The Parsifal Project: a community arts project
2022-06-13 - 2025-05-04 | Living Arts Centre, Mt Barker School, 27 Sims Road, Mount Barker, SA, 5251
The Parsifal Project

The Parsifal Project is a community project that aspires towards a contemporary envisioning of the famous medieval legend, one that recontextualises the Parsifal legend for a modern multicultural audience.
What is it about?
Writers, poets, philosophers and artists tell us that myths and legends hold spiritual insights into the sacred wisdom of past cultures, but what about the spiritual insights we need to navigate our current world? Drawing on the cultural heritages we bring with us, the Parsifal Project seeks find meaningful resonance between this medieval myth and contemporary intergenerational audiences.
Using the talents of a diverse cast and a script written by playwright Peter Oswald, the project aims to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the Parsifal legend in light of Anthroposophy, as a cosmopolitan Michaelic impulse and as a metaphor for modern human development. The story is our future; if so, its mythic themes could be critical to today’s youth, to all of us.
Whether your interest is in the spiritual foundations of the legend, the literature, creative writing or performing, there is something here for anyone and everyone fascinated by the whole collection of Grail legends and its interpretations, medieval or modern, book or film.
Timeline for the project
The project has five stages highlighting different arts and media:

June – July 2022: Parsifal Unpacked
Completed. Explored the original story through performance, literary text and thematic discussion.
September – November 2022: Parsifal Reimagined
Completed. A series of writing workshops where we reimagine the story through the lens of current cultural perspectives.
January 2023 – November 2023 : Parsifal Rescripted
Ongoing script development in conjunction with performance-based creative development intensives with on-the-floor exploration on the themes explored in Stages 1 and 2.
February 2024 – February 2025: Parsifal Reinterpreted
Auditions, eurythmy and music workshops from February. Rehearsals begin in April 2024, using the script based on Parsifal Rescripted.
April -May 2025: The Parsifal Project performance
Saturday 26 April at 5.30 pm ACST
Saturday 3rd May at at 5.30 pm ACST
Sunday 4th May at 2.30 pm ACST
Venue: Living Arts Centre, Mount Barker Waldorf School, Mt Barker, SA

Project Director: Jo-anne Sarre, Artistic Director of Ink Pots Arts
Jo-anne Sarre has worked in the performing arts sector as a freelance director, actor, storyteller, playwright and educator since her four-year Speech and Drama training at The Harkness Studio, Sydney in 1986. She has a Diploma of Teaching (Primary 1980-1982), a Diploma of Creative Speech and Drama (The Harkness Studio in conjunction with The Goetheanum School of Spiritual Science 1983-1986) and first-class Honours in Drama (Flinders University 2009). Other trainings include MICHA in the US and various Michael Chekhov practitioners in the UK and Europe (1997-2009).
Jo-anne has performed in local, national and international arenas as an independent performing artist including as a freelance storyteller, with the Aphaia Eurythmy Group (Poetry Recitation), and as an actor with Ink Pot Theatre, The Rose Theatre Company and Portal Productions UK (The Soul’s Awakening). During her career, she has trained Steiner/Waldorf teachers across Australia (Rudolf Steiner College, Sheoak College), in the UK (Emerson College), India and China. This includes supporting teachers in their own artistic development in poetry recitation, storytelling, acting and directing as well as assisting in classrooms, directing plays etc with both primary and high school students. In 2016, she was also Assistant Voice Coach at Flinders University Drama Centre with Dawn Langman.
As co-founder of Ink Pot Theatre (the professional touring company) and founding Artistic Director of Ink Pot Arts Inc (a community arts not-for-profit), she has been actively engaged in bringing high-quality theatre as a catalyst for personal transformation and community cultural development inspired by Anthroposophy.

