Who is Claude Cahun? Interactive Workshops at the Corn Exchange, Monday 26 May, Tues 27 May
Dorchester Arts are hosting interactive workshops by the team behind a fascinating new play, ahead of its London run at Southwark Playhouse. We hope to bring the play here in the future. Click on the link below to watch a short trailer about the workshops:
https://youtube.com/shorts/42OAji56wW0?si=tWqK3VoG-uDxN6xI
Who is Claude Cahun? shares the extraordinary story of queer artists, Claude Cahun (Lucy Schwob) and Marcel Moore (Suzanne Malherbe), who actively resisted the Nazis during their occupation of Jersey from 1940 to 1945. With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe falling on 7 May 2025, and the high profile annual marking of the D-Day landings falling on 6 June, the play has a strong resonance with contemporary reflection on World War 2.
A key theme of the play is gender identity and sexual orientation, with strong synergy to current debates exploring transgender issues. Cahun and Moore are seen as icons by some in the lesbian community.
Workshops will be tailored to individual groups, but the content will comprise:
- Introduction to the play and discussion about the workshop content
- Three rehearsed scenes from Who is Claude Cahun? (including forum theatre style interactive interventions from participants). The scenes are those involving the characters of Cahun and Moore together
- Hot seating of the central characters (Cahun and Moore)
- Facilitated debate to explore the issues in the play, including gender identity
- Drama games and practical exercises for workshop participants, supported by the actors (this item can be taken out if inappropriate for a particular, perhaps vulnerable, group
- Feedback opportunities and Q and A in response to the development of the play
Workshops can be tailored to individual groups, so that where discussion and debate is more appropriate this can be the focus in response to sharing of scenes. Where more practical engagement is preferred, the workshop will include drama games, improvisation, and role play.
You can use the links below to make your booking for the workshop of your choice via Eventbrite.
