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Carolyn Defrin

Director Writer Multimedia Artist Facilitator

Carolyn Defrin works across theatre, film and installation as a director, writer, performer. With an early career in Chicago, she worked with several ensemble theatres and now makes work internationally that mixes socially engaged practices with highly visual and physical design in both traditional and site specific venues. Particular interests include identity, migration, memory and intergenerational stories. She is currently a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Graz in Austria, developing work in border zones across the Southern European border.

Credits

Co-creator, KISSING REBELLION, Ovalhouse, 2 weeks, 2019
Creator, MOVING PORTRAITS, Westfield Shopping Centre Jun-Sept 2018
Creator, REMEMBERING THE FUTURE, Borough Road Gallery, London Festival of Architecture; 2017-2018
Creator, MISSING, University of Chicago, The House Theatre of Chicago 2016
Creator, THE BALLOON The Yard Theatre, 2014
Assistant Director, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, Steppenwolf Theatre, 2010 (6 week run)
+20 production as performer, collaborator with THE HOUSE THEATRE, GOODMAN THEATRE, STEPPENWOLF, LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE (Chicago, 2001-2012)

Training

PhD, Co-creating culture and policy, London South Bank University (2021)
MA, Performance, Design & Practice, Central St. Martins (2014)
BA, Northwestern University (2000)

Workshops and training with: Lecoq, Philippe Gaulier, Katie Mitchell, Natalie Abrahami,

Location

London

Experience

10+ years

Art forms / Disciplines

  • Film - short
  • Live art
  • Multi-disciplinary / cross art form
  • Theatre / Live perfomance
  • Visual arts

What I do

  • Choreography
  • Curating
  • Devising
  • Directing
  • Dramaturgy
  • Facilitating
  • Movement Direction
  • Music - Can learn by ear
  • Music - Plays Instruments
  • Music - Singing
  • Performance Art
  • Performing
  • Physical Theatre / Mime
  • Site Responsive/Immersive
  • Teaching / Coaching
  • Theatre making
  • Verbatim theatre
  • Video Design
  • Working with young people
  • Working within a Community / with community participants
  • Workshopping & Development
  • Writing

Additional Languages

Proficient in French, can understand and speak some Portuguese

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