Feature image credit: Seamus McArdle
Photo credit: Jo-anne Sarre

“Most societies have come to define themselves by their historical myths and national narratives. We are, who we say we are… People grow up believing they live within a story … what is the story we believe we are living within? Where is our narrative going? “
Prof. David Blight, 2009

Coloured Light and Coloured Shadows Workshops
2024-11-09 - 2025-03-22 | Victoria
Callout to participants!
Are you intrigued to be working with living coloured light and luminous coloured shadows to create different realms that our Faust experiences?
Movers, dancers, artists, speech and drama actors, and those interested in the magic of puppets are invited to research and create with us in collaborative weekly workshops.
Download the flyer
When
Weekly workshop from November 2024 to March 2025.
Contact us
Contact us through our website or email Venessa Crane.

Spirit in Human, Human in Spirit: Investigations with Painting
2025-02-14 14:00 - 2025-05-09 16:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Victoria
Painted Space Studio presents
A course in the spiritual/physical nature of the human being

“In the head the power of faith;
in the heart the might of love ;
in the full human being, all-sustaining hope.”
Rudolf Steiner

Rudolf Steiner’s picture imaginations arose from direct experiences of the spirit. He captured many of these pictures in his pastels sketches and paintings, called the Training Sketches for the Artist. He suggested that working artistically with these sketches would act as an impulse in us to find new directions for the future of art as a path for spiritual-scientific inquiry.
This online masterclass in painting over seven fortnightly sessions examines the human being in connection to the spirit from three different perspectives: the spiritual impulse in the human being, the human impulse in the spiritual world, and the threefold human being as spirit, soul and body.
We use three of Steiner’s training sketches as our starting point for this exploration.
What are Steiner’s Training Sketches?
The Training Sketches can be seen as ‘picture seeds’ and were given to the artists in answer to a request from the painter Henni Geck for a new impulse in art. Henni Geck (1884-1951) was the first painter to use these indications.
Who is the course for?

For Steiner teachers, artists, art therapists and art students seeking to understand the hidden forces of Cosmos and Nature.

Painting skills and understanding of core anthroposophic principles recommended to get the most out of this course.
Selected readings by Rudolf Steiner complement the practical work.
When is it?
14 February-9 May 2025, Fridays 2pm-4pm AEDT
Seven fortnightly classes plus recording
Cost
$280 AUD/$190 USD for ongoing participants
$290 for PD certificate or for new participants enrolling only in this course.
Video recordings included in the fee, available for private study.
Book here!
You will be sent the payment details and a list of suggested materials and readings after booking.
The Zoom link is sent one (1) day before the workshop begins.
For more information
Contact Fiona Campbell

Feature image: The Threefold Human Being © Rudolf Steiner Verlag

The inner nature of colour: as pictorial, as luminous
2025-02-14 14:00 - 2025-05-10 16:00 | Online
A Painted Space Studio workshop

When we experience the life of colour,
we step out of our own skins and take part in cosmic life.
Rudolf Steiner

Colour as a way to the spirit
This online painting course offers the opportunity for a deeper experience and understanding of the inner nature of colour. Building on Goethe’s Theory of Colour, yet quite different from it, Rudolf Steiner shows us the world of colour as one might experience it in the soul world.
About Steiner’s colour circle
We work in conjunction with Rudolf Steiner’s colour circle and Colour lectures (CW 291, CW 275). In these lectures, Steiner describes the colours as having either a pictorial (image) and or a luminous (lustre) nature. We explore what this means for our understanding and experience of colour that has implications for how we perceive what we call ‘reality’.
In this approach, Steiner lays a foundation for a practical technique of working with colour that leads us to a new form of artistic creativity, a new way of understanding of colour, which is the central of the anthroposophic approach to painting.
Who is it for?

For artists, art therapists and art students looking to find a path of soul/spiritual development through the arts.
For anyone pursuing a deeper understanding of the anthroposophic approach to art, colour and painting.
For participants in the 2nd year of Art as a Path of Schooling for the Soul.

Desirable background:: experience of working with Goethe’s Theory of Colour.
Recommended: basic watercolour wet-on-dry or veiling skills (you can use wet-on-wet or pastel if preferred, but wet-on-dry watercolour painting is recommended).
Background readings: Steiner’s Colour lectures Part I: ‘The Nature of Colour’
When is it?
15 February-10 May 2025, Saturdays 3pm-5pm AEDT
Seven fortnightly classes plus recording
Cost
$300 AUD/$195 USD
$310 for PD certificate
Video recording and handouts included in the fee.

