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Advanced program

San Miniato - from 21 September to 1 November 2026

THE ART OF STORYTELLING
From Solo to an Ensemble Tale

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This new course is invitation-only and reserved for those who have completed the three-month programme.

ABOUT THE ADVANCED COURSE

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The advanced course we offer introduces participants to one of the oldest art forms known to humanity: the art of storytelling.

Our journey begins with its most essential element—direct connection with the audience.

 

We will explore a wide range of narrative forms, transitioning from solo performances to ensemble work. Along the way, we’ll navigate a rich landscape of dramatic styles—from the tragicomic to the epic, from the grotesque to the absurd.

 

The course focuses on shaping different kinds of stories for the stage: folk tales, children’s narratives, historical events, life experiences, and original pieces written by the storytellers themselves.

 

Throughout the program, we will experiment with techniques for creating imagery and bringing stories to life through voice, movement, sound, and gesture—both individually and collectively.We’ll also explore a variety of tools and skills available to the storyteller: musical instruments, costumes, props, and—last but not least—our beloved masks.

 

This course offers a creative deep dive into storytelling techniques, styles, and dramatic textures, designed to help participants master the poetic construction of narrative tension and guide an audience through the arc of the story.

PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH

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Through the study, application, and immersion in a wide range of techniques—as well as diverse narrative forms and stylistic approaches—participants are encouraged to expand their scenic vocabulary and deepen their sensitivity to storytelling.
Above all, the process nurtures the emergence of a personal artistic language: a singular way of inhabiting the stage and engaging with the world through the act of creation.

 

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TRAINING PROGRAM

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Return to the Principles of Presence and the Neutral Mask

  • Sense of body masking

  • Sense of space and timing

  • Action and reaction

  • Extensions, undulations, and effort qualities

  • Articulation of movement

  • Articulation of dramatic action

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Building Images through Space, Body, and Objects

  • Text and physical action

  • Images through the body: exploring both the individual and the collective body

  • Spatial composition and the drawing of space

  • From amplification to the miniaturization of images

  • Physical construction of character

  • Chorus and collective movement

  • Use of skills and physical virtuosity (as appropriate)

  • Props and scenographic elements

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Voice Work

  • Breath, resonance, and articulation

  • Extended vocal techniques and timbre exploration

  • Voice–movement integration

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Sound and Music

  • Noises and soundscapes: vocal atmospheres

  • Exploration of solo and choral singing

  • Live sound-making with objects

  • Use of live music

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The Art of Narration

Giving form to thoughts, emotions, environments, and stories.

  • Thoughts and inner monologue

  • Emotional states: internal to external expression

  • Evoking environments through sensory imagination

  • Types of action: narrative, symbolic, psychological

  • Storytelling through voice and body

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Playwriting and Dramaturgy

  • Narrative tension

  • The dramatic arc

  • From improvisation to written script

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Forms and Styles of Narration

  • From solo storytelling to ensemble-based narration

  • Popular, literary, and fantastical tales

  • Storytelling for young audiences

  • Historical events and contemporary issues

  • Life stories and autobiographical narratives

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Creation work

The creation process is a fundamental component of the training, offering participants dedicated time and space to shape their own artistic visions.

  • Weekly sessions are devoted to autonomous creative development, alternating between solo compositions and group-based explorations.

  • Alongside independent work, guided creation is facilitated by the teaching team, who provide artistic direction, dramaturgical tools, and constructive feedback to help structure and refine the evolving material.

  • The program culminates in a final presentation, in which a curated selection of the works developed during the course will be shared with the local community.

TEACHING TEAM

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Matteo  Destro

Alay Arcelus Macazaga

Ilaria Savini

 

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DATE AND SCHEDULE​

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Important Dates

  • Applications are now open

  • Application deadline: July 15, 2026

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Shedule

Monday to Friday,

from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

For some group creation work, the afternoon schedule may be flexible if agreed upon by the whole group.

The work will take place in the evocative spaces of the antico frantoio (old oil mill) at the former San Francesco convent, which will remain accessible at all times — including evenings and weekends — for those who need extra time to develop their creations.

 

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APPLICATION AND COURSE FEE

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Participant Limit
 

  • The course will run with a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 participants

  • Selection will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Once the minimum number is reached, all applicants will be notified that the course is confirmed. In any case, confirmation of whether the course will take place will be communicated no later than the day after the registration deadline.

  • If the maximum of 12 participants is reached before the deadline, a waiting list will be opened

 

How to Apply
If you are interested in taking part, please send us an email briefly explaining your motivation. This will allow us to include your name on the list of confirmed participants.

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Course Fee

  • Total cost: €1800

  • Deposit: €600 (non-refundable)

  • Remaining balance: €1200, to be paid before the course begins

 

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PLEASE NOTE

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The course does not include mask-making. Most of the theatrical styles we will explore do not require the use of masks. Masks will only be introduced towards the end of the program, for specific style-based exercises.

The masks used will be those created during the three-month course, any you may have made since then, or ones provided by the Atelier. You are therefore kindly asked to bring some of the masks you already have.

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