Project Archive

4th/5th July

Studio Current in partnership with The Chekhov Collective

Studio Current’s International Performing Arts Summer Workshop.
The Chekhov Collective is delivering a two-day workshop as part of a larger programme
led by Studio Current designed for Taiwanese practitioners.

22nd June 2024

The Chekhov Collective UK 10 (and a bit) Years Anniversary

We are looking back over a rich and joyful time, with over 90 public events held between 2013 and 2023.

Saturday 16 December 2023

I:CON | Collective Panel Discussion (Zoom) Moving against ageism in the arts

With Sian Clarke and Cass Fleming, Co-Director of the Collective.

Tuesday 14 November 2023

I:CON | Collective Partnership Workshop III Writing for Performance and Chekhov Technique with Sian Clarke

In this workshop we will look at using ChekhovTechnique, Clowning and improvisation to bring physicality to life and explore similarities and contrasts with words to make short comedic moments.

Saturday 4 November 2023

I:CON | Collective Panel Discussion: Moving against ageism in the arts

A panel with Sian Clarke and guests for people over 30 years, chaired by Cass Fleming, Co-Director of the Collective. This panel will discuss the experience and impact of ageism within the arts, including intersectionality and parenthood.

Saturday 4 November 2023

I:CON | Collective Partnership Workshop II Comedy and Chekhov Technique with Sian Clarke

In this workshop we will look at using ChekhovTechnique, Clowning and improvisation to bring physicality to life and explore similarities and contrasts with words to make short comedic moments.

Tuesday 31 October 2023

I:CON | Collective Partnership Workshop I Solo Performance and Chekhov Technique with Sian Clarke

In this workshop we will use Chekhov Technique and improvisation to explore creating persona and character for solo performance and how we can make our own work without self judgement. Each participant will have the opportunity to make a small performance that they can share with the group at the end of the workshop.

19th-23rd June 2023

Directors’ Workshop With Cass Fleming Founder and Co-Director of The Chekhov Collective

This four-day workshop explored using Chekhov Technique for the creation of dynamic ensemble practice and direction of text-based theatre, devised and physical theatre, and improvisation. The workshop also explored the way in which Chekhov’s methods and key principles can help contemporary directors be self-reflexive and capable of empowering actors to work as artists in rehearsal processes. 

Monday 12 June 2023

Theatre, Performance and Relational Repair

This one-day symposium explored how we might navigate trauma, relational repair and being-with each other in and through performance, research, and teaching. The sessions approached the topic from various intersecting points of view, and the day aimed to facilitate an exchange of ideas, questions and practice between all participants.

Saturday 18 March 2023

Chekhov Meets The Singing Voice IV

In this full day singing workshop Deborah Garvey shared fundamentals of her research-led practice. This practice integrates Michael Chekhov principles with existing singing techniques and elements of Linklater voice work that Deb has developed as a singer and teacher. Her practice seeks to connect a free body-breath-voice to a safe and effective vocal technique in a spirit of imaginative play.

Saturday 11 February 2023

Open House – Chekhov Technique: Dynamic for Scene Work With Cass Fleming & Gretchen Egolf

This workshop explores the ways in which Chekhov Technique offers actors and directors effective tools to explore dynamics in the context of scene work and the relationship between characters. This will include the use of gesture, polarity, space and proxemics. We will work with written scenes from a selection of plays in this session.

Saturday 22 October 2022

Open House – Chekhov Technique: Objects and Acting with Cass Fleming

This workshop explored Chekhov’s extensive work using real and imagined objects and forms as catalysts to powerful characterisation and performance.  The session also drew on the experiments that Chekhov carried out at Dartington Hall with real objects and natural forms.  The session explored Chekhov’s Stick, Ball, Veil exercise, the use of real objects as Imaginary Centres and visualised objects and forms.

Sat 7th May 10-5pm and Sun 8th May 10-1pm

Gesture: Towards Exploring and Expressing the Inner Life of a Character — with Joerg Andrees

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.

Sat 2nd April 2022

The Ships in the Night: Image as Guide — with Jessica Cerullo

This workshop was based on the social practice art project, The Ships In The Night. Over the course of five months I sought out strangers in my seaside New England community who I perceived to be caregivers - nurses, crossing guards, therapists, arts administrators, elected officials, guidance counselors, teachers, custodians, parents, and even children themselves.