Book here!

The payment options, Zoom link, and list of materials will be sent after booking.
For more information
Contact Fiona Campbell
This course also a core component of Art as a Path of Schooling for the Soul. It follows on from Working with Colour Moods. Together, they are integral to the anthroposophic (Steiner) approach to colour and painting.

Feature image: Steiner’s Colour circle

Me and My Shadows
2025-03-07 - 2025-03-15 | Kameroi Rudolf Steiner School, 220 Forest Way,, Belrose, NSW, 2085, Australia
Spiritual Science revealed in Goethe’s masterpiece Faust
Read our leaflet

You are warmly invited to attend our performance. We are endeavouring to bring some of what Steiner brought of the mysteries revealed in Goethe’s “Faust” in the weeks leading to the centenary of Steiner’s crossing of the threshold.
Download the poster
What is it about?

Me and My Shadows is a multimedia performance that brings the power of Goethe’s and Steiner’s words with original score played by live musicians, Eurythmy movement and coloured light and coloured shadow and puppetry art in community. Performances will take place in March 2025 at Rudolf Steiner School theatre.
This production of Faust will bring a modernised translation using Goethe words. In addition, a new character -‘The Teacher’ will present Steiner’s explanations of the strange experiences Goethe wrote as his characters cross the threshold into different spiritual realms. Steiner was deeply impressed with the accuracy of Goethe’s descriptions, even naming the temples he designed, after Goethe, Steiner had the intention of creating a space that would honour and support productions of Faust (and his own ‘Mystery Plays‘) and might even be able to communicate with the plays,
Faust reimagined
This re-imagining of the 17th -18th Century play Faust explores relevant and crucial contemporary themes such as an epidemic, mental health, struggles with addiction, trauma, cancelling, experiences with spiritual beings and living life as a flawed human being who causes much destruction and pain.
Me and my Shadows will be presented by many creatives as a collaboration of writer and composer, actors, musicians, choir, eurythmy, light and coloured shadow artists and crew to bring to the beautiful little theatre at Kamaroi School ,Belrose Sydney in March 2025.
Gratitude for the St John Sydney Group, The Christian Community Sydney, Kamaori Rudolf Steiner School, The Anthroposophical Society in Australia, Inala, members from Lorien Novalis Steiner School, Gleneaon Steiner School, the School of Spiritual Science and the many individuals who have already dedicated hundreds of hours for their practical and financial support.
Performance dates
2025
Friday 7 March at 7.30pm Opening night
Saturday 8 March at 2.00pm.
Senior accessible session

Friday 14 March at 7.30pm
Saturday 15 March at 2.00pm
Where
Kamaroi Rudolf Steiner School
220 Forest Way, Belrose NSW 2085
For more information
Please contact us
Bookings
Book here!

Working with Colour Moods
2025-03-08 15:00 - 2025-05-03 17:00 | Online
If I delve deeper into the characters of the different colours, they show me their dynamic qualities. Out my experience, I can then let the colours guide me.
Beppe Assenza

This course introduces the iconic wet-on-dry (layering/veiling) technique, where translucent coloured surfaces are continually overlaid with each other, so that new colours and new surfaces arise out of their meeting. From this colour interplay, forms gradually arise.
This is Rudolf Steiner’s preferred technique for any painting that seeks to build a bridge to the spirit. It is not an easy skill to develop but very satisfying to master. In this course, we use the Assenza approach to introduce the technique and use it to explore colour’s moods and dynamics in free composition.
Find out why we prefer watercolour over acrylics and oils in this short article.
What is the Assenza approach ?
Beppe Assenza (1905-1985) was inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s colour theory to work phenomenologically with colours i.e. out of our lived experience of painting them, rather than out of any prescribed theory. The Assenza method is both free and playful and yet methodological in its exploration of the language of colour. it is also a good foundation to classic veil painting.
The Assenza approach focuses on developing creativity as well as painting skills.
Who is it for?

