Gesture: Towards Exploring and Expressing the Inner Life of a Character — with Joerg Andrees
Location: Goldsmiths, London
We were delighted to bring Joerg Andrees to London, to give UK-based folks a chance to experience his approach to working with Chekhov’s technique. Joerg’s expertise is based in over four decades of experience at the forefront of Chekhov work internationally, including over 25 years in a leading role at the Michael Chekhov Studio Berlin, and leadership of the Michael Chekhov International Academy Berlin. The latter offers workshops and intensive training in Michael Chekhov’s acting technique as well as teacher training.
This workshop:
Running over a weekend (Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-1pm) this workshop explored the topic of Gesture as a means to discover and express character.
Introducing the topic:
There are different ways to access the inner, the ‘soul dynamics’ of a character. On the one hand, there is the process of gaining an understanding of these soul dynamics. And the next step is to find how this understanding can be expressed.
Within this we have two further questions to explore: 1) Using our artistic means, how can we fathom and then shape the soul dynamics of the character inwardly, without having to draw on our personal experiences? And 2) How can these soul dynamics be expressed in the character’s specific way of acting, in the “how” of actions and gestures?
One way of answering these questions is by exploring the instinctive movement response and shaping this into a gesture, which can then in turn be ‘internalised’ into a movement of the inner life.
In doing this process we can explore, deepen our understanding of, and shape, a character.
In the workshop:
In the workshop we ventured a first excursion into this free field of artistic creation. We looked at movement as such, i.e. in its possible purity; explored how a movement can become a gesture (discovering the quality that can be given to a movement); and worked exemplarily on using movements and gestures as the basis of inner, soul processes for a role.
In all these processes, the ability to imagine plays an important role. Certain aspects of this were also included as part of the theme.
The workshop was open for experienced actors as well as for beginners, each developing in relation to their individual starting point. It provided the first practical approaches on this topic, but not a fully developed methodology (this would be the task of an extended course).
Biog: Joerg Andrees
As founder of the Michael Chekhov International Academy (MCIA) he leads the Intensive Training Programme in the Chekhov Technique which progresses towards the Michael Chekhov Technique Teacher Certification.
Stage and film director, performer and tutor Joerg Andrees is regarded globally as one of the foremost exponents of the Michael Chekhov Method. Having initially trained in his native Germany as a film director with Heiner Carow, he proceeded to train in the Michael Chekhov Method in New York with Ted Pugh and Fern Sloan. Subsequently he has tutored and directed successfully worldwide employing the unique features of this distinctive method. In 1992 Joerg and a colleague, Jobst Langhans, established the first International Michael Chekhov Conference (IMCC) in Berlin and then followed with the 4th IMCC in 1995. Thus began what was to become a worldwide and highly acclaimed Michael Chekhov Movement.
Until autumn 2017 Joerg had a leading role in the Michael Chekhov Studio Berlin (MTSB) for over 25 years.
To work with the Chekhov Technique he could develop the application of the Chekhov method for Music, Singing, Dancing, Arts and Writing and since 2008 in Chekhov Theatre Therapy. He also delivers courses throughout Germany and in particular at the Alfred Schnittke Akademy International in Hamburg. He directs Theatre, Dance, Music and Screen Performances. In addition he performs solo and group improvisations.
Joerg’s work as a tutor of the Michael Chekhov Method has been recognised internationally and he has delivered workshops in many countries including: the Eugene O’Neill Centre, U.S.A; Cardiff University, Wales; School of Speech and Drama, Australia; The Orff-Institute, Austria and Southampton, U.S.A. He is a member of the faculty of MICHA, New York and of Michael Chekhov Europe (MCE). Joerg’s work has frequently taken him to Ireland to the Michael Chekhov Studio Dublin, the Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin and to the Gormanston Drama Summer School (Stageworks).