Sat 19th March 2022

Chekhov, Butoh and Actor Training — with You-Ri Yamanaka

Both Chekhov and Butoh have several significant aspects in common. When I teach acting or lead workshops, I commonly use retain Butoh elements. When I discovered Michael Chekov about twenty years ago, I was quite struck at how Chekhov clearly explained and defined in words what is practiced in Butoh and also in traditional Japanese theatre.

Sat 26 February 2022

Chekhov and Circus, with Anna Katharina Andrees

Chekhov in the creative process of contemporary circus. This was a ‘sharing of work’ session, which explored questions around Chekhov and creative processes of contemporary circus. Anna-Katharina shared her research and experiences from working with professional circus artists and creations.

Sat 5th February 2022

Chekhov Meets the Singing Voice — with Deb Garvey

This workshop explored the singing voice through integrated elements of Chekhov and Linklater voice work.  This was for anyone interested in tapping into the potential of their expressive range and included  sequences that focus on both the individual and collective voice in a supportive, exploratory spirit of play.

Sat 29th January 2022

Open House: Imaginary Centres with Cass Fleming

In this Open House workshop, Cass Fleming of the Collective leads a creative exploration of Chekhov’s technique of Imaginary Centres as doors to physical and vocal transformation in relation to character work, animals and ourselves!  In this session Cass also considers contemporary developments, and various cultural contexts, in relation to work with imaginary centres.

Saturday 11th December 2021

Chekhov Collective: Critical Friends Sessions for directors, choreographers, theatre-makers and applied practitioners

Sharing of work in development, new projects and experiments.
With Cass Fleming, Ro Mitchell and other members of the collective.

Saturday 27th November 2021

Chekhov technique in inclusive dance practice, With Grace Wranosky

This is a practice sharing workshop, which will explore questions around Chekhov and inclusivity, namely “Are applications of Chekhov methodology/ technique fundamentally inclusive in their approach?”.

Saturday 13th November 2021

‘Theatre of the Future: Chekhov and Performance Capture’ With Charles Douglas

Performance capture is central to 21st century storytelling. These processes are the lifeblood of the global games industry, facilitate the animation of avatars in XR environments, were key to the creation of 9 of the 10 highest-grossing films of all time, and are being widely explored by innovative musicians and theatre makers...

Tuesday 26th October 2021

Is THIS Physical Theatre? In conversation with Dawn Arnold and Roanna Mitchell

Co-hosted by the Chekhov Collective and the University of Kent, this free ‘in conversation’ event explores Dawn Arnold’s work against the background of questions such as: What is the relationship between physical theatre-making and the art of the actor?

Sat 23rd October 2021

Reaching for the Stars – Directing/Devising with Michael Chekhov’s Creative Process  With Dawn Arnold

“When we look upon this point which we call the creative process and the inspiration, it is, of course, our last and only aim, and we must look upon this point as though it were the center, and on the periphery there are so many doors through which we had to look.” From the Michael Chekhov Archives

Wednesday 15th – Sunday 19th September 2021

Directing with Chekhov Technique — 5-Day Workshop with Cass Fleming

This five-day workshop will explore using Chekhov’s technique and principles for the creation of dynamic ensemble practice and direction of devised theatre, text-based theatre, improvisation and film. It is open to newcomers to the technique and those who have experience of Chekhov’s methods.

Saturday 5th June 2021

Darshan — with Anjalee Deshpande Hutchinson

This workshop will investigate the connections between Michael Chekhov’s exercises on Merging and the Hindu tradition of Darshan. Anjalee will lead a voyage through discussion and exercises that seek to deepen Chekhov’s meaningful explorations.

Monday 31st May 2021

Chekhov and Mysticism – with Jerri Daboo, Anjalee Desphande Hutchinson and Jessica Cerullo

The diversity, equity and inclusion council of The Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), in cooperation with The Chekhov Collective UK, invite you to attend two seminars examining the work of Michael Chekhov in relation to the people of the Global Majority.

Saturday 29th May 2021

Gestures of Repair — With Roanna Mitchell

Being human and alive, together and alone, is difficult. And made harder in a pandemic. In our relationships — with other humans and with our selves — we can often get stuck in the binary of ‘doer’ and ‘done-to’; an opposition which feels distressing, is hard to move out of, and which dominates our current social discourse.

