The Lazarus Gym is a new initiative supporting performers to get into or return to classical ensemble work.
Post pandemic we noticed a real decline in classical text skills and a lack of experience / confidence required to play, work and create as an ensemble. We are not here to throw shade: rather than lamenting we decided to do something to help.
The Lazarus Gym is a ‘pay what you can’ 3 hour classical text gym session where performers are introduced to the Lazarus text process – essentially our approach to text.
The sessions are ensemble led, working as a company to dissect, analyse and then play the text, performers also work in pairs with other performers as well as one to one with our director with individual feedback given.
It’s the perfect workout for people new to us as well as a refresher for those performers looking to get back into it.
When:
Season 2:
Monday 9th June - Saturday 19th July
Season 3: (On Sale 14th July)
Monday 8th Sept - Saturday 11th Oct
Where: Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Cost: 'Pay What You Can' from the range below
£5 (£1.66 per hour)
£15 (£5 per hour)
£25 (£8.33 per hour)
£35 (£11.66 per hour)
Access: Level Access spaces used
Age: All participants should be 18 and over
The Lazarus Text Process
The Lazarus text process approaches text from a dramaturgical perspective, rather than understanding the text solely via Iambic Pentameter. We integrate, investigate and analyse the text by breaking it into thoughts and parts of thoughts. The process reveals useful clues on character, themes, stage directions and motifs, provides practical pointers around breath control, vocal energy and physicality – all useful skills for any performer preparing any text, not just classical.
Our process ignites intelligent, energised, detailed and focussed performances giving performers a strong understanding, firm grounding and solid technique they can trust and rely on.
Gym sessions are delivered at 3 levels:
Level 1 – Foundations
Who: Performers new to classical text, Lazarus Theatre Company’s text process or those wanting a refresh in both.
What: Introduction to the Lazarus process, includes: warm up, application of process to practical text, working in pairs & as a group in dissecting the text & playing the text to one another, using the Chorus speech from Romeo & Juliet.
Level 2 – Ignite
Who: Performers who have completed Level 1 Foundations or have experienced Lazarus Theatre Company’s text process but wants a refresh.
What: A quick recap on the process building on & developing the Foundations of Level 1, practically. A chance to play, test & explore the process working collaboratively on & performing a more complex & demanding monologue, using the Dagger speech from Macbeth.
Level 3 – Deep Dive
Who: Performers who have completed Level 1 & 2 & those who have experienced Lazarus Theatre Company’s text process.
What: A supercharged refresh on the process, developing skills from Level 1 & 2 by working on & performing a demanding & complex scene. This is a high intensity, physically demanding session which will put participants through the full extremes of interrogating, physicalising & performing early modern text,
using Act 1 Scene 7 from Macbeth.
And then - Reps
Who: Performers who have completed Level 1, 2 & 3 & those who have experienced Lazarus Theatre Company’s text process who wants a regular workout with different classical texts each session.
What: Each session takes a new piece of classical text, not only from Shakespeare but from across the Early Modern Cannon. These sessions are company led, exploring complex & demanding texts from some of the greatest plays of the period, practically.
Please note:
-You are welcome to book as many sessions as you like at each level, but we will cover the same exercises & cover the same material at each level.
-You are welcome to book sessions on behalf of others as a gift, please do let us know the name of the person attending the session if different from your own via confirmation email.
-We sometimes get places returned or exchanged to us in advance. If so, we make these available to book on this page as they are returned, we're a small team so unable to keep a waiting list. Keep checking for places at your preferred date / level / budget on this page.
Dates / Booking
SEASON 2 - Level 2
Monday 14th July - 6pm-9pm - Level 2
Saturday 19th July - 10am - 1pm - Level 2
Season 3 Dates, (times) & Levels
(booking opens Monday 14th July at 12 noon)
Monday 8th Sept - (6.00pm - 9.00pm) - Level 1
Monday 15th Sept - (6.00pm - 9.00pm) - Level 1
Monday 22nd Sept - (6.00pm - 9.00pm) - Level 1
Saturday 27th Sept - (12noon - 3.00pm) - Level 1
Monday 29th Sept - (6.00pm - 9.00pm) - Level 2
Saturday 4th Oct - (2.00pm - 5.00pm) - Level 2
Monday 6th Oct - (6.00pm - 9.00pm) - Level 3
Saturday 11th Oct - (2.00pm - 5.00pm) - Level 3
Performer Portal
Here is everything you will need to take part in the Lazarus GYM
GYM Overview*
Level 1 text*
Level 2 text*
*updated 16/06/2025
GYM T&C's
Refunds & Exchanges
Gym slots can be refunded or exchanged up to 48 hours prior to the session, should we have availability to swap your place to another session.
We are unable to exchange or refund any slots after this time.
Age recommendation
All GYM Participants must be aged 18 and over
The Lazarus Gym is made possible due to the generous support of Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