For anyone interested in learning the wet-on-dry watercolour technique.
For artists, art therapists and Steiner (Waldorf) teachers who want to deepen their understanding of colour (PD certificates available).

When is it?
3.00 pm-5.00 pm AEDT, Saturdays, 8 March-3 May 2025
Four fortnightly sessions plus video recording
Cost
$220 AUD/$145 USD
$230 for PD certificate
Video recordings included in the fee, available for private study.

BOOK HERE

The payment options, Zoom link, and a list of materials will be sent to you after booking.

For more information

This course also a core component of Art as a Path of Schooling for the Sou.. It follows on from the introductory workshop, Working with Colour, Out of Colour. Together, they provide a sound foundation in the anthroposophic (Steiner) approach to colour and painting.

Contact

Feature image: Green Mood, © Fiona Campbell

Spiritual Food for BD Farmers and Home Gardeners
2025-03-13 19:00 - 2025-04-10 20:30 | Online
Spirit in Matter

presents

5 Consecutive Lectures
Spiritual Food for
BD Farmers and Home Gardeners
All Welcome
with

Johannes Schuster

When
Starting 13th March, 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm AEDT
Cost
Join the Full Lecture Series: Early Bird Price: AUD$72 (Until February 20)
Regular price: AUD $97 | Couples: AUD $144 | Concession: AUD$72
Register for Free Lecture

Register for remaining Lectures

Find out more
Watch an introduction to the the theme

Visit the website or contact for more information.

Inscribing Signs with a Finger Dipped in Light...
2025-03-14 - 2025-11-01 | Victoria
Professional Education
Towards A Cultural-Spiritual Approach to Dying and Death
Our aim is to develop a sincere, earnest relationship with Death, an understanding of the individual path of dying, and the deep reverence and honouring of the actual, autonomous moment of death. Through Anthroposophy we can discover death is the most sacred moment in our life. Through this course, we develop with you Spiritual-Cultural approaches and creative processes that encourage you to contemplate dying and death in your own life, that enable you, as a Companion, to use this transformative knowledge and spiritual awareness autonomously and with integrity to support those journeying towards the threshold. We offer: a deep study of anthroposophy, visual art and sculpture, music, eurythmy and creative speech, poetry, creative writing, oral storytelling and folktale research. We all work out of our professional and personal insights and spiritual understanding and invite you to bring your own individual spirituality to the course content.
There is a further increasingly urgent concern we address: the way our fear of death and dying has separated us from life imbued with Spirit and pushed us deeper into materialism and consequently, onto a path of destruction we now know by the term of ‘omnicide’. Our course is shaped by our resolve to find new approaches to dying and death not only for our own sake, but for the sake of Earth’s healing and health, the sacred interconnectedness of life, and the evolution of humanity towards freedom and love.

Who is the course for?
This Schooling Course is a spiritual pathway to understand dying, death and rebirth. It is not a hands-on home care course as we feel these are offered by others with competence and commitment. What we offer is a process of inner development for those of you dedicated to accompanying the dying with your authentic spiritual insights through cultural and creative means. We recommend our Course if you wish to care for family and friends, your community, or consciously prepare yourself for death, are grieving a loved one, or seeking greater understanding of the journey beyond the threshold. Our Course equally provides personal and professional development if you seek greater emotional intelligence, self- awareness and lifelong learning in relation to your profession, for example: counsellors, health practitioners and therapists, carers, social- and support workers, educators, and those who wish to care for the newly deceased, such as funeral personnel and celebrants.
Course intention

To facilitate a process through which participants develop their own healthy and integrated relationship to dying and death
To educate and mentor participants who intend to become trusted Companions of the dying, and accompaniment of those who have crossed the threshold
To enable participants to offer, where appropriate, artistic and contemplative activity for, or with, the dying and their loved-ones as ways to experience threshold crossings

Find out more
Introductory video to the course
Prospectus
Please explore the prospectus and contact us with any questions. A detailed programme will be available ion application.
Please direct enrolment inquiries to Iris Curteis
Contact
Iris Curteis 0487 719 476

Feature Image: courtesy of Iris Curteis