Friday 21st May 2021

Talking New Pathways: Cass Fleming and Tom Cornford in Conversation

Charles Douglas will talk with Cass Fleming and Tom Cornford about their work on the Michael Chekhov in the Twenty First Century: New Pathways practice research project (2013-2016) and their contributions to the related book (Bloomsbury, Methuen, 2020).

Friday 14th May 2021

Michael Chekhov and Identity – with Gretchen Egolf, Margaret Kemp and Cass Fleming

The diversity, equity and inclusion council of The Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), in cooperation with The Chekhov Collective UK, invite you to attend two seminars examining the work of Michael Chekhov in relation to the people of the Global Majority.

Saturday 8th May 2021

Chekhov and Community — with Effie Makepeace

This is a practice sharing workshop which will focus on applications and adaptations of Chekhov working with community groups in Malawi and the UK.

Saturday 1st May 2021

Open House: Creating Character — With Gretchen Egolf

In this Open House, by engaging with a process which explores Michael Chekhov’s principles of Imaginary Body, Imaginary Centres, and Subjective Atmospheres, in combination with a practice of reflecting and/or journaling, we will create a character.

Saturday 24th April 2021

Directing with Chekhov: Roundtable

The Chekhov Collective hosted a round table discussion with a panel of directors working with Chekhov’s methods and principles in different ways and contexts.

Saturday 27th March 2021

Michael Chekhov: Imagination and Community

Cass Fleming delivered a paper at the following event: “Research paths in performing arts in times of crisis II: Organizing live – living in art”  

Saturday 27th March 2021

Chekhov and the Singing Voice — with Deb Garvey

Deborah Garvey is delighted to return to TCC to explore how various Chekhov principles can be applied to the sung voice to open up possibilities for tapping into its expressive potential.

Saturday 13th March 2021

Freeing the Inner Voice — Body and Image, with You-Ri Yamanaka

This workshop will explore the deep and truthful connection between body, mind, voice and text using various Chekhov techniques, and will incorporate connections You-Ri has found between Chekhov technique and approaches from the East, notably Butoh.

Saturday 20th March 2021

Chekhov and Challenging Times — with Jessica Cerullo

In this workshop we will consider Michael Chekhov’s resilience as an artist who lived through challenging times. We will explore aspects of his technique that contribute to psychophysical balance and imbalance for the performer (and anyone who seeks to make sense/meaning of our world).

Saturday 13th February 2021

Chekhov and a bit of Laban, with Funlola Olufunwa

An exploration of Chekhov’s qualities of movement and Laban’s effort qualities. We will discover whether Laban language is complementary to Michael Chekhov work.

Saturday 16th January 2021

Spring 2021 Open House: Transformation with Sian Clarke and Patrick Bailey

In this Open House workshop, Sian and Patrick of TCC explore TRANSFORMATION, SPACE, CHARACTER and IMAGINATION for THE ACTOR and ARTIST.

November 2020

Michael Chekhov Technique in the Twenty-First Century: New Pathways

We are delighted to announce the publication of this volume, edited by TCC's Dr Cass Fleming with Dr Tom Cornford, with chapters by Fleming and Cornford as well as Daron Oram, Roanna Mitchell, Sinead Rushe, Caoimhe McAvinchey, and with input from many wonderful practitioners and scholars from around the Chekhov world.

Monday 2nd March 2020

Michael Chekhov Laboratory Series: Transformation with Tom Bostock

Led by Tom Bostock and co-organised by Pollyanna Newcombe, this laboratory series idea began when Pollyanna and her fellow cohort of directors and actors caught a glimmer of the approach while training at Mountview, from director & Chekhov Collective UK trustee Rebecca Frecknall, and have been using / recycling / experimenting with it ever since and want to discover more.

Saturday 1st February 2020

Chekhov, Comedy and Feminist performance with Sian Clarke

Led by Sian Clarke (The Chekhov Collective UK), the focus of this workshop will be anger, outrage and pure hysteria.

Saturday 25th January 2020

Chekhov Collective Open House: Exploring Polarity with Gretchen Egolf

We cannot have light appear unless out of darkness. Darkness cannot fall without there having been light. One of what Chekhov calls “The Four Brothers” is The Feeling of the Whole, or Entirety.

Saturday 14th December 2019

Chekhov and Outer Atmospheres — special guest workshop with Graham Dixon, Michael Chekhov Studio London

How can we create genuine atmospheres that the actor and the audience objectively feel and experience?

