Smash hit of the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe with numerous five-star reviews, ZEITGEIST is performed in Zen Zen Zo's infamous physical-theatre style which fuses Butoh, Cabaret, Burlesque, Comedy, and Contemporary Dance. ZEITGEIST is an award-winning collection of raw and provocative dance-theatre pieces that reflect ‘the spirit' (GEIST) ‘of our times' (ZEIT). This explosive production is an apocalyptic vision of our times presented through a maelstrom of eight bared bodies on stage.

Tickets are on sale now, so book soon for your chance to see the show that received more 5-star reviews at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe than any other production.

Dates: 12 Feb - 13 March, 2010

Venue: The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Adelaide Fringe Festival

Bookings: http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au

After an exciting week at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Interns have returned back to the Old Museum Building to continue their training. The week in Adelaide included forums with The Garden of Unearthly Delights founder/producer Scott Maidment and Australia's leading indigenous director Wesley Enoch who was in Adelaide to open The Sapphires. They also participated in Zeitgeist promotional activities and the Fringe Opening Parade as roaming performers.

We would like to thank the following Sponsors for their support of this production.

Click on the logos to visit their website.

Bounce Hair

Sunny Queen Eggs

Xotic Hair

In 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre hosted extremely exciting weekend workshops with Zen Master KwanShi (Lawrence) from the USA, a renowned teacher of The Enneagram and of the Zen Buddhist/ Taoist View of Human Nature. We are pleased to welcome him back in 2010.

This year he will be hosting two different weekend workshops:

Advanced Enneagram

20 & 21 March, 10am - 5pm
$200 for the weekend

Relationship: Beauty & Flow (NEW!)

27 & 28 March, 10am - 5pm
$200 weekend / $125 day

Bookings: (07) 3252 5540, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WINTER STOMP: TRAINING TO PERFORMANCE

Following twelve years of the hugely popular Stomping Ground Summer Program which has sold out months in advance every year, Zen Zen Zo will offer Winter Stomp: Training to Performance for the first time in 2010. Over two weeks, Winter Stomp will focus on training in the Suzuki Method and Butoh in the morning sessions, followed by intensive laboratory sessions on devising theatre ("Composition") and applying training to performance. The course will be taught by Zen Zen Zo's senior practitioners - Artistic Director Lynne Bradley and Associate Director Stephen Atkins.

Composition is like scales for the director, a chance to practice creating dynamic moments on stage in a supportive environment with ongoing feedback. Composition classes will be taught by Stephen Atkins who brings a wealth of experience in techniques developed by Grotowski, Meyerhold and Anne Bogart. The program will also include a series of six "Key Ideas" seminars, which will explore several paradigms for theatrical creation and devised work, theatre history and the work of prominent practitioners.

This program is suitable for actors, directors, dancers and those seeking to refine their artistic practice by incorporating methodologies practiced by Zen Zen Zo. The course will provide many new opportunities for past Stomping Ground participants, but is also suitable for newcomers. Previous knowledge of the Viewpoints is useful but not required. Zen Zen Zo is committed to building a rigorous and vibrant theatre culture in Australia.

The program will be mentally and physically challenging and participants should be over 18 and come prepared to work hard.

Dates

Mon 12 - Fri 23 July, 2010

Venue

Old Museum Building
Crn Gregory Tce & Bowen Hills

Teachers

Simon Woods, Lynne Bradley & Stephen Atkins

Cost

Early Bird Rate (booked & paid prior to 12 June)
$690 Adult / $590 Conc.

Full Rate (booked & paid after 12 June)
$800 Adult / $700 Conc.

Bookings

(07) 3252 5540

or book online at https://www.online247.com.au/zenzenzo/courses.php

In 2010, the highly popular IN THE RAW Studio Season production will be Dante's Inferno. Based on one of the greatest works of world literature, the first book in Dante's Divine Comedy, Dante's Inferno will unpack the concept of Hell in the contemporary world. This performance will take audience members through three stations around the grounds of Brisbane's heritage-listed Old Museum Building, and will be performed in Zen Zen Zo's highly physical and visual house-style. Directed by Associate Artist Stephen Atkins from Vancouver.

