19 April 2022
PROJEKT EUROPA and Rose Theatre are excited to announce they’re commissioning migrant theatre makers Júlia Levai, Jaka Skapin and Elsie Yager as part of PROJEKT ELEVATE.
PROJEKT ELEVATE will support a total of 9 migrant artists from across the UK to develop ideas for co-created work with local communities, in a first-time collaboration between PROJEKT EUROPA and The Mercury, Rose Theatre and Royal & Derngate.
Following an open call-out, PROJEKT EUROPA will provide artistic and dramaturgical support as the artists develop their project concepts. These commissions will broker new relationships between the artists, the theatres and their communities, with a view to seed new co-created productions by migrant artists across the country.
Artistic Director of PROJEKT EUROPA, Maria Aberg, says:
'These artists represent everything PROJEKT EUROPA stands for - a diverse, multilingual and truly international selection of theatre makers from all over the UK who are committed to making bold work guided by curiosity and authenticity. We are thrilled to champion and support these extraordinary migrant artists to connect with local communities and create collaborative, ambitious theatre for our times.'
Artistic Director of Rose Theatre, Christopher Haydon, says:
'I am over the moon to be working with three such exceptional artists through PROJEKT ELEVATE. Each of them will bring a unique vision and sensibility to the Rose and it is really exciting to be discovering such amazing talent on our doorstep.'
Júlia Levai
Júlia is a theatre director and maker from Budapest. She trained on LAMDA’s MA Directing course and on the Young Vic’s Jerwood Assistant Director Programme. In 2021, she received an MGCFutures bursary, and was also ‘Director in Residence’ at the National Theatre in Belgrade supported by the European Theatre Convention. Her practice focuses on creating formally experimental new work, and radical reimaginations of classics. She is currently developing work both in the UK and in Hungary.
Jaka Skapin
Jaka Skapin is a UK-based interdisciplinary artist, composer and improviser, originally from Slovenia. His artistic approach is influenced by classical (choral) and jazz aesthetics, as well as the practice of collaborative improvisation, and how the combination of all three can coexist within a theatrical setting. Currently, he is part of Sound & Music’s New Voices 2021 composer cohort and is developing a solo performance installation combining improvised voice, electronics, visuals and movement, with the support of PRS Foundation’s Open Fund.
Elsie Yager
Elsie is a director, writer and dramaturg from Awabakal and Wonnarua land in Australia. She trained with Actors Centre Australia before moving to London to complete her Masters in Theatre Directing at Royal Holloway, where she won the Alison Hodge Directing Prize for direction of her own adaptation of Oedipus at Colonus. She seeks to create politically engaged works that exist on the borders of theatrical form. In Sydney she has worked with Ninefold Ensemble, Sydney Fringe Festival and Glitterbomb and is a recipient of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust Award and Cate Blanchett Prize.
About PROJEKT EUROPA
Founded in 2020, PROJEKT EUROPA is an international theatre company making new work by
migrant theatre makers for local and global audiences. We make theatre from an international
perspective, exploring new sustainable ways of collaborating across borders. We are resident
company at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury, and from this base we originate, develop and
produce our work.