Course: The Actor's Toolbox.. Modern Acting Methods

Kaivalya Plays, in collaboration with NIV Art Centre invite you to...

Course

THE ACTOR'S TOOLBOX: Modern Acting Methods

A weekend course for actors and performers of all experience levels, covering Navrasa, The Method, Laban, Spolin’s Improv and Meisner acting methods, with a monologue showcase performance at the end! 

Dates: Sundays, Beginning May 4, 11, 18, 25 & June 1

Timings: 9am to 12pm every Sunday

Venue: Studio B, NIV Art Centre (MAP LINK)

Registration: INR 4999/- for the full course of 5 sessions and showcase at the end, and INR 1499/- per drop-in session.

Use code KPSUMMER15 to get 15% off on early bird prices until Friday 18th April.

About The Course

Dive into the world of acting with our comprehensive weekend course, open to actors and performers of all experience levels.

This 5-week immersive course offers a deep exploration of various renowned acting techniques, providing a rich, diverse foundation for your craft. Participiants will learn more about the following techniques: 

• Spolin’s Improv: Engage in Viola Spolin’s improvisation exercises, designed to promote spontaneity, creativity, and ensemble awareness.

• Laban: Explore Rudolf Laban's movement theory to understand and utilize body language and physical expression as vital tools in your acting repertoire.

• Navrasa: Discover the nine emotional states fundamental to Indian classical arts, and learn how to effectively convey these emotions to enhance your performance.

• The Method: Immerse yourself in this technique that encourages deep emotional connections to your character, fostering authentic and powerful performances.

• Meisner: Practice Sanford Meisner’s repetition exercises to develop your instincts and ability to live truthfully under imaginary circumstances.

At the end of the course, participants will be invited to perform a monologue using one of the acting techniques as part of a small showcase for an audience of friends and family at NIV Arts Centre.

Meet Your Facilitator

Varoon is the Artistic Director of Kaivalya Plays and a facilitator specializing in applied improvisation. His multi-disciplinary training includes improv training from Danielle Scott, Shawn Kinley, Elana Fishbein and Lacy Alana; clowning from Ashwath Bhatt, Gardzienice physical theatre techniques under Anna Helena McLean, mentorship in Classical Theatre by Ignacio García, and Forum theatre training from React UK. Additionally, Varoon teaches Stella Adler's Method acting, Rudolf Laban's Eight Efforts, and Rasa Theory from Natyashastra, among others. Varoon began his career in 2006 at the renowned Theatre Guild of Ancón in Panama. He has won Best Actor at the Short+Sweet Festival, as well as Best Director and Best Writer at the 48 Hour Film Festival Delhi. He has received over 20 commissions from the Embassy of Spain, Argentina, Ecuador, the Danish Cultural Institute, the Instituto Cervantes and Goethe Insitut to create work for Indian audiences. In 2018, he received the Refunction grant from Goethe-Institut to create Unravel, an improvised mental health piece performed in India and UK. In 2019, he was the first Indian to showcase at the Almagro Classical Theatre Festival in Spain with Marta la piadosa, and received the Gender Bender grant for Aguebao exploring gender and data. Additionally, Varoon has received grants  the Connections Through Culture India Wales (2021), IFA Research on performer safety (2022), Moleskine Creativity Pioneers Fund and EU Mediafutures Artists for Media grant for Mining Hate (2023), among others.

About Kaivalya Plays

Kaivalya Plays is a performing arts and production company led by Varoon P. Anand as its Artistic Director and Gaurav Singh Nijjer as its General Manager. Since 2012, they have built transcultural associations across India and the world. Their artistic work includes original, devised theatre performances that are multilingual, interactive, and hybrid, use technology and media on stage, and are built using techniques of improvisational, documentary, and physical theatre. Through a focus on education, training and community, their work spans diverse offerings of programs across artistic development, language learning, mental health, gender, accessibility, and transcultural collaboration. They have received multiple artistic commissions and grants through their collaborations with Instituto Cervantes Nueva Delhi, Goethe Institut Delhi, MediaFutures and other cultural partners. Their recent artistic work includes I, Josef (2024), The Pillowman (2024) ABSURDO (2023), Mining Hate (2023), Funes The Memorious (2021), Lifeline 99 99 (2021), Unravel (2019), amongst others. Most recently, they were awarded the Creativity Pioneers Fund 2023 by the Moleskine Foundation. Read more about their work on www.kaivalyaplays.org

About NIV Art Centre

NIV Art Centre, located on the southern edge of New Delhi near the picturesque Aravalli hills, is a creative hub dedicated to advancing plastic arts and new media arts while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and cultural exchange. Providing facilities like artist studios, galleries, theatres, and residencies, it serves as a platform for emerging and established artists to create, exhibit, and engage with audiences. NIV focuses on bridging gaps between creators, distributors, and consumers, supporting artists from underserved regions, and promoting contemporary art practices through a blend of traditional studio disciplines and modern global influences. With a commitment to nurturing creativity and building a legacy for the future, NIV creates opportunities for artistic growth and broader public engagement with art.