An Invitation to Crete