalevich

Born in 1960 year.

Theatre director, methodologist of musical-dramatic theatre, pedagogue.

I do an artistic research the principles of embodiment of Tradition inmodern culture and theatre. I conduct trainings and workshops related to basic gesture of human being (”zero ritual”), word and voice as basic notion of actor’s and theatre language. The developer of methods of work with dramatic text, word, voice and song. The author of several methodological and art texts, devoted to the problems of theatre and culture, the director of the set of anthropological art-documentary films. Member of “The Academy of Guardians of Education” (Moscow, Russia).

2002 – 2010 one of the founders (together with N. Polovynka) of “Maisternia Pisni” (Lviv, Ukraine), methodologist and director of “Maisternia Pisni”;

2003 founder and developer of Art society “College Film Company”, attached to The Academy of Guardians (Moscow, Russia) and Art society “Creative”, attached to The College of Business № 11 (Moscow, Russia);

2006 editor-in-chief of scientific-art almanac “Utrennik”;

2006 – 2011 collaboration with the Grotowsky Institute in Wroclaw, Poland (“Maisternia Pisni” in frames of the promotional program of the Institute, Participation in festivals, conducting of the master-classes, work on performances);

2006 – 2013 author of idea, leader and director of International Art Resource “The song of Songs” (14 work sessions, 5small sessions in different contries: Poland (Grotowsky Institute), Ukraine, Latvia, Corsica, Turkey);

2009 art director of educational program “Poligon”, attached to The Academy of Guardians (Moscow, Russia);

2012 art director of socio-cultural space “Hectar” (Shahmatovo village, Kostroma region, Russia);

2012 co-director (together with I. Pavlow) of philosophical-methodological seminar "Quality of Border", attached to The Academy of Guardians (Moscow, Russia);

2012 – 2015  collaboration (as director and methodologist) with Theatrical Centre “Word and Voice” (Lviv, Ukraine);

2014 author of idea, leader and director of International Theater Observatory (supported by Pontigny Abbey (France), and Andrei Tarkovsky Festival of Sacred Arts (France), Academy of Guardians (Russia);

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International Theater Observatory group, June 2015, Pontigny Abbey, France

In the picture (from left): Adriana Josipovic, Katerina Zayko, Marta Dubas, Sergey Kovalevich (director), Gedney Barclay, Juliette Kempf, Elizaveta Orlova.