Each of the artists taking part in the residency programme has extensive international experience, much of which involves public engagement with local communities, either in the development of the work, or in the performance of it. The programme has been created with the support of In Situ and their Europeans Abroad fund, EUNIC Sri Lanka (consisting of British Council, Goethe Institute, and Alliance Francoise), the University of Visual and Performing Arts Sri Lanka, as well as local businesses. They will benefit from the opportunity to work with local Sri Lankan artists, families and communities to create new work.
The international directors are:
Adrian Schvarzstein (Spain / Italy) www.adrianschvarzstein.com
Since 1989, Schvarzstein has been working as a clown, actor and theatre director. He studied Commedia Dell’Arte in Italy and performed for many years with Circus Ronaldo in Belgium. His award winning shows have toured internationally and he intends to create a new Street Theatre Company for Sri Lanka
Kitt Johnson (Denmark) www.kittjohnson.dk
Danish dancer and choreographer Kitt Johnson has been developing her unique artistic universe for more than 25 years, as company Kitt Johnson X-act. She will be working with local Hikkaduwa families to create a tour of the village where through her work the public will be introduced to local skills and interests.
Alex Rigg (Scotland) www.oceanallover.co.uk
As well as having thirty years of practical experience in building large-scale structures in timber, steel, cloth, and stone, he has also been creating and delivering live events using physical theatre, dance, sculpture and design since 1982. His company Oceanallover has created many innovative events, bringing new audiences to physical performance. He will work with local performers to create shows on the beach in the clubs and in the city.
And the international artists are;
Frank Bolter (Germany) www.frankboeler.de
Frank is a German visual artist, working in public space to created large-scale collaborative sculptures from card and paper. For Sri Lanka he will work with artists and the public to build a paper boat to sail back to Germany.
Elisabeth Wildling (Austria) www.elisabethwildling.com
Elisabeth is working in the fields of Visual Media and Digital Art, inspired by Nō-Theater, Japanese aesthetics, Jun’ichiro, Tanizaki/Lob des Schattens., ZEN-garten, but also German early animators working with film and light structures. She will be working in public space with projection and video mapping.
Rodney Branigan (UK / USA) rodneybranigan.com
Texas born and London based, Rodney Branigan is a singer songwriter with a virtuosi’s command of his instruments and a stage show that has attracted international acclaim. He will be the programmes’ musician in residence