Irreverente Festival
Maro Lesioti is an actress, improviser, director, musician and educator. She studied at the Hellenic Conservatory, Modern Times Drama School and LAMDA (London). In 2018, she founded the group Raining Cats And Bats (The Village, Interrogation), which has appeared in several international festivals. She created and directed the formats Edmond-Jean-William, Hieronymus Bosch, Chorus, Worlds Apart, Kaleidoscope and Memories. She performed in the plays Much Ado About Nothing (2023), Extremities (2023), The Last Bird (2023–24) and White Rose (2024). Since 2020, she has been teaching improvisation and theatre workshops in Greece, the USA, the Netherlands and Italy, focusing on creativity and the individual needs of each participant. She is the producer of Improv Nights and artistic director of the Worlds Apart residency. She is on the board of the ImproSynthesis School of Improv (Athens) and is co-artistic director of the I.TH.ACA Improv Festival, which opens in June 2025.
WORKSHOP
The Odyssey: Epic Poetry as a Transformative Medium
24/07 - 2pm-5pm
Type: Theater
Language: English
Type of experience:
ARTISTS IN GENERAL (Professional Artists or Artists in Training without specific experience in Impro)
GENERAL PUBLIC (People without any artistic experience)
BEGINNER IN IMPRO (People with some experience with Impro courses and/or presentations.),
ADVANCED/PROFESSIONAL IN IMPRO (People with some years of experience and/or career in Impro.)
40 €
(Discounts applicable with Irreverent packages)
Biblioteca de Alcântara
(Rua José Dias Coelho 27 - 29, 1300-327 - Lisbon)
“The Odyssey: Epic Poetry as a Transformative Medium” aligns with the festival’s theme of Imaginary Worlds by delving into one of the most enduring and fantastical journeys in literary history. Homer’s Odyssey is a story of mythical creatures, divine interventions, and surreal landscapes—an epic that shaped the way we imagine adventure and transformation.
In this workshop, we explore how the structure, themes, and poetic devices of the Odyssey can serve as tools for improvisers to create their own expansive, immersive worlds. By examining how the poem balances reality and myth, participants will learn to construct engaging narratives that go beyond conventional storytelling.
The goal is to help performers access the richness of epic storytelling, embody heightened characters, and transport audiences to imaginative and unexplored realms. In doing so, participants will not only gain a deeper understanding of the power of myth, but will also develop the skills to bring epic and emotionally resonant worlds to life on stage.
SHOW DIRECTION
Reflections don't just come from mirrors, and they're certainly not a copy of reality. They're a more or less different aspect of real life, a window into an upside-down world where anything can happen.
“Through the Looking Glass” constructs an imaginary world where reality is fragmented, fluid and unstable. Using improvisation, movement and abstraction, the performers create a dreamlike and ever-changing space where identities blur, time bends and perception is distorted. The stage becomes a surreal landscape shaped by reflected actions, sudden transformations and shifting interactions, making the familiar seem strange.
Through the Looking Glass
(EN)
25/07
10:15pm - 11:00pm
Academia de Santo Amaro
TALK
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"The Space Between Us: Touch, Limits, and Creation" (EN)
Touch is a powerful tool in improvisation, allowing us to communicate, create dynamics, and build trust. However, physical contact requires awareness, respect, and a shared understanding of limits. In a profession where bodies interact constantly, we must train not only techniques of movement but also sensitivity to consent, boundaries, and intention. Different types of contact—resistance, impulse, support, presence—offer unique possibilities on stage, but how do we ensure that all performers feel safe and empowered? This talk explores how we can develop a conscious approach to physical connection, expanding creative expression while fostering an environment of mutual respect.