Course Outline
PREPARATION TO PLAYING

The aim of any preparation or training for theatre performance is to be ready and present for every moment on stage. What type of preparation though? Does this change depending on the style of play? What do you need to do physically? Establish a strong physical foundation to build upon, and develop a clear methodology of expressive corporeal playing individually, together with a connected ensemble. This enables a level of physically advanced listening whereby there is an expressive, living communion of an inspiring experience for the audience and artists alike.

This course will share a combination of unique, innovative physical, vocal, and energetic techniques chosen to root the actor for this journey, together with working on a group composition and text to integrate this holisitic, physical, and ultimately rewarding ensemble playing experience.

About the tutor

Michael McCabe is a graduate of the prestigious Ecole Internationale de Theater Jacques Lecoq, Paris, and The Gaiety School of Acting, Dublin.

Theatre appearances include:‘The Ginger Ale Boy’ (Corcadorca); ‘Lives Worth Living’ (Graffiti); ‘A Day With Daghdha’ (Daghdha); ‘Ariel’, (Abbey Theatre); ‘Where The Shoe Pinches’ (Pavilion Theatre); ‘City Of Clowns’ (Barabbas), ‘Pagliacci’ (Everyman Palace), winner Best opera, Irish Times Theatre awards, 2014. Directing credits include: ‘Peter Pan’s Cirque D’Imaginaire’(TUDublin); ‘The Dead Woman’s Son’, ’The Grimm Tales’, ‘Airport Journey’ (Smock Alley Theatre).

In 2022, he worked with acclaimed international theatre directors, Anne Bogart, and Tadashi Suzuki. Michael has an M.A, Modern Drama Studies (UCD), an M.A (2.1 Honours), Dramatherapy (NUIM), and is teaching since 2002, including TUDublin, National University of Ireland Maynooth, and the Gaiety School of Acting,

Most recently, Michael co-directed ‘Dev De Musical’ (Smock Alley Theatre), Scene and Heard 2024 Festival. He has just received a bursary from the Arts Council, and is SITI Company European alumni ambassador, and artistic director of Lumiere Theater Company.