Dates: 6 - 22 May, 2010

Times: Tue/Wed/Thur/Sat - 7.00 & 8.00pm, Fri - 9.00 & 10.00pm

Venue: Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills

Bookings: http://www.webticketing.com.au/DisplayEvent.aspx?eventid=48

IN THE RAW ALWAYS SELLS OUT - BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!

This 30-minute documentary is designed for secondary students and explores the relationship between training, creation and performance in Zen Zen Zo's unique style. Spanning the different stages of The Tempest's development, from the first production in Hong Kong through to the sell-out season in Australia, this DVD includes footage of performance, rehearsals and interviews. An accompanying 20-minute workshop includes supplementary classroom exercises introducing a basic awareness of the Viewpoints and Composition.

$121 Inside the Tempest DVD

$209 RESOURCE PACK: Inside The Tempest DVD, The Tempest Live Performance DVD & The Tempest Soundtrack by Emma Dean and Colin Webber

All prices now include GST.

Contact the Zen Zen Zo office (07 3252 5540) or email directly to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to arrange a Purchase Order.

At the turn of a new decade, Zen Zen Zo is pleased to welcome Mary-Ann Vale into the position of Company Manager. After 10 years in administration, producing and serving on the Board at Griffin Theatre Company, she was awarded Life Member of Griffin and the SBW Foundation at NIDA. She established the Performers Club and Cabaret at the Stables, producing both shows over a 5 year period. In addition, Mary-Ann has extensive experience in directing and performing; and has run her own teaching business for 10 years.

We look forward to working with her this year and into the future!

Physical Actor Training (Brisbane & Melbourne)

These classes run annually (4 terms) in both Brisbane and Melbourne from February to November and are designed specifically to equip actors for high energy, physical performance. Using the Suzuki Method of Actor Training as the foundation, these classes provide an opportunity to address the elements of stage presence - energy, breathing, centre, concentration - resulting in the body being open to exploring emotion and truth in a theatrical context.

Places are available in Melbourne. Brisbane classes are full until second term (starts April 22).  Contact the office on (07) 3252 5540 to reserve a place.  

Read more for BRISBANE...
Read more for MELBOURNE...

BUTOH DANCE THEATRE CLASSES (BRISBANE)

Butoh is a contemporary avant-garde dance-theatre form that originated in Japan. It has been described as a dance of the senses, or "pure" emotional states expressed through the body (instead of through words), of universal imagery, of poetry and metaphor. It combines dance, theatre, improvisation, and ritual, crossing cultural borders in its search for the universal.

Read more...

METHOD ACTING CLASSES

Zen Zen Zo Associate Artist James Kable is proud to announce a news season of Method Acting classes. Come and learn a simple, practical, step by step acting technique, devised by Sanford Meisner and studied by actors of the calibre of Grace Kelly, Gregory Peck, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Jon Voight, Sandra Bullock and Philip Seymour Hoffman to name but a few. Come and unlock the most devastating weapon in an actor's armoury - yourself. Places are limited, so book now to avoid disappointment. For more information, please go to http://www.elephantjuice.net.au/

Zen Zen Zo is excited to announce their 2010 Company Interns:

Morgan Aldrich - Seattle (USA) - Directing Intern
Melissa Budd - Melbourne
James Casey - Brisbane
Brandon Christine - Tasmania
Andrea Jenkins - Melbourne
Alexandra Kennedy - Brisbane
Earl Kim - Boulder (USA)
Amanda Laing - Sydney
Hannah Myers - Edinburgh (UK)
Gabrielle New - Melbourne - Directing Intern
Samuel Plummer - Armidale
Lia Reutens - Sydney
Martin Ventura - Guatemala
Francis Walton - Brisbane - Directing Intern
Frances Worster - Vancouver (Canada)

Congratulations! We look forward to spending the next 6 months with you!

Check out Zen Zen Zo's performance show reels, including Zeitgeist and Sub-Con Warrior 2.0, in the Gallery section of the website!

Also - brand new photos from 2009's THE TEMPEST are now available to view!

Zen Zen Zo is excited to announce a new sponsorship relationship with Brisbane-based Copycat Printing & Stationery.

Check them out at www.copycatprint.com.au