Anthroposophical Society in Australia

The Creative Life of Language Workshop
2024-03-15 18:00 - 2024-03-17 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heart Fire Centre For Speech And Drama
Presents
An introductory workshop exploring the creatives forces of language

About the workshop

Through movement and Speech we will explore the creative forces of language; vowels as gateway to the soul, consonants as gateway to the world. Our work is based on the integration of Rudolf Steiner’s approach to speech and Michael Chekhov’s acting technique.
Facilitators

Dawn Langman, Katrina Stowe and Nicole Ostini

When

15 March 6pm-8pm
16 March 9am – 4pm
17 March 9am – 11am

Where
Samford Valley Steiner School Hall
5 Narrawa Crt
Wights Mountain 4520 QLD

Cost
Cost for the 3 day workshop $250 (self-catering)

Find out more

Contact Katrina Stowe or download the flyer
Registration close on Sunday 10th March 2024

About Heart Fire
Announcing a new speech and drama initiative inspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner,
Heart Fire Centre for Speech and Drama
Situated in proximity to Pacifica College of Eurythmy, Heart Fire is based in Samford Valley, Queensland and is the initiative of Nicole Ostini, Katrina Stowe and Dawn Langman. Dawn’s life work has been to research and develop an integrated speech and acting methodology based on Rudolf Steiner’s approach to the art of Speech and Michael Chekhov’s, also Anthroposophically inspired, art of acting. Nicole and Katrina are both graduates of the 4-year training developed by Dawn Langman since her arrival back in Australia in 1995. They are both performers and experienced teachers at primary, secondary and adult levels and have been working together with Dawn, over several years now, to lay the foundation for a full and part time training and an artistic ensemble that will continue the research into and development of the integrated speech and acting methodology.
Over the next years we are planning a series of introductory workshops that will provide opportunities for teachers and performers, intending or established, to experience the richness and transformative and health bestowing benefits of this approach. We are also working towards the possibility of a 4-year full-time training sometime in the future.
Introductory workshop
This workshop will be held at Samford Valley Steiner School just outside of Brisbane on Friday evening 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday morning 17th March 2024. Please see accompanying flyer.
Dawn Langman’s account of Heart Fire’s Methodology
The Heart Fire Centre for Speech and Drama is a fully integrated speech and acting methodology that has arisen out of many years of research into the impulse given by Rudolf Steiner for a renewal of the performing arts of the Word: drama, storytelling and poetry recital.
This impulse has been served by many pioneers over the years. One of the challenges that has faced all of us called to this work has been to develop an acting methodology that could seamlessly integrate with the groundbreaking work of Marie Steiner and her pupils to incarnate a renewal of the art of speech. Called Sprachgestaltung (in English, Speech Formation or Creative Speech) it trains the speaker to channel the divine creative activity of the macrocosmic beings of the stars and planets as it manifests through the sounds of language, the consonants and vowels.
Initially the acting side of the process relied on the already existing talent and /or professional experience of those who first trained with Marie Steiner. The demands of the speech work in those early years were so huge and all-consuming in themselves that the need for a fully articulated acting process equally grounded in the spiritual scientific lawfulness that Anthroposophy provides was not immediately clear. However, in recent years the further evolution of the speech work and the potential that it has to make a contribution to the wider culture, has been challenged by the lack of such a process.
Over the lifetime of my own work and search for answers to these questions, including an initial mainstream speech and acting training followed by my deep immersion in the art of Speech Formation, I was fortunate to discover and train in the acting methodology developed by the great Russian actor Michael Chekhov. He is acknowledged as one of the great actors, and teachers of acting, of the twentieth century. It was his destiny to function in the mainstream world of film and theatre and to translate the spiritual lawfulness of Anthroposophy into language and processes that could inspire and school the actors’ artistic striving whether or not they were consciously in search of the spiritual dimension of their art. His achievement at this level has meant that it has only been more recently acknowledged how deeply his work was embedded in the spiritual scientific principles of Rudolf Steiner.
It was not in Chekhov’s destiny to master the art of Speech Formation. It was his work to lay the foundation of a spiritually scientific acting process. However, he fully recognized and spoke about the role of both speech formation and eurythmy in developing capacities that actors and artists of the spoken word will need for theatre to fulfil its function in the future. In ways appropriate to our evolving present consciousness, it must be able to reveal the spiritual realities at work within our human destinies and evolution, explore the mystery of ‘why we are here and why we suffer’. (Olga’s final speech from The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov.)
The Three Streams:
The Heart Fire methodology consists fundamentally of a systematic exploration of each of the three streams of work that makes possible their thorough integration at each level of the process.
Chekhov’s spiritual/psycho/physical acting methodology: Chekhov’s psycho-physical exercises attune our body/soul/ instrument to be an organ of perception and expression that provides a healthy basis in movement and gesture for accessing the emotional life of the actor and the revelations of the soul and spirit as they manifest in drama, poetry and story.
Speech Formation/ Creative Speech: An exploration of the consonants, vowels, rhythms and other elements of language, leads to the initial experience that words are not just agreed abstract symbols that carry information to our brains but have the power to create events and awaken and refine our deepest life of thought and feeling. Further training transforms us step by step into conscious co- creators with the spiritual powers, through whose Word we and all things are created.
Eurythmy: Through this art of movement the basic elements of speech eurythmy deepen and intensify our work with vowels and consonants. As we progress further, we are introduced to the cosmic gestures that reveal the inner life of the macrocosmic beings of the stars and planets who so intimately weave into the evolving consciousness of human beings as expressed through drama, poetry and story.
The integration of these streams enriches the artistic striving of actors, storytellers and reciters by providing an objective path to dimensions of reality not otherwise accessible.
Please pass this information on to anyone who you think may be interested.
For further information
Nicole Ostini or Katrina Stowe

