Radical Performance Making: Devising Performance for Social Change

"Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it." – Bertolt Brecht How can performance challenge power, create dialogue, and inspire change? This practical workshop series explores performance-making as a tool for social commentary, creative activism, and critical reflection. Drawing on Brechtian theatre techniques, devising practices, character work, and participatory performance methods, participants will experiment with creating performances that question, provoke, entertain, and inspire. Through practical exercises, theoretical inputs, and collaborative exploration, we will investigate techniques such as direct audience address, Gestus, alienation effects, devising from stimulus, character creation, and performance interventions. Participants will be encouraged to draw on personal experiences, political concerns, social questions, and imaginative possibilities as starting points for creating performance. Over four sessions, participants will develop their own performances, scenes, or performative interventions. Participants interested in public presentation will have opportunities to share and further develop their work in different contexts, including a community and neighbourhood event on 17 October in Köpenick and a later showcase at 90mil (possible additional rehearsal/development time). Up for discovering and transforming your questions, concerns, and ideas into performance? All levels of experience are welcome, just bring your curiosity and openness to experiment.