From March 25 to 30, 2026, the Temirbek Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts hosted an international masterclass within the research project
“Silk Road Co-Performances: Creating Ecological Intercultural Theatre with University Students from China, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Serbia.”

The masterclass was led by Fei Liu, a second-year PhD candidate at University of Warwick (Faculty of Creative Arts, Performance and Visual Cultures). The project is part of her doctoral research focused on developing a model of ecological intercultural theatre as a form of artistic and social engagement in the context of the global ecological crisis.

The masterclass involved 20 undergraduate and graduate students from the Departments of Theatre Arts and Choreography, all proficient in English. Over five days, participants engaged in an intensive practice-based process including training sessions inspired by Eugenio Barba, Carolina Pizarro, as well as Fei Liu’s original methodologies.

The moderator and interpreter was Assem Abenova, a third-year PhD candidate and lecturer at the Department of Stage Speech.

The first day focused on introductions, setting goals, and establishing working principles. A key condition was creating a safe creative environment based on trust, non-judgment, and active participation. In the following days, students explored new forms of interaction, physical expression, and collective stage thinking.

On the fifth day, participants presented final performance works. The event was attended by:
— Vice-Rector Kabyl Khalykov,
— Professor Saniya Duissenkhanova,
— Project supervisor, Professor Milija Gluhovic,
— President of International Federation for Theatre Research, Bishnupriya Dutt.

Participants worked in groups and demonstrated a high level of professional training, creative thinking, and intercultural competence. Experts highly praised the outcomes and shared insights into current research trends and practices at the University of Warwick.

As part of the project, participants were selected for the next stage. First-year MA students Tursyn Mazhenov and Arukhan Zakhanova were chosen to participate in the final stage in China.

Selected participants will receive full funding, including travel, accommodation, and meals. Assem Abenova will also participate under the same conditions.

This project reflects key trends in contemporary theatre, emphasizing ecological awareness, intercultural dialogue, and collaborative artistic practice. Ecological intercultural theatre is seen as an effective tool for developing new artistic thinking and strengthening international cooperation.