Deconstructing Gender: A workshop review

In the first half of 2022, the Deconstructing Gender Workshop was held by the Queer Theater Collective. Over six days, the offer had been extended to people identifying with the LSBPATINQ+ (German LGBTQ+ abbreviation) spectrum.

The different workshop units all covered different steps to visualize gender in an artistic way. Participants gained an insight on different theater techniques, through improvisation, role preparation and performance.

On top of that, the people taking part in this workshop were able to try out improvised theater scenes within a safe space and small groups. The result being artistic, creative and visible.

Look at what they created within the six days this workshop was being held on our site: Deconstructing Gender – Workshop Impressionen 

In addition to these visuals, let us answer the underlying question in this post: What happened during the workshop to pave the way for these results?

© Dana Barrenberg

The review of the Deconstructing Gender workshop

A strong topic lead the participants through different types of content, based on the fact that we all in fact are confronted with a binary construct of stereotypical gender roles each and every day within our society.

A lot of people do view certain things as “typically female/girly”, or “typically manly/boyish”. But what is the meaning of these categorizations in an artistic sense, when depicting gender in theater?

Even outside of a scene, this is a hard question to answer. But don’t worry: Every participant had the option to think themselves into these topics slowly and at their own pace during the workshop.

Every day consisted of individual exercises, where different theater techniques could be tested and tried, new inputs could be discussed and the idea of binary stereotypes could be slowly deconstructed. And whenever wanted or needed, those stereotypes could even be defined in a completely new way.

From the real “here and now” up to gender or societal roles within different fantasy species, the thought behind a stereotype of any kind was critically questioned by all participants. 

The first day in theater play!

Much like the start to the first big theater project of the queer theater collective, there also had been a day to offer those with an interest in participating an insight on the idea and content of the Deconstructing Gender workshop.

The first day paved the way for queer people to get into the studio. After a first introduction including giving preferred pronouns, the attendees had the option to get to know each other and the theme of the following days a little better.

Through different small theater and play impulses, the members of the first day’s group were able to take small steps into a way to deconstruct gender. They’ve been handed different methods to try themselves in acting and find out what they might take further interest in, as well as if attending this workshop would be the right choice. 

By peeking into the coming setup for the following days, participants were able to try to overcome possible anxieties holding them back, or take interest into the topic, as well as find the motivation to take part in the rest of the workshop.

Take a look at our post “Review: Open Call Rehearsal” as well, to see how that similar start into the current theater project in 2022, first visible in february 2023, looked!

Deconstructing Gender: A critical view on social gender standards

The workshop tackled another theme every day of its six days to come, while always breaking down the main topic into smaller parts, to make it easier to work with. 

How do we perceive gender? Which emotions are connected to it? Which trail of thoughts is intertwined with gender stereotypes and which isn’t?

During the deconstruction of this topic part by part, gender wasnt only dismantled, but reconstructed anew. How do we understand gender and what makes it visible? 

Through this, participants were invited to work with themselves and the world around them in new ways.

During different exercises, the group was able to feel into binary stereotypes (female/male), and even combine them, if possible. While working on this, not only different behaviors were deconstructed, but also unique emotions prompted by societal standards attached to them.

How do stereotypical gender roles move? What do we expect them to be?
Which power dynamics are attached to this social construct?

Additionally, a continuous stream of information had been available to the queer people participating in this workshop. Regular rounds of discussion enabled them to work through their new experiences and come to individual conclusions. 

© Dana Barrenberg

A new perspective through the eyes of a stranger

Later on, a new perspective on societal gender constructs was handed over to the attendees: The point of view of another species!

Together the group dismantled a completely different set of views on genders. On two of six days in this workshop, an experiment with three fantasy species has been created and set in motion. The idea of feminine presenting Nymphs, androgynous Elves and often rather “manly” seeming Orcs was handed over to the participants, to deconstruct and reconstruct their ways. In a different world, with different beliefs and standards, the construct of a gender existed in different depths. During this experiment, attendees prepared new characters playing each a part of those otherworldly societies, by utilizing character build mechanics often used in Pen & Paper roleplaying games. 

The made up people created during this experiment were later used in an improvised play within the group. During a tavern-setting, the three made up societies were able to meet each other and depending on their compatibility either clash, or look into a different way to view their lives by meeting eye to eye. These strange experiences then lead to new thoughts on how to deconstruct the gender roles we’re living with in our own social environment.

These new findings also shaped a second day working with fantasy species. While using digital media to create more in-depth ideas, and utilizing the knowledge gained from making up a different perspective, the participants finalized their individual characters for the grand finale showing their personal experience when working with the main topic: “Deconstructing Gender”. 

Individual answers through body Performance

By now, a lot of people start looking and recognizing the alternative to a binary social construct, and the gender stereotypes tied to it. Nonetheless, the topic still can’t be missed in Arts and Culture.

During the Deconstructing Gender workshop, standards had been continuously and critically questioned. Participants shared their own thoughts with the group during discussion and play. Following the recreational activities, unique scenes were produced to showcase their individual characters later on. Those representations were then recorded in writing, photo- and videography. 

These artistic visualizations of gender expressions in our day to day life, or from otherworldly fantasy stories, were developed to showcase a view on the gender construct being completely different if not almost estranged from our societal standard.

Take a look at those representations on our site: Deconstructing Gender – Workshop Impressionen
The results were captured photographically and audiovisually by Dana Barrenberg.

This workshop has been enabled by the NRW KULTURsekretariat Wuppertal, as well as the Ministry for Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Get in contact!

All requests and any interest into practice dates and/or productions of the Queer Theater Collective need to be adressed towards the project lead Luisa Kalkuhl. Please understand that not every request can be answered immediately. However, we are happy to receive any inquiry through our contact form!