Klaus Kruse
Senior Lecturer, Theatre
Klaus Kruse is a director, scenographer, performer, poet and songwriter based in the UK since 2002 and he specialises in designing and directing immersive theatre productions. He has a particular interest in the significance of the audience's physical position in the performance space. The environments he designs are contraptions that allow the performance landscape to be transformed throughout an event. His company Living Structures utilises 'changing spatial reality' as a tool for storytelling that engages audiences in unusual ways.
Living Structures' work experiments with the relationships that performance can create between audience, performers and performance environment. The company strategically designs spaces into which audiences can enter, manipulating the expanse, shape and atmosphere of space as it is perceived throughout the performance event. Using 'changing spatial reality' as a theatrical tool, Living Structures removes 'place' as stable factor and integrates the audience's presence in the space as an active element of the performance event. During performances the spectators' physical position is significant and frequently suggests or allocates a sort of role to them. This influences how the audience will observe their environment. Voice, sound, performance, video and installation relate to a physical journey that the audience undertakes. Living Structures emerged out of Klaus's continuous research into audience/performer spatial relationships and creates work in collaboration with international artists from a wide range of creative fields.
Klaus works as a senior lecturer at the theatre department at Falmouth University. He has previously taught as associate and visiting lecturer at London School of Economics, Academy of the Arts Reykjavic, University of Plymouth and University of the Arts Berlin. Klaus works as artistic director, scenographer and writer for the international performance collective Living Structures livingstructures.co.uk, which he co-founded in 2007. He also worked as director, scenographer and writer for The Solvents Live Art and Theatre Collective, which he cofounded in 2002. Klaus has studied Contemporary Dance and Theatre at the School for New Dance Development Amsterdam (SNDD), at the University of the Arts Berlin (UDK) and at Dartington College of Arts UK (DCA) where he completed both his BA(Hons) and MA in Devised Theatre.
External Links
Qualifications
Qualifications
| Year | Qualification | Awarding body |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | MA Theatre | Dartington College of Arts |
| 2006 | BA(Hons) Theatre | Dartington College of Arts |
Research Interests
Research interests and expertise
Klaus specialises in designing and directing immersive theatre productions. He has a particular interest in the significance of the audience's physical position in the performance space. The environments he designs are contraptions that allow the performance landscape to be transformed throughout an event. His company, Living Structures, utilises 'changing spatial reality' as a tool for storytelling that engages audiences in unusual ways.
Research centre and group affiliations
Articulating SpaceResearch Topics
- Audience Perception of Space
- Digitally enhanced environments
- Games & Interaction
- Making Meaning Through Transforming Space
- Performance/Audience Relationship
- Through Sound
Research Outputs
Publications and research outputs
Performance
| Kruse, Klaus (2012) Leviathan. [Performance] |
| Kruse, Klaus (2010) Cart Macabre. [Performance] |
| Kruse, Klaus (2009) Biosphere. [Performance] |
Externally funded research grants information
| Collaborators | Currency | Funder | HESA Category | Project title | Value | Year ending | Year starting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Structures |
GBP | Arts Council England | 4 UK central government bodies/local authorities, health & hospital authorities | Leviathan Production | 65000 | 2014 | 2012 |
| Living Structures |
GBP | Arts Council England | 4 UK central government bodies/local authorities, health & hospital authorities | Leviathan Production Research and Development | 20000 | 2011 | 2011 |
| Living Structures |
GBP | Arts Council England | 4 UK central government bodies/local authorities, health & hospital authorities | Cart Macabre | 45380 | 2010 | 2010 |
| Living Structures |
EUR | Theatro Espanol | 9 EU other | Leviathan Production | 44251 | 2012 | 2012 |
| Living Structures |
GBP | Creation Space bursary | 2 UK-based charities - Open competitive process | Varyon R&D | 2000 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Living Structures |
GBP | Arts Council England | 4 UK central government bodies/local authorities, health & hospital authorities | Varyon R&D | 15000 | 2017 | 2017 |
Events
Klaus is preparing for upcoming 2nd research and development phase for his new production Varyon
Events
Klaus wins ACE funding for a 1st research and development phase for his new production Varyon
Events
Klaus wins a Creation Space bursary for initial research on his new project Varyon
Events
ACE funded production 'Leviathan' performed at Hackney Down Studios London
Events
Klaus collaborates with Andrew Todd on sustainable Theatre for World Stage Design festival
Events
Klaus leads and organises a two-day Immersive Theatre workshop for Falmouth at The Old Vic Tunnels
Events
ACE funded production 'Leviathan' performed at Matadero Madrid in co-produced by Theatro Español Madrid and The Old Vic Tunnels London.