Tuesday 10 December 2019

Chekhov and Body Mind Centering – special guest presentation / workshop with Dr Luciana Barone, University of Paraná

In this workshop, Luciana Barone will introduce exploratory keys of her research (Goldsmiths, UK; UNESPAR, Brazil), focusing on how to experience the perception and qualities of different body systems approached by Body-Mind Centering™ to a creation based on Michael Chekhov's acting technique. 

Saturday 26th October 2019

Expressive Techniques for Dancers: Gesture, with Roanna Mitchell

Led by Roanna Mitchell (The Chekhov Collective UK / University of Kent), this workshop on ‘Gesture’ continued a series covering expressive techniques for dancers in interdisciplinary contexts, drawing mainly on the approaches of ‘dancing actor’ Michael Chekhov, as well as making links to the work of Laban and Lecoq.

Saturday 12 October 2019

Embodiment and Performance: celebrating the legacy of Michael Chekhov at Dartington with Gretchen Egolf and Adam Chodzko

Gretchen Egolf and visual artist Adam Chodzko in partnership with the Aller Park Studios Project present a weekend of events, including workshop, film screening, talk and performances, which will explore Chekhov’s embodied performance practice in relation to cross-disciplinary arts practice.

Saturday 19th October 2019

Chekhov Technique in Dramatherapy with Zoe Brook

When traumatic experience has taken us away from ourselves, sometimes it’s hard to return, to see ourselves, or others, clearly, or to feel present in our bodies or the space around us.

Saturday 5 October 2019

Chekhov Collective Open House: Exploring Chekhov through Play with Cass Fleming

Led by Cass Fleming (The Chekhov Collective UK / Goldsmiths, University of London), this workshop explores the centrality of play in Chekhov’s Technique and his desire to re-awaken the instinct in actors, directors and other artists, for playing.

Saturday 6 July 2019

Clowning with Chekhov: special guest workshop with Marjolein Baars

We’re very excited to have theatre maker and Chekhov and clown teacher Marjolein Baars (tiny hero productions/ MICHA / MCE), join us from the Netherlands for this special guest workshop. 

Saturday 15th June 2019

Chekhov and Voice: The Doorway between Breath and Feeling with Daron Oram

The Chekhov Collective is delighted to host Daron Oram this summer. This is a rare opportunity to explore the use of Chekhov technique for work on the relationship between voice, breath and feeling.

Saturday  8th June 2019

Chekhov for Auditions: Stage and screen with Gretchen Egolf and Patrick Bailey

Led by Gretchen Egolf and Patrick Bailey, this workshop provides audition help, using simple Chekhov tools.

Saturday 8th June 2019

Expressive Techniques for Dancers with Roanna Mitchell

Led by Roanna Mitchell (Chekhov Collective / University of Kent), this workshop covered expressive techniques for dancers in interdisciplinary contexts, drawing mainly on the approaches of ‘dancing actor’ Michael Chekhov, as well as making links to the work of Laban and Lecoq.

Saturday 18th May 2019

Chekhov Collective Open House: Radiating and receiving with Patrick Bailey, Gretchen Egolf and Roanna Mitchell

This Open House workshop will focus on Radiating (Giving) and Receiving in particular, as a theme that also runs through the rest of our Summer 2019 workshop programme.

Saturday 9 March 2019

Illuminating the Shadow: Finding Love in Our Profession with Gretchen Egolf

This workshop offers an investigation into the cultivation of light over darkness in our working artistic lives.

Saturday 23 February 2019

The Actor’s Compass: A laboratory on dynamics in space with Tom Bostock

This lab session will explore the ‘Actor’s Compass’: Dynamic directions in space.

Monday 28 January 2019

Chekhov, the Grotesque and the Fantastical II with Tom Bostock

Enter into the realms of the grotesque, caricature and the fantastical with Tom Bostock, from Gruff Theatre and the Chekhov Collective.

Saturday 26 January 2019

Chekhov Collective Open House: Introduction to Psychological Gesture with Tom Bostock and Gretchen Egolf

This Open House workshop will focus on Psychological Gesture in particular, as a theme that also runs through the rest of our Spring 2019 workshop programme.

Sunday 25 November 2018

Acting in Dance with Roanna Mitchell

This workshop, part of a series, offered an introduction to Michael Chekhov’s technique as an acting technique for the dancer. Rather than asking the dancer to set aside their expertise and step into unfamiliar ‘acting’ shoes, our work together explored how we can achieve acting moments in performance by starting from a dancer’s expertise.

