MetaWORKSHOP:

NON-VERBAL STORYTELLING
– Scene work with expressive masks and live sound effects
10.–14.10.2026

KEYWORDS

Physical storytelling, action-based dramaturgy, mask theatre, live foley sound creation

TARGET GROUP

This advanced physical theatre course is aimed at performing arts practitioners who are already familiar with the basics of mask theatre. We will bypass introductory concepts and move directly into in-depth character work, improvisation, and scene construction.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This five-day intensive course dives into the core questions of non-verbal dramaturgy: how to drive a narrative clearly and dynamically using only the body, space, and sound effects?

We will tackle this question first through mime work, before moving into a more nuanced, concrete style using expressive full masks.

On this course, non-verbal does not mean silence. Mime-based storytelling will be supported by onomatopoeic sound effects, and as we transition into mask theatre, music and soundscapes will enter the picture. This means you will get to step into the shoes of a foley artist, creating synchronized live soundscapes for other participants' scenes.

Where do the stories for the workshop come from?

You can join the workshop without any prior planning and trust that there will be no shortage of stories. Narratives will emerge from improvisational play between pairs, collective imagination, music, and above all, the mask characters themselves—which spark stories, emotions, and can even suggest specific genres.

If needed, masks can also be utilized in text-based work. On one of the course days, we will take a deep dive beneath the text. Together, we will explore how masks can be used to conduct an action-based analysis of a scene and map out the kinetic subtext and physical undercurrents of the text.

The expressive whole masks, used in the workshop are designed by the Finnish mask making pioneer Antero Poppius, and made by Teatteri Metamorfoosi | Johanna Kultala.

TEACHER

Soile Mäkelä discovered Poppius masks thirty years ago during her first theatre studies, and they left an indelible impression. Mäkelä followed that path to physical theatre studies in Paris and Padova, complementing her training across Europe. Later, she completed her pedagogical studies and co-founded Teatteri Metamorfoosi with her colleagues. Mäkelä approaches theatre-making from a physical perspective, with roots deeply planted in French Lecoq pedagogy and the teachings of Mario Gonzalez. The mask journey continues!

COURSE LANGUAGE

Finnish, in English if needed

SCHEDULE

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

(Includes a 1-hour lunch break and a few shorter coffee breaks)

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

Min 8 / Max 14

Welcome!