Events
Performs solo version of 'Biosphere' at Fringe Madrid
Events
ACE funded R&D for new performance 'Leviathan' co-produced by Old Vic London
Events
Presents Cart Macabre at Centro Niemeyer in Aviles, Spain co-produced with Old Vic London
Events
Devises and presents 'Walking the Void' at Prague Quadrennial
Events
Directs Living Structures ACE funded project 'Cart Macabre' co-produced by Old Vic London
Teaching
Areas of teaching
- Acting
- Devised Theatre
- Directing
- Musical Theatre
- Prop making
- Scenography
- Theatre
- Theatre Production
Courses taught
- BA(Hons) Theatre
- BA(Hons) Music Theatre
- BA(Hons) Acting
- BA(Hons) Theatre and Performance
Policy engagement within Cornwall
Engagement with organisations which contribute to the development of educational, cultural or socio-economic policies in Cornwall
Klaus is a Trustee of Yskynna Vertical Dance Company
Through their outreach program, the company creates opportunities for people to engage with an art form in an unusual setting that is out of the ‘norm’ of their usual daily experience.
Their schools project ‘Updraft’ targets young people within schools, 11-18 year olds with drive and commitment, to engage with this challenging art form and discipline. The project identifies areas with low cultural engagement in Devon and Cornwall and brings professional demonstrations and structured teaching to encourage healthy participation.
Business Engagement
Business start ups
Artistic Director and founding member of Living Structures Ltd
Professional Engagement
Independent professional practice
Klaus works as Artistic Director, Scenographer and Writer for the international performance collective Living Structures livingstructures.co.uk which he co-founded in 2007. He also worked as director, scenographer and writer for The Solvents Live Art and Theatre Collective, which he co-founded (2002-07).
Social, community and cultural engagement
Artworkandtouring
2017 R&D ‘Varion’ (Working Title) Living Structures ACE funded residency
2016 R&D ‘Varion’ (Working Title) Living Structures Hall for Cornwall Creation Space Grant
2014 ACE funded production ‘Leviathan’ performed at Hackney Down Studios London
2013 Living Structures are represented at the British Council Trade Fair, part of the Edinburgh British Council Showcase
2012 Performed solo version of 'Biosphere' at Fringe Madrid
2011 ACE funded R&D for new performance 'Leviathan'co-produced by Old Vic London
2011 Presented Cart Macabre at Centro Niemeyer in Aviles, Spain co-produced by Old Vic London
2011 Devised and presented 'Walking the Void' at Prague Quadrennial
2009 Directed Living Structures' 'Biosphere' co-produced by Area 10 Project Space Peckham, London
2009 Performed solo version of 'Biosphere' on 4th plinth as part of Antony Gormley’s One&Other Project
2009 Directed 'Cart Macabre' for Living Structures co-produced by Shunt Vaults, London
Television, radio and online appearances
- Interview related to Living Structures premiere of Leviathan at Matadero Arts Centre Madrid on Mi Reino Por Un Caballo arts program on Spanish Television channel RTVE
- Arantxa Vela Buendía/Mi Reino Por Un Caballo, 2012, 'Leviathan y las estructuras vivas' (Leviathan and Living Structures) Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española, SA, broadcasted, 05/12/2012, http://www.rtve.es/television/20121205/leviathan-e-structuras--vivas/582317.shtml
- Interview/panel discussion on BBC Radio 4 Midweek with Libby Purves, Sir Patrick Stewart and Bryn Terfel. Midweek, 2010, BBC Radio 4, broadcast 08/12/2010, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wdhbq
- Interview, panel discussion and video footage of Living Structures' 'Cart Macabre' at The Old Vic Tunnels featured on BBC 2, The Review Show with Kirsty Wark The Review Show, 2010, BBC 2 broadcast 03/12/2010, http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wkf0d