17 July 2018

International Conference Athens: Laban’s Philosophy and Theatre Practice Workshop presentation: Chekhov and Laban — Investigating the Crossovers

Led by Roanna Mitchell (The Chekhov Collective UK) and Juliet Chambers-Coe (Labanarium)

Tuesday 10 July 2018

Chekhov and Musicality in Performance with Gretchen Egolf

This workshop is designed for performers interested in exploring Chekhov’s work through the lens of tempo, rhythm, and musicality. Using these elements can offer a new access point to characterization, just as using images or sensations in the technique can do.

Saturday 9 June 2018

Panel Discussion: Directors as Collaborators: On hierarchy, empowerment and kindness in the rehearsal process

‘The Actor is the Theatre’ (Michael Chekhov, 1936). As the theatre world grapples with questions of agency, exclusion and exploitation, the power dynamics between director and actors need re-visiting.

Saturday 9 June 2018

Chekhov and The Chorus with Rebecca Frecknall

Having just concluded the run of her critically acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams' Summer and Smoke (Almeida, 2018), director Rebecca Frecknall joins us to lead this workshop on her uses of Chekhov technique in directing.

Saturday 19 May 2018

Imaginative Embodiment: Michael Chekhov and Jacques Lecoq Open space hosted by The Chekhov Collective and Embodied Poetics with Cass Fleming and Amy Russell

This workshop will investigate the synergies between Michael Chekhov Technique and the Lecoq Pedagogy.

Tuesday 20 March 2018

Chekhov, the Grotesque and the Fantastical with Tom Bostock

Explore the realms of the grotesque, caricature and the fantastical, with Gruff Theatre and the Chekhov Collective.

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Solo Comedy and Writing: Learning to collaborate with yourself with Sian Clarke

This workshop focuses on strategies for developing a character/persona to write through, giving you someone to collaborate with even in solo creation. The workshop will be led by solo comedy artist Sian Clarke, whose practice is influenced by, and adapted from, various aspects of Chekhov technique.

Saturday 24 February 2018

Open House: a playful introduction to key principles of Chekhov Technique with Cass Fleming and Roanna Mitchell

Our Open House workshops, offered once per season, provide a playful introduction to some key principles of Chekhov technique. Newcomers to the technique are welcome, as are those who wish to refresh their memories.

5 January 2018

Open Space hosted by The Chekhov Collective and The Labanarium

Thought, Imagination and Spirit in Movement: Investigating the Crossovers between Rudolf Laban and Michael Chekhov in their approaches to movement for performance.

2013 - 2016

Michael Chekhov in the Twenty First Century: New Pathways Project

New Pathways is a major multi-institutional research project that involves Goldsmiths, University of London, the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Queen Mary University of London, and the professional organisation Michael Chekhov UK.

2013 - 2016

The Little Prince

The Little Prince (2013-2016) was a long-term practice research project led by Cass Fleming and undertaken by The Chekhov Collective. 

24 May 2016

Young Vic Theatre – Workshop on the use of Chekhov Technique by Directors

Workshop/Research presentation on the use of Chekhov Technique for the Young Vic Directors Programme. Cass Fleming and members of The Chekhov Collective delivered an dynamic workshop / research presentation for the Young Vic Theatre Directors’ Programme on the use of Chekhov Technique and the notion of ‘catalyst direction’.

26 April 2016

Young Vic Theatre – Lecture on the use of Chekhov Technique by Directors

Cass Fleming and members of The Chekhov Collective delivered an innovative practice research lecture for the Young Vic Theatre Directors’ Programme on the use of Chekhov Technique and The Little Prince and New Pathways Research Project research projects.

3 November 2015

The work of the Chekhov Collective and the New Pathways Project

Paper delivered at the Department of Theatre and Performance’s Performance Research Forum by Dr Cass Fleming, Dr Roanna Mitchell, Dr Tom Cornford and members of the collective.

3 November 2013

The Chekhov Collective’s practice-as-research project begins

Work begins on the long term practice-as-research project based on The Little Prince.

29 March 2013

Royal National Theatre – Studio Workshop for Directors

Cass Fleming delivered a workshop/research presentation in Chekhov Technique for directors at the Royal National Theatre Studio, supported by Rebecca Frecknall.