Role, techniques and function of shadow-objects within the contemporary shadow theatre.
Exploring arts, comic strips, graphics and illustration.

May 14th - June 2nd  2012
Piacenza, Officina delle Ombre (via Fulgonio 7)

by Fabrizio Montecchi,
Nicoletta Garioni and Federica Ferrari

Duration: 18 days (120 hours)
Number of participants: 20 
Admission fee: Euro 650

The silhouette represents man’s tireless effort to secure a physical shadow in its own two-dimensional synthesis, in its double, in its simulacrum.

The silhouette always represented the element that symbolizes the shadow theater, its technical and expressive synthesis. The silhouette, even before the shadow itself, witnesses the characteristics of every tradition. If we think of the Javanese shadow theater, of the Chinese or the Turkish one, we first think of the various silhouettes that distinguish them.

However, in the contemporary shadow theater the different part plaid by the light and the screen in determining the shadow image, made the silhouette lose its centrality and its power of immediately turning itself into the synthesis of a whole language and a way of performing the theater.

The silhouette is thus subject to a continuous talk with other elements of the shadow scene. Despite this, the silhouette still represents the fundamental element around which the very idea of  shadow “theater” moves around.

During the workshop The simulacrum of the shadow we will enquire into this new perspective and we will consider all the technical, linguistic and expressive aspects connected to the shadow-objects and all those aspects that keep it stuck to the image of a shadow projection device and all the complex needs of contemporary dramaturgy.

The workshop will be divided into three parts:

Part One
Introduction to the shadow.
(Introductory to any work on the shadow theater)

Part Two
The silhouette.
We will discuss the following points, either in theory and in practice:

• The silhouette in traditional shadow theaters
• The silhouette in contemporary shadow theaters
• The silhouette based on the experience of Teatro Gioco Vita

• The silhouette between light and screen: techniques of animation
• The silhouette and the engineer: techniques of animation
• The silhouette between painting and illustration: the ideation
• The silhouette and scenic design: the ideation            

• The silhouette: drawing and reproduction techniques
• The silhouette: dimensions and materials
• The silhouette: opacity and transparence       
• The silhouette: the expression

• Beyond the silhouette, the new perspectives of
   tridimensional: objects, masks, costumes

Part Three
Small studies on stage production. Conclusions.

Program

How to register and participate
Please fill in the registration form and include the following documents:
• Curriculum Vitae with photo
• Covering letter mentioning your study and/or professional experiences and the motivation and goals of your work and your artistic research

Application forms will be accepted until January 31st 2012.
All applications will be assessed (and approved by the workshop staff) starting from the Curriculum Vitae and professional experience, the motivations and goals illustrated by each candidate in his/her own covering letter.
Teatro Gioco Vita will contact the selected candidates within February 29th 2012.
The confirmation of registration will have to be sent within March 10th 2012 and 50% of the fee of participation will have to by paid within the next 10 days.
Candidates will pay the remaining balance in full upon their arrival in Piacenza for the workshop.
Participants will have a discount on the participation fee for other following workshops

Accomodation
During the workshop you can stay at the hostel “Ostello Don Zermani” - via Zoni 38/40 - 29121 Piacenza. An overnight stay in a multiple room (3, 4, 5 or six beds), breakfast and dinner costs 30 Euros (the fee includes bed linens changed weekly, wi-fi and parking but does no include the use of towels that can be rented for 3 Euros each).
The hostel will provide a lunch box for 8 Euros (two sandwiches, a fruit and a bottle of water) upon request.
Such budget fees can only be applied if a minimum number of participants will stay at the hostel.
Please confirm booking directly at Teatro Gioco Vita when applying for the workshop. The accommodation fee shall be paid  directly to the hostel.

Teatro Gioco Vita - Teatro Stabile di Innovazione
International Workshops Department
Emma-Chiara Perotti, Helena Tirén
workshop@teatrogiocovita.it
Tel. +39.0523.332613 / +39.0523.315578
Fax +39.0523.338428