to be defined

Depending on time and location.

Become Yourself Through Your Story
with Martin M. Bartelt

coaching and workshops for performers

Aim of Martin's work:

To increase the performer’s personal presence on stage / in front of the camera through the achievement of a developed authentic being — one who is not hiding behind technique or the so-called ‘stage character;’ who is not self-boycotting presence by dropping into habits / survival techniques / masks.

To value our own biographical material as the base for devised plays.

Stage presence does not drop from the sky like rain; you do not have to be born with it. You can have it. It is possible to achieve, if you work for it! And if that work is the right kind of work to be effective.

You may not be aware that what you try to hide on stage, or on camera, is what the audience really wants to see. You cannot cover up the effects of your own history. The truth is, we are never 'someone else'. You are always you — no matter what part you are playing.

audience has their own history too; their own unique way of sensing and experiencing the world and the performance they watch. Like any good relationship, if you are honest with and present in front of the audience, they will trust and believe you.

By becoming yourself through the story you are telling, you will have a unique effect on and be affected by everything you do. In this way, your unique quality— your ‘You-ness’ — will convince your audience.

Martin invites his clients to work with autonomy and authenticity, to drop the cliché and facade of acting and performance, to play without forcing, to let go of internal and external judgement, to respond and engage freely and honestly — on stage and off — with whatever is immediate, appropriate, and available. By letting go of our habits and games, we really start to play. Less ‘acting’ often results in more honest communication with your audience.

The work invites us to be human beings, and not human-doings.

This intensive and empowering course is led by international award-winning theatre director Martin M. Bartelt. Martin was for several productions the Artistic Director of the choreographic theatre company Obviam Est and co-founder of the reforestation-organisation Artists For The World.

Educated at the Folkwang School in Essen, Martin was immersed in the German dance theatre tradition and worked for many years as assistant to Pina Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal. He used these studies and experiences as a resource for devising his own form of stage work.

Martin combines various acting techniques, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, Shiatsu, Yoga, Kinesiology, communication skills, voice training, Contact Improvisation and other tools and trainings into his unique, intuitive teaching style.

He explains:

“I am a thief! I take whatever does the trick to empower the student/clien to live his or her vision. No one technique alone will do the trick. If someone tells you he can resolve all your problems, that he has the one solution for everything — run!!! Don't replace a dogma with a new dogma.

Some people say my work is very psychological. However, I am not interested in your traumatic experiences, as long you can be authentic and transparent on stage. But, if your trauma inhibits your stage presence, we will have a look at how to overcome it.

I am deeply fascinated of the uniqueness of every single being. In my current teaching I like to see my students combine their talent and truth with craft and technique, which opens the door for them to communicate with the audience in a state of radiant presence.”