- Interview for the Guardian online audio - visual slideshow: Duckworth. A (Ed), 2010, 'Cart Macabre: Visual poetry in motion in the Old Vic Tunnels', 03/06/2010 the Guardian Online, http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/audioslideshow/2010/dec/03/cart-macabre-old-vic-tunnels
- Interview by Chloe Potter and panel discussion with Clive Anderson, Dame Joan Bakewell and Stella Vine: SKY Arts One & Other Roundup Show, 2009, SKYARTS TV Liberty Bell Productions, Show 13, 11/10/09, excerpts available on Vimeo:http://vimeo.com/7442795
Engagement with professional associations and societies
Klaus is a member of the Association of Independent Showmen.
Klaus is a member of the Theatre and Performance Research Association. TaPRA
Klaus is a trustee of the Cornwall based Vertical Dance Company Yskynna
Professional esteem indicators
| Year | Description |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Arts Council England supports Living Structures' research and development of the production Varyon with £15,000. |
| 2016 | Klaus wins Hall for Cornwall Creation Space Grant to explore ideas for a new production. |
| 2014 | Arts Council England supports the London premiere of Living Structures' production Leviathan at Hackney Downs Studios London |
| 2013 | Living Structures are selected for their Edinburgh Trade Fair where the British Council creates a platform for their pick of some of the most interesting theatre and dance companies in contemporary UK performance to promote work with a panel of international producers. |
| 2013 | Klaus collaborates with Paris based architect Andrew Todd, to respond to an open call for proposals for the World Stage Design festival in Cardiff and their design proposal, for a theatre that uses bails of recycled paper, bamboo scaffolding, and a roof constructed from a recycled circus tent, is amongst the submissions that have been chosen to be exhibited at the festival. |
| 2012 | Theatro Espanol grants a month-long residency to Living Structures at Matadero Arts Centre in Madrid and co-produces the world premiere of the performance Leviathan. Klaus is invited to speak about his work on Mi Reino Por Un Caballo arts program on Spanish Television channel RTVE. |
| 2012 | Arts Council England supports Living Structures' research and development of the production Leviathan with £65,000. The project is co-produced by The Old Vic Tunnels and was premiered at Matadero Arts Centre in Madrid in 2012. The London premiere is scheduled for 2014. |
| 2011 | The Old Vic London brings Living Structures to perform Cart Macabre Centro Niemeyer in Aviles Spain to represent the best work that has bee produced at The Old Vic Tunnels. The show is perform alongside The Old Vic production of Richard lll directed by Sam Mendes and staring Kevin Spacey. |
| 2011 | Arts Council England supports Living Structures' research and development of the production Leviathan with £20,000. The project is co-produced by The Old Vic Tunnels. |
| 2010 | Arts Council England supports Living Structures' production Cart Macabre with £45,380. The project is co-produced by The Old Vic Tunnels. |
| 2010 | The Critometer http://www.culturecritic.co.uk lists Living Structures' 'Cart Macabre' amongst the most critically acclaimed shows. |
| 2010 | Libby Purves invites Klaus to speak about his work on BBC Radio 4 Midweek. Ruth Rach interviews Klaus for the national German radio station Deutchlandfunk. The Guardian Online interviews Klaus for a feature on Cart Macabre. The BBC 2 Review Show with Kirsty Wark interviews Klaus for a feature on Cart Macabre. |
| 2010 | An interview with Klaus conducted by the Wellcome Trust is selected to be included in Antony Gormley's book One & Other. |
