Four former MBA students of IESA arts&culture ventured into theater production by creating LARP.Paris. They offer a unique immersive theater experience. After a successful first session of fully sold-out performances last June, they are repeating the experience this fall at the Théâtre des Enfants Terribles.
They look back on this wonderful adventure by answering our questions.
Which program did you follow at IESA arts&culture?
Our project team consisted of four people: two MBA in Performing Arts Management students and two MBA in Arts and Cultural Management students. After the Diploma Ceremony, the project is being continued by Lisa Kelesidou and Sasha Ovechkin, the MBA in Performing Arts graduates.
Was LARP.Paris created as part of your studies at IESA arts&culture?
In line with the program curriculum, we were selected by our teachers, who chose to bring us together because we shared the same interest in both theater and its new forms of artistic experimentation. Thanks to the program, we were able to study, see and exchange on the different references and practices around the theatrical arts, which took concrete form in our Title 1 Project. After the great success of a first session of performances, we saw very significant potential in this type of format and we are considering continuing in this direction.
Were you supported in this endeavor by IESA arts&culture?
IESA played an important role in bringing our ideas to this level of execution. We benefited from the continuous guidance of our teachers Fabrice Bonniot and Anne-Sophie Lombard, as well as the assistance of the IESA team, in particular Cynthia Cervantes, director of the international department, and Maud Prangey, in communications, who supported us with their network and with communication around the event.
What was this experience like?
The experience consisted of three two-hour performances over a weekend. All performances sold out: sixty people took part in what can be described as a "theatrical experience" in which the audience plays an active role by creating the play in real time.
It was a completely new type of experience, which generated a lot of curiosity and a great success for a first, with very positive feedback.
Can you explain such a success?
This success is linked to the spectator’s engagement in the play, as they are stimulated by their creative and collaborative participation, a strong trend on the stage today. We also drew on our own professional experiences within companies, notably in building teams. This allowed us to create something unique and close to what we hope to do in the future.
What are your plans today?
The LARP.Paris team, made up of Lisa Kelesidou and Sasha Ovechkin, chose to stay in Paris and is continuing its work on the show "FAILURE", presented on November 30 and December 1 at the Théâtre Les Enfants Terribles. At the same time, we are applying for residencies at European cultural institutions to deepen our knowledge of theatrical experiences. Finally, we plan to use the insights we have gained about failure in organizing seminars or trainings within companies, drawing on our technical expertise.
Which Program did you study at the IESA arts&culture?
Our project team consisted of four people, half of them were studying on MPAE program, the other one half of MACAM. After our graduation, the project is being continued by two MPAE students - Sasha Ovechkin and Lisa Kelesidou.
Did LARP.Paris was created within the context of your studies at the IESA arts&culture?
As per MPAE program guidelines, our team for Titre 1 project was selected by teachers, however, we were gathered by sharing the same interest in theatre and new forms of art experiences. Through our study we had a brilliant opportunity to see and discuss references in performing arts world that finally emerged into our Titre 1 project. After quite successful premier, we see a lot of potential in this format and we are planning to continue it.
Did you get some support from the school?
It goes without saying that IESA played an important role in bringing our ideas to this level of execution. We have had a continuous coaching and assistance from our teachers - Fabrice Bonniot and Anne-Sophie Lombard, as well as IESA staff, especially Cynthia Cervantes and Maud Prangey, who supported us in networking and communication.
How was this experience?
The FAILURE experience was three 2-hours performances that were held in 2 days. All our shows were sold out, so sixty people took part in it. It can be defined as a theatrical experience in which the audience is playing an active part, creating the play in real time. As soon as this is quite a new type of experience, a lot of people took part in an event like this for the first time, however, the feedback was very positive.
Could you explain such a success?
We believe that the success of our project is connected to the latest trend in performing arts where audience engagement is driven by participatory and collabotaive co-creation. On top, we used a lot of insights from our previous jobs in corporate business, especially in team building, which helped us a lot in building something unique and close to what we want to do in future.
What are your projects now?
LARP.Paris team consisted of Lisa Kelesidou and Sasha Ovechkin, is staying in Paris and continuing working on FAILURE show that will be presented at Theatre Les Enfants Terrible on November 30 and December 1. At the same time we are considering several options to get residences at cultural institutions in Europe in order to continue developing our approach to theatre experiences. The last, but not least, we are planning to leverage our explorations of the topic FAILURE in organizing corporate seminars and trainings based on our techniques.