TIP in Cyprus: European Theatre Lab – From Emerging to Established Theatre Makers with Dr. Brkić

Every year, more and more theatre practitioners graduate in Cyprus, the UK, Europe, the US, and all over the world. They return home (wherever home is) and face questions from their friends, parents, and partners—what are you planning to do now? How will you make a living as a theatre maker? Could you have done something more useful with your life? Not everyone has the opportunity to work on stage immediately.

This workshop provided recent graduates of performing arts programs from Cyprus and abroad with new ways of thinking about their future. Dr. Aleksandar Brkić drew on his experience as an educator, consultant, and theatre producer in the UK, Europe, Africa, and Asia to explore different skills, strategies, and opportunities that young theatre makers could pursue to make their stories, journeys, and careers more sustainable.

Participants were actively involved in discussions and received a number of useful links and materials to support them in the future, becoming part of their professional toolboxes. The main goal of the workshop was to strengthen the theatre sector in Cyprus, with a focus on emerging young theatre makers, helping them diversify their sources of support and broaden their perspectives on their potential roles within the arts and theatre ecosystem.

Date and Location:

• Dates: May 19-21, 2023
• Times:
  • May 19: 14:00-20:00 (Hybrid: 14:30-16:30 via Zoom)
  • May 20: 10:00-16:00
  • May 21: 10:00-16:00
• Venue: THOC Building, New Stage, Nicosia, Cyprus

Description:
This three-day workshop, part of the European Theatre Lab, aimed to equip emerging theatre professionals with strategies for sustainable careers. Dr. Aleksandar Brkić led sessions on theatre ecosystems, entrepreneurship, marketing, and collaboration, empowering young creators in Cyprus and beyond.

Agenda:
Day 1 – Friday, May 19, 2023 (14:00-20:00)

• 14:00: Introduction
• 14:30: Understanding the Cultural/Theatre Ecosystems (Hybrid discussion and activity)
• 17:00: Theatre Today & 2030: Challenges and Trends
• 18:00: Storytelling Activity
• 19:00: Recap

Day 2 – Saturday, May 20, 2023 (10:00-16:00)

• 10:00: Reflection on Day 1
• 10:30: Innovative (Self)-Promotion Strategies
• 11:00: The Best Version of Me (Activity)
• 13:30: Case Studies in Theatre Entrepreneurship
• 14:00: Why Should I Watch This? (Activity)
• 15:00: Recap

Day 3 – Sunday, May 21, 2023 (10:00-16:00)

• 10:00: Reflection on Day 2
• 10:30: Marketing and Public Relations Tips
• 11:00: Crazy Innovation (Activity)
• 13:30: Networks and Partnerships in Theatre
• 14:00: Building New Alliances (Activity)
• 15:00: Program Wrap-Up

Speakers/Facilitators:

• Dr. Aleksandar Brkić: is a scholar and lecturer in the fields of cultural/arts management and
  cultural policy, working at the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship (ICCE),
  Goldsmiths, University of London. Prior to joining Goldsmiths, Aleksandar was a lecturer and
  researcher at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore and University of Arts in Belgrade.
  Together with Audrey Wong, he was a coordinator of Asia Pacific Network for Cultural
  Education and Research (ANCER), the first network of its kind in the region of Asia Pacific. His
  area of professional practice is arts management with significant international experience as
  creative producer working in the intersections of performing arts, visual arts and design. He
  worked as a theatre producer/manager with number of inspiring theatre organizations (i.e.
  YUSTAT and BITEF) and artists, including Josef Nadj, Dragan Stojcevski, Jelena Bogavac.
  Aleksandar is currently working as a creative producer of LP Duo from Belgrade.

Key Takeaways:
Participants explored tools for career sustainability, innovative strategies, storytelling, marketing, and collaboration. The program emphasized the importance of networking and entrepreneurial skills.

Audience and Access:

• Open to emerging theatre creators, performing arts graduates, and cultural professionals in Cyprus.
• Free participation, funded by the EU and THOC.
• Registration required via email: nmourouzi@thoc.org.cy

Media/Resources:
The first session (Understanding the Cultural/Theatre Ecosystems) was broadcast online as part of the Digital Coffee Talks series on Theatre in Palm.

Funding and Acknowledgments:
This workshop was organized by the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) as part of the activities of Theatre in Palm platform, which is funded by the European Union.