Paribu Art's Masterclass Series Continues June 5–7 with Sean Holmes, Simon Stephens, and Grace Smart
Sean Holmes, Simon Stephens, and Grace Smart, leading creative figures in English theatre, are coming to Istanbul.
This special masterclass brings together directing, dramatic writing, and stage design. It offers participants the chance to experience the creative dynamics of theatre production through an interdisciplinary lens.
Over three intensive days on June 5–7, participants will work one-on-one with international experts in their own disciplines. At the same time, they will form creative teams across different fields to experience the process of bringing a performance to the stage together.
Who is Grace Smart?
Grace Smart is an award-winning stage and costume designer working in contemporary theatre and opera. A graduate of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, she was the overall winner of the 2015 Linbury Prize. She has created stage and costume designs for prestigious institutions including Shakespeare's Globe, Royal Court Theatre, Royal Opera House, Royal Exchange Theatre, and the RSC. Her work on productions such as "Cowbois", "The Cherry Orchard", "Good Vibrations", and "A Chorus Line" has earned her numerous nominations, establishing her as a standout designer in contemporary theatre.
Masterclass Content: The Creative Process of the Artistic Team in Performing Arts
This three-day intensive workshop aims to bring together the core creative disciplines of theatre production (dramatic writing, directing, and stage design). It offers participants a micro-scale experience of a real production process.
The program balances deepening individual expertise with interdisciplinary collaboration. Participants first work one-on-one with masters in their own fields to develop practical skills and methods. Then, they join with creatives from different disciplines to form creative teams and simulate the process of staging a performance together.
No play will be performed at the end of the training.
Who is this for?
Early- and mid-career theatre professionals
Directors, dramatic writers, and stage designers
Creatives open to interdisciplinary production
This special masterclass brings together three leading creative names from the international theatre world, offering participants a direct experience of the collective creative processes in contemporary theatre production.
Program Structure
June 5: Discipline-Based Deep Dive (1:1 & Small Groups)
Participants will work one-on-one and in small groups with Sean Holmes, Simon Stephens, and Grace Smart according to their own disciplines.
Directors → with Sean Holmes
Dramatic writers → with Simon Stephens
Stage designers → with Grace Smart
One-on-one or small group sessions
Focus:
Personal creative processes
Tools & methodologies
Discipline-specific ways of thinking
June 6: Interdisciplinary Team Formation
Teams consisting of directors, writers, and designers will begin developing shared production processes.
Participants from each discipline form mixed teams
Each team includes:
1 director
1 dramatic writer
1 stage designer
Teams begin working on a short text or idea
Focus:
Building a shared language
Creative decision-making processes
Balancing roles and responsibilities
June 7: Production & Sharing
Teams will develop their projects with mentors and conduct process presentations and feedback sessions.
Teams develop their projects and work on staging
Mentors work with teams in rotation
By the end of the day:
Process presentations
Feedback session
Tickets are valid for all three days: June 5–7, 2026.
*This event will take place through the collaborative work of three separate groups (Dramatic Writing, Theatre Directing, and Stage Design). Participants can purchase tickets for only one group and attend the training for that specific group. Tickets purchased for multiple groups by the same participant will be refunded.
Paribu Art
