The Rhodopi International Theater Collective consists of theater students, professionals, and scholars from around the world, who are willing to share their culture, knowledge, and experience. Hosted each summer by the Rhodopi Dramatichen Theater in Smolyan, Bulgaria, The Collective lives and works in the center of the breathtaking Rhodopi Mountains- the mythological birthplace of Orpheus and Eurydice and the original terrain of the cult of Dionysus, i.e., the origin of Western theater, music, and performance. By assembling at an important geographical root of storytelling and their art form, participants internationalize their imaginations, broaden the scope of their creative vocabularies, and collectively discover how sets of diverse styles, conventions, and philosophies may be merged into uniquely cohesive theatrical events.
With intensive workshops and seminars, visiting and resident faculty members contribute their own fields of expertise. As the students are carefully trained in these modes and theories of theatricality, they are challenged to place aspects of the different approaches within productive, inclusive contexts. Guided rehearsal time allows them to gradually pull from their new understanding and practice. Short pieces emerge, which are presented as works-in-progress at the end of every session.
During the course of the summer, members of The Collective also attend performances and take part in planned trips to significant points of interest in the Rhodopi Mountains and elsewhere in the region. The RDT supplies its well-equipped physical facilities, which include three stages, several rehearsal rooms, costume and scene shops, and lighting and sound studios. The Bulgarian culture- historically a crossroads of East and West- helps set the atmosphere for The Collective's interaction. And the secluded charm of Smolyan and its surroundings- located just north of the border with Greece, approximately forty kilometers from the Aegean Sea- serves as the perfect base. The community is extraordinarily warm and welcoming, the services and conveniences are accessible, and the natural beauty is absolutely inspirational.
The program of study has been designed to set the foundation for work that is not only truly unique but completely justified. Prior to the beginning of The Collective each year, a different world myth is selected. Parallel folklore from other parts of the world help identify corresponding performance practices. Other forms are chosen to provide practical frameworks for alternative methods of theater-making, and for encompassing elements of traditional forms. Seminars provide necessary historical background, and focus on the creation and execution of narrative. (Reading lists are provided to all participants upon acceptance.)
With the presentations, the students' goals are to create simple, compelling stories- as they choose and dismiss aspects of the ancient narratives, and add brushstrokes from the varied performative methods. Each year, The Collective's planned excursions vary- depending on the selected myth and the calendars of nearby festivals and theaters.