In February 2015 I directed and produced "Oedipus Rex | World Premiere" in Amsterdam. As we were approaching opening night, I decided I wanted a combat scene between Oedipus and Creon. I needed to portray the battle between the new and the old, the free spirit battling the "rules". Our actors had never had any stage combat training. The person who came to our rescue was Youval Kuipers. Only one week away from opening, he trained our actors and choreographed a powerful scene between the two characters.
Youval is one of the founders of Noorderwind. They specialise in combat choreography and performance for film, television and live shows. Their work is inspired by more of eight centuries of European martial tradition. Youval and his team have worked on productions like "Michiel De Ruyter" | Feature Film | 2015, "The White Queen" | BBC | 2013, "Kidnapping Mr. Heineken" with Anthony Hopkins | Feature Film | 2014, and more.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Yesterday I was invited to teach an Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind retreat at Loevestein Castle.
It was a wonderful experience for me.
It is always rewarding and special to watch The Los Angeles Method participants. The work we do unblocks emotions and reprograms confining convictions, so all of our workshops are emotionally charged. Yesterday though, that experience was heightened by the surroundings and the "family" feeling the Noorderwind members generously offered me.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
It was inspiring and hopeful to watch all of them, highly trained stuntmen and stuntwomen, be interested in educating themselves in everything regarding their craft and art. They are not required to be masters of the Art of Acting, yet all of them dove in the theory and the exercises and made the best out of it; showing their courage but also their love of what they do.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
The Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop was scheduled to last for three hours, but I ended up staying for the entire day. After the workshop, the Noorderwind team presents a live show to the visitors of the Loevestein Castle. I watched their performance. The dedication of the members was such, that they wanted to work more on their scenes even after the completion of the show.
I would like to thank the entire Noorderwind team, it was a great privilege to work with all of you.
Many Thanks to Youval, for reaching out when we needed him at the International Theatre in English and Oedipus Rex, but also for giving me the chance to work with his team and feel part of their "family".
My special thanks to Selina, for organising all this and making all the arrangements for me to reach Loevestein Castle.
Thank you!
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Introduction to The Los Angeles Method Acting Workshop at the Noorderwind Retreat at the Loevestein Castle.
Click on the photos for the slideshow.
Thank you.
