HER STAGE LaB
FEMALE GAZE THEATRE LABORATORY
3-WEEK INTENSIVE THEATRE LABORATORY FOR FEMALE CREATIVES
HER STAGE LAB is a professional theatre laboratory created through a female perspective and led by a female artistic duo.
Based on the material of 8 Women by Robert Thomas.
Adapted and rewritten by Juliana Berezhnaya.
The program is aimed at actresses and female creatives, offering an intensive process of acting, movement, text, ensemble work and stage presence — grounded in strong female narratives, emotional truth and bold theatrical expression.
A space to train, create, risk, transform — and step fully into your own stage voice.
Dates: 13 July - 2 August 2026
Location: Amsterdam, Theatre De Sloot
EXPLORATION
TRACK
For beginners & emerging female creatives.
This track is aimed at female participants with no or little acting experience who want to enter the creative process and discover professional acting tools in a supportive, inspiring environment.
The program includes foundation acting training, body and voice work, ensemble exercises, and work with the material of 8 Women. Through basic text and dramaturgy analysis from a female gaze, participants will take their first steps in building a character, working with a monologue or short scene, understanding the rehearsal process and developing stage presence — leading to the final professional scene or monologue recording.
A track for those who want to explore, try, train, learn and open their creative voice.
SHOWCASE
TRACK
For female creatives enthusiasts.
A track for women from creative backgrounds who are ready to step into professional theatre. Through a focused rehearsal process and individual coaching, participants gain real stage experience.
The program offers detailed character development, text work, scenes preparation, rehearsal practice, mise-en-scènes learning and performance guidance.
Participants will perform the play 8 Women in front of the audience, on the final day of the LaBoratory.
A track for those who want to rehearse with purpose, go deeper into the role and experience the full journey from training room to professional stage.
PERFORMANCE
TRACK
For experienced female creatives.
This selective track is aimed at experienced actresses and performers ready to join the Festival production of 8 Women alongside guest artists of TEATR FORMA.
Participants will enter an intensive process combining advanced acting training, individual coaching, character development, and performance preparation.
Selection takes place through casting, with no need to choose a character in advance. We are looking for performers who can enter a clear artistic concept with independence, precision and creative courage.
This track requires strong acting skills, commitment, ensemble awareness and readiness to work within a clear artistic and directorial concept.
8 WOMEN
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION
SUZON
A smart, educated young woman returning home from her studies in London. Polite, composed and observant, Suzon appears reserved at first — yet she has a sharp mind and a strong instinct for uncovering the truth. She loves playing detective and gradually becomes one of the key forces driving the mystery forward. A role with intelligence, sensitivity and quiet determination.
CATHERINE
A spirited teenage rebel with a vivid imagination and a hunger to be seen. Curious, outspoken and full of energy, Catherine devours detective stories and notices much more than adults expect. Beneath her playful provocations is a creative, observant young woman trying to understand the complicated world around her. A role with humour, rhythm, boldness and emotional depth.
GABY
Elegant, beautiful and self-assured, Gaby is the polished centre of the family image. She knows how to dress, how to enter a room and how to hold attention. Behind her glamorous appearance lies a woman who has learned to survive within a patriarchal structure — and who may be far stronger, sharper and more unpredictable than anyone assumes. A role full of charisma, style, irony and hidden fire.
AUGUSTINE
A romantic dreamer with an intense inner life. She writes passionate love letters, longs to be chosen and refuses to remain invisible. Augustine can be dramatic, hysterical, hilarious and deeply moving — using illness, emotion and vulnerability as both protection and power. A highly theatrical role with physical comedy, emotional extremes and a surprising capacity for transformation.
MAMY
The commanding matriarch of the family. Mamy knows exactly how to control a room — through authority, manipulation, charm, guilt and perfectly timed weakness. Living in her daughter’s house, she keeps Augustine emotionally close and makes sure everyone still revolves around her. She enjoys good food, a drink and the pleasure of being listened to. A rich role for an actress who enjoys dark humour, precision, power and contradiction.
CHANEL
Sensitive, observant and quietly romantic, Chanel moves through the house with more awareness than people realise. She carries a secret love and sees the emotional truth behind the family’s polished surface. Her silence is never empty: she listens, remembers and understands. A role with delicacy, emotional intelligence, tenderness and inner strength.
LOUISE
Openly sensual, bold and impossible to ignore. Louise enjoys pleasure, attention and the freedom to speak her mind. She knows the value of money, desire and seduction — and is not ashamed of any of it. Behind her provocative confidence is a woman who understands survival and refuses to play by respectable rules. A role with glamour, sharp comedy, sexuality and fearless stage presence.
PIERRETTE
A free-spirited woman with a dangerous reputation and a refusal to apologise for her past. Pierrette is brave, bright, stylish and emotionally direct. She enters the family world like a storm, carrying rumours, unresolved history and a powerful sense of independence. A role with strong theatrical presence, humour, courage and emotional truth.
DO YOU RECOGNIZE YOURSELF IN ONE OF THESE WOMEN?
Perhaps you share Suzon’s curiosity, Catherine’s rebellious spark, Gaby’s elegance, Augustine’s intensity, Mamy’s force, Chanel’s sensitivity, Louise’s boldness or Pierrette’s freedom.
Within HER STAGE LaB & Festival, these characters become the starting point for a real theatre process. Through the track that matches your experience, you can explore their secrets, contradictions and desires — and discover what you can bring to the role.
PLAYING AGE RANGE FROM APPROXIMATELY 17 TO 60+
Every Female Artistic Voice Matters
HER STAGE LaB is a selective program with limited places, but every application is seen, heard, and considered with care, respect, and attention.
Our mission is to support as many women as possible by helping each applicant find the right artistic path — whether through a current track, another format, or a future HER STAGE opportunity.
We believe in female voices, equal representation, and the right of every woman to explore, grow, and take creative space.
Applications are reviewed as they are received, and participants are accepted on a rolling basis. Since each track is connected to specific roles, characters, and ensemble needs, we strongly recommend applying early. Places may be filled before the final deadline.