Reflecting on our Time in Leipzig with English Theatre Leipzig

Today we had our last Zoom as part of the Cultural Bridge programme with the brilliant English Theatre Leipzig (ETL) . We will miss them – but this might not be the end…

We just wanted to share a few ideas, images, memories that we want to hold onto from this time learning in partnership with ETL.

For those that don’t know about Cultural Bridge, it’s a funding stream that supports arts and cultural organisations across the UK and Germany to develop partnerships that explore social arts practice. We would highly recommend small arts organisations who are interested in collaborating outside of the UK to look into this funding stream as a way of fostering international connections and expanding your practice. It’s been an amazing experience getting to meet the artists and their work on their own turf in Leipzig. So thank you to Cultural Bridge for that opportunity, it’s had a real impact on the way we work.

So, for context, who is English Theatre Leipzig (ETL)?

Founded in 2013 at Neues Schauspiel Leipzig, ETL blends amateur and professional actors, offering a platform for cultural exchange with Leipzig’s English-speaking community. We found Leipzig shares many similarities with Brighton—green spaces, a vibrant cultural scene, and an easy vibe.

Working with ETL, we explored where our co-creative methodologies intersected and how we could develop a shared approach for a future collaboration.

How did our methodologies differ?

• BPT: Co-creation in three stages—Conversations, Workshops, Performances
• ETL: Starts with a stimulus, leading to a first sharing over an intensive weekend workshop

We planned to test a blended methodology, compressing BPT’s three-step co-creative approach into a much shorter timescale—i.e., doing it all in one workshop. With this all mapped out, we started planning the logistics.

What Happened?

In June 2024, ETL’s team (Josiane, Letitzia, Sam, Nadja) visited Brighton to observe BPT workshops: The Songbird Cafe and our regular Thursday evening Drop-in Workshop. They also joined in activities with members of Born and Bread, like a historical walking tour, an Iranian tile-making, and a home-cooked Indian feast overlooking the sea; all experiences hosted by our wonderful members.

Then in October 2024, the BPT team (Naomi, Jack and Niamh) visited Leipzig to experience ETL’s approach, participating in an Anthropocene workshop culminating in a performance at Neues Schauspiel. It was refreshing to be participants again and to experience ETL’s unique theatre history approach. We had a fantastic time, both at the workshop, meeting and playing with the ETL participants and in the city.

What things emerged out of that weekend?

One of the best things about this weekend was having the chance to be a participant again and experiencing the games and activities that ETL created was really refreshing.

ETL took a sort of ‘theatre histories’ approach which was quite fun and different to the way that we make work.
Because the people that ETL and BPT work with are different, the structure of the work and the type of work we do is very different as a result.

It is from noticing these differences where the most has been gained. By putting our practices side-by-side and asking, ‘is there a concrete, useful reason we do it this way rather than that way?’ And if there is not a clear answer to that question, being open to change.

How have we changed?

Our time in Leipzig has helped us change to a new flexible timescale when making co-creative work.

This flexing of the BPT methodology makes for workshops more empowering spaces and gives a bit of an insight into BPT’s wider methodology in a microcosm. Before this we might have engaged in months of conversations around town, then workshopping for another few months and then into a long rehearsal process. All of this works, but you could lose sight of where you are in the great sweep of the project. So occasionally doing it all in one workshop is a great way of giving people a sense of how the work is made in macro.

So, thanks to ETL and Cultural bridge for this opportunity to learn from some European colleagues!

Jack’s Leipzig snapshot: Niamh voguing in the Premier Inn and destroying the competition… and devising work in the Neues Schauspiel theatre garden the next day

Naomi’s Leipzig snapshot: Meeting people from all over the world who were at the ETL weekend workshop, including lots of scientists who gave me hope for the future. And yes, also Niamh voguing in the Premier Inn! If only we had caught it on camera!

Niamh’s Leipzig snapshot: Riding the tram together, beers in a beautiful square after the workshop, and our attempts at visiting the CAT CAFE! Plus, getting to meet people from all over the world, playing and making together over the weekend. (And they both mean attempting to vogue…)