Katerina Drakopoulou

MA, Ensemble Physical Theatre: Training and Performance, University of Huddersfield; MA, Performance, Goldsmiths College, University of London

After completing my MA in Ensemble Physical Theatre, my research has focused on psychophysical performer processes, particularly the relationship between Butoh dance and contemporary theatre and performance practices. My work examines how embodiment techniques enhance performer training and cultivate scenic presence, and it has been presented at various international festivals. Since 2016, I have been developing 22 Stops, an ongoing, site-specific Butoh performance that explores the interplay between the Butoh body and public spaces. My practice has since expanded to include four more areas of investigation: the Butoh body in intimate (one-to-one) performance (Performance Rooms 2019, Kappatos Gallery, Athens); the Butoh body in relation to time, duration, and endurance (Flux Laboratory Athens), the intersection of the Butoh body and artificial intelligence (Stockholm Fringe Festival, Aug. 2024); and the Butoh body’s connection to the non-human (Bionic Festival, Sep. 2024). Through this research, I aim to deepen the understanding of embodiment in performance and explore how it can be applied across different forms and modes of performance.