The Farmer as the Priest of the Land: Ueli Hurter Tour QLD
2024-05-13 - 2024-05-14 | Varied
Bio-Dynamics Centennial Recognition Events
The Biodynamics Centenary Tour
Queensland 13th-14th May 2024

QLD Biodynamics has organised a series of events celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Rudolf Steiner’s Agriculture lectures, which in time became known as the birth of bio-dynamic agriculture. These events are part of a suite of events across Australia and New Zealand designed to celebrate the BioDynamics centenary
To acknowledge the centenary, Ueli Hurter from Switzerland, the head of biodynamics globally, is undertaking a speaking tour of Australia in May. Ueli Hurter visits biodynamic farms and can report on their health and success.
Find out more about Ueli Hurter’s Biodynamics Centenary Tour
Queensland Program
The Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May events on the program below include two public keynote presentations by Ueli Hurter the global head of Bio-Dynamic Agriculture.
As can be seen in the program, there is a mix of community and biodynamic activities. Each of these activities represents different facets of the role Biodynamics can/does play in responding to major challenges all of us face, such as climate change.
These challenges will be the focus of two public presentations by Ueli Hurter on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th May.
Download the QLD program
Cost
Open the members of the Anthroposophical Society and the general public
All events attendance/participation require registration so that venues can be adequately prepared. There will be a small registration fee to cover the venue costs for the public presentations. All other events are free of charge.
For more information
Please contact Rob Birse or phone 0431 895 168 or 0480 231 171.

The Art of Acting Workshop
2024-07-26 18:00 - 2024-07-28 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heart Fire Centre For Speech And Drama Presents

Drama workshop at Samford Valley Steiner School
Friday 26th July – Sunday 28th July 2024

About the workshop
Through the integration of Rudolf Steiner’s approach to speech and Michael Chekhov’s acting technique, we will explore the development of character, dramatic mood and interaction.

Find out more
Find out more about Heart Fire Centre
Download the details of the workshop
Where
Samford Valley Steiner School Hall
5 Narrawa Crt
Wights Mountain 4520 QLD
When
6pm-8pm 26 July 2024 9am – 4pm 27 July 2024 9am – 11am 28 July 2024
Cost
Cost for the 3 day workshop
$250 plus booking fee
$25 optional Saturday night dinner

Facilitators
Dawn Langman, Katrina Stowe and Nicole Ostini

For more information
Enquiries: Katrina Stowe
Bookings
Registration closes on Friday 12th July 2024

Book here!

