Physical Theatre Workshop: Beckett, Butoh, & the Bizarre II
Beckett, Butoh & the Bizarre
10-Day Residential Intensive — Normandy, France
Join us for an extended residential workshop on Flabbergast Theatre’s land in Normandy, France, following a fantastically successful three-day residency in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
£350 + 35 hours labour exchange
A ten-day immersive residency exploring the expressive limits of the body through physical theatre, drawing on the stark worlds of Beckett, the visceral language of Butoh, and the disruptive play of clown.
Led by Matej Matejka alongside Flabbergast Theatre practitioners Henry Maynard and Simon Gleave, this intensive invites performers to strip away habitual movement and rediscover the body as a precise, unpredictable instrument. Through rigorous training, improvisation, and ensemble work, participants will explore stillness, slowness, tension, and transformation—unlocking a bold and deeply personal physical language.
Set in the peaceful surroundings of La Haule near Sourdeval, Normandy, this residency offers a chance to step away from daily life and fully commit to the work—physically, creatively, and collectively.
What’s Included
8 days of intensive physical theatre training
Up to 6 hours of training per day
1 full rest day
1 day dedicated to performance and archival documentation
Accommodation
All meals provided
Access to the buildings and surrounding grounds
A small, focused ensemble of participants
Training will take place in Flabbergast’s 9m x 9m marquee space.
The working rhythm of the residency will include early starts, extended lunch breaks/siestas, and evening sessions where appropriate. Care will be taken to ensure the physical demands of the process remain sustainable.
Labour Exchange
Participants will be asked to undertake up to 35 hours of labour across the 10 days, never exceeding 4 hours per day.
Tasks may include:
housekeeping
cleaning
gardening/farm work
simple building tasks
site maintenance
Labour will always be adapted to the participant’s physical capacity and experience. If you have any limitations or access requirements, please get in touch in advance and we will do our best to accommodate.
Within the context of the residency, labour is considered part of the process: a shared physical practice connected to rhythm, attention, ensemble, and the daily realities of communal living.
Accommodation & Setting
La Haule is Flabbergast Theatre’s developing rural residency site in Normandy, France, set within five acres of fields, orchards, and woodland walks.
Accommodation is intentionally simple and rustic:
tents
caravans
converted stable spaces
Facilities include:
clean running water
hot showers
compost toilets
a fully equipped kitchen
limited electricity and WiFi access
Meals will be communal, with continental breakfasts, whole-food lunches, and home-cooked evening meals. Dietary requirements can be accommodated.
This is not a luxury retreat. It is a working artistic residency rooted in simplicity, physical practice, and shared experience.
Who It’s For
Performers with some experience in acting, movement, or physical theatre who are ready to deepen their practice and push beyond their usual habits.
Key Details
Dates: Thursday 17th – Saturday 26th September
Location: La Haule, near Sourdeval, Normandy
Capacity: Limited to 12 participants
Early Bird discount ends 14th June
Travel
Participants will need to make their own way to Vire, Normandy, where collection and transport to the residency site will be arranged.
Pickup: Evening of Wednesday 16th September
Drop-off: Morning of Sunday 27th September
Travel options include:
Ferry
Portsmouth → Caen (overnight or daytime ferry)
Train to central Caen → bus/train to Vire
Driving
Dover → Calais ferry
Approx. 4.5 hour drive to Vire
Rail
Eurostar London → Paris
Connecting trains to Vire
Participants are welcome to drive, though parking space is limited, so please contact us in advance.
Location reference:
Google Maps – La Haule Area
Beckett, Butoh & the Bizarre
10-Day Residential Intensive — Normandy, France
Join us for an extended residential workshop on Flabbergast Theatre’s land in Normandy, France, following a fantastically successful three-day residency in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
£350 + 35 hours labour exchange
A ten-day immersive residency exploring the expressive limits of the body through physical theatre, drawing on the stark worlds of Beckett, the visceral language of Butoh, and the disruptive play of clown.
Led by Matej Matejka alongside Flabbergast Theatre practitioners Henry Maynard and Simon Gleave, this intensive invites performers to strip away habitual movement and rediscover the body as a precise, unpredictable instrument. Through rigorous training, improvisation, and ensemble work, participants will explore stillness, slowness, tension, and transformation—unlocking a bold and deeply personal physical language.
Set in the peaceful surroundings of La Haule near Sourdeval, Normandy, this residency offers a chance to step away from daily life and fully commit to the work—physically, creatively, and collectively.
What’s Included
8 days of intensive physical theatre training
Up to 6 hours of training per day
1 full rest day
1 day dedicated to performance and archival documentation
Accommodation
All meals provided
Access to the buildings and surrounding grounds
A small, focused ensemble of participants
Training will take place in Flabbergast’s 9m x 9m marquee space.
The working rhythm of the residency will include early starts, extended lunch breaks/siestas, and evening sessions where appropriate. Care will be taken to ensure the physical demands of the process remain sustainable.
Labour Exchange
Participants will be asked to undertake up to 35 hours of labour across the 10 days, never exceeding 4 hours per day.
Tasks may include:
housekeeping
cleaning
gardening/farm work
simple building tasks
site maintenance
Labour will always be adapted to the participant’s physical capacity and experience. If you have any limitations or access requirements, please get in touch in advance and we will do our best to accommodate.
Within the context of the residency, labour is considered part of the process: a shared physical practice connected to rhythm, attention, ensemble, and the daily realities of communal living.
Accommodation & Setting
La Haule is Flabbergast Theatre’s developing rural residency site in Normandy, France, set within five acres of fields, orchards, and woodland walks.
Accommodation is intentionally simple and rustic:
tents
caravans
converted stable spaces
Facilities include:
clean running water
hot showers
compost toilets
a fully equipped kitchen
limited electricity and WiFi access
Meals will be communal, with continental breakfasts, whole-food lunches, and home-cooked evening meals. Dietary requirements can be accommodated.
This is not a luxury retreat. It is a working artistic residency rooted in simplicity, physical practice, and shared experience.
Who It’s For
Performers with some experience in acting, movement, or physical theatre who are ready to deepen their practice and push beyond their usual habits.
Key Details
Dates: Thursday 17th – Saturday 26th September
Location: La Haule, near Sourdeval, Normandy
Capacity: Limited to 12 participants
Early Bird discount ends 14th June
Travel
Participants will need to make their own way to Vire, Normandy, where collection and transport to the residency site will be arranged.
Pickup: Evening of Wednesday 16th September
Drop-off: Morning of Sunday 27th September
Travel options include:
Ferry
Portsmouth → Caen (overnight or daytime ferry)
Train to central Caen → bus/train to Vire
Driving
Dover → Calais ferry
Approx. 4.5 hour drive to Vire
Rail
Eurostar London → Paris
Connecting trains to Vire
Participants are welcome to drive, though parking space is limited, so please contact us in advance.
Location reference:
Google Maps – La Haule Area