Theatre students from Leeds and Cyprus who collaborated online to restage a Greek tragedy found that sharing cultural perspectives helped them to make the most of the experience.
Students from the University of Leeds and the Open University of Cyprus collaborated to adapt their set design for Sophocles’ tragedy, Antigone, for one of two major venues: The Globe Theatre in London or the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece.
The partnership is the latest Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) module run by the University of Leeds, which offers students the opportunity to work with others studying in countries around the world, without leaving campus.
Luke Floody, a second year Theatre and Performance student, explained how students from Leeds and Cyprus brought different perspectives.
Intercultural perspective
He said: “The contemporary theatre practice that we study at Leeds was something we could bring that was helpful. There was a discussion about feminism in Antigone and looking through a theoretical lens was something we were able to bring to the Cypriot students.
“The Cypriot students were very good at looking at the design, looking at how it would work practically in the Epidaurus – with it being open air, how that would impact the staging, what the typical staging is like now, and what they used in ancient times.
“Greek theatre can be quite inaccessible, so to be able to work with people who really understand it was so helpful. Our knowledge gaps were filled by the Cypriot students.”
Coco Morris-Dodd, who is also a second-year Theatre and Performance student, said that the discussions about how to turn themes into modern ideas really helped her to understand the story more: “The student we were working with really brought it to life by talking about things like the costumes and the lighting. She was really passionate about it all and her contribution made me see the play in a whole different perspective.”
Enhancing creativity
Students were tasked with creating a detailed scenographic proposal for the tragedy Antigone, analysing the text of the play and translating its themes into a contemporary vision.
They worked in groups during online sessions to put together sketches and visual materials to depict their set design, along with written explanations. Their design needed to utilise and work with the architecture of their chosen theatre.
Both Luke and Coco felt that the experience gave them confidence for future collaborations. Luke added: “Leeds is such a multicultural city. We meet so many new people and being able to collaborate with them is invaluable. This module enabled that.
“When we think about collaborations with international universities, we think about the cost and the travel of studying abroad. With a COIL module, we didn’t have to worry about these aspects – it was a huge bonus and I’m really grateful for the experience.”
Removing barriers
Professor George Rodosthenous, Professor of Theatre Directing in the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at Leeds, said: “The COIL pilot has revealed something profoundly encouraging: when you remove the barriers of travel and cost, creative collaboration becomes effortlessly democratic.
“The feedback consistently highlighted how working across time zones demanded a level of professional organisation and adaptability that simulated real-world industry conditions far more effectively than a traditional classroom exercise.
“What impressed me most was the intellectual generosity on display, students were not only exchanging ideas but actively curating them, blending University of Leeds' theoretical and practical frameworks on Theatre Directing with OUC's embodied understanding of the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus to create work that felt genuinely new.”
Professor Avra Sidiropoulou, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Open University of Cyprus, said: “The recent COIL intercultural exchange between OUC and Leeds proved to be a highly rewarding experience for both directing students and faculty of the respective institutions, encouraging creativity, imagination and analytical engagement.
“This, we hope, is just the beginning to a broader, sustained collaboration between the M.A. in Theatre Studies at the Open University of Cyprus and the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at Leeds University, opening the door to further exciting joined initiatives in the near future!”
Further information
For further information, please contact Becky Pascoe in the University of Leeds press office at r.pascoe@leeds.ac.uk