Download the poster

Feature image: courtesy of Raphaela Mazzone

Pop-Up Eurythmy Week #2
2024-09-30 08:30 - 2024-10-04 14:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Pacifica College of Eurythmy
presents

Speaking Lyric Poetry Workshop
2024-10-04 18:00 - 2024-10-06 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heart Fire Centre for Speech and Drama
presents

More about the workshop
Download the Introduction to Speaking Lyric Poetry
Download the event flyer.
Find out more about the Heart Fire Centre Approach to Speech and Drama

Into the Next Hundred Years
2025-03-27 15:30 - 17:30 (Australia/Brisbane) | 8 Narrawa Rd, Wights Mountain, Brisbane, QLD, 8 Narrawa Rd, Wight's Mountain, QLD, 4520, Australia
Invitation
Into the Next Hundred Years

You are warmly invited to celebrate Rudolf Steiner’s life and work through eurythmy, biodynamic preparation stirring, short contributions, stories, conversations, a bonfire and … please bring a plate to share some food.

Hosted by the No 8 Community and students of Pacifica College of Eurythmy.
Thursday 27th March
3.30 pm AEST prompt start
8 Narrawa Rd,
Wights Mountain QLD 4520,
Please park at Samford Valley Steiner School.

Creative Life of Language Workshop
2025-03-28 18:00 - 2025-03-30 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heart Fire Centre For Speech And Drama
Presents

Bookings
Book here!
For more information

Mercedes Logan

The Life Of Gesture Part 1
2025-08-15 18:00 - 2025-08-17 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heart Fire Centre For Speech And Drama
presents

Bookings

Feature image: courtesy of Heart Fire Centre

The Life Of Gesture Part 2
2025-11-07 18:00 - 2025-11-09 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520

A Conversation Circle with Jane Bradshaw and Michelle Vette
2025-11-16 12:00 - 16:00 (Australia/Brisbane) | 8 Narrawa Rd, Wights Mountain, Brisbane, QLD, 8 Narrawa Rd, Wight's Mountain, QLD, 4520, Australia
Salutations to one and all!

Members and friends of the Anthroposophical Society are invited to lunch and a conversation circle with Jane Bradshaw (General Secretary of the ASinA) and Michelle Vette (General Secretary ASinNZ) on 16th November 2025 at Wight’s Mountain, Samford Valley, QLD.

Conversation Circle

Theme: Beyond 100 years … what is now being asked of us? Are we awake to the call of the time?
Everyone with an interest in Anthroposophy is welcome to come along.

Download the flyer

When
12.00 pm AEST on Sunday 16th November 2025
Program
Lunch will be at noon, then at 1pm the Conversation Circle.
Please bring food to share; and let Susan Margaret know if you plan to come. And feel free to share this invitation.
Where
Pacifica Eurythmy Studio,
No. 8 Narrawa Road,
Wights Mountain,
Samford Valley, QLD
More information
Jane and Michelle will be in Noosa Heads from 10-15th November, Brisbane on 16th November, and travelling south on 17th November. If you would like to make personal contact with Jane please email her.
If you have any questions about the conversation circle, please email Susan Margaret for clarification.

Celebrating the life of Ita Wegman: A community offering
2026-02-22 10:30 - 12:30 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Feature image: Ita Wegman aged 52 in Breslau, 1928, courtesy of WALA Heilmittel GmbH’s historical company archive.

Creative Life Of Consonants And Vowels
2026-03-13 18:00 - 2026-03-16 11:00 (Australia/Sydney) | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heartfire Centre For Speech And Drama
Presents

About the workshop

Feature image:painting© Katherine Rudolph

From Page to Stage: Bringing A Midsummer's Night's Dream To Life
2026-06-12 - 2026-06-14 | Samford Valley Steiner School, 5 Narrawa Drive, Wights Mountain, Qld, 4520
Heartfire Centre For Speech And Drama
Presents

About the workshops

Feature image: Scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Titania and Bottom, Edwin Landseer
