Björn Leese

Björn Leese serves as Professor of Scenic Bodywork in the Department of Drama at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart (HMDK Stuttgart) since October 1, 2023. With 27 years of international performance experience across 43 countries on five continents, he specializes in physical theatre through collaborations with Familie Flöz at major festivals including Edinburgh Fringe, London International Mime Festival, and Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival.

His educational foundation was established through Pantomime/Physical Theatre studies at Folkwang University of the Arts (1991-1996), where he developed core methodologies for theatrical body expression.

Leese's research centers on transforming the actor's body into a precise instrument for non-verbal communication, exploring how inner attitudes manifest through posture, breathing, and rhythm. His pedagogy systematically deconstructs habitual movement patterns using tempo, energy levels, tension states, and stage balance to cultivate characters that become 'visible and tangible' to audiences. The Neutral Mask and Character Mask serve as critical tools for unlocking physical imagination and creating vivid, unique personas through breath-driven improvisation.

His acclaimed theatre productions form the practical basis of his academic work:

• Ristorante Immortale (1997) - Cavalcade Edinburgh Fringe Festival winner
• Teatro Delusio (2004) - Schwerte Cabaret Prize recipient
• Haydi! (2014) - Monica Bleibtreu Prize winner
• Dr. Nest (2018) - Festival Almada Portugal Audience Award

Leese's teaching methodology develops actors through structured progression: match training establishes physical fundamentals, scenic body work analyzes movement patterns to transcend personal physicality, and mask work transforms performers into new beings. His FLÜNK recording studio extends this practice into sound design for film and stage, demonstrating integrated artistic application. Current workshops globally focus on gravity, tension levels, body centers, and the dynamic interplay of character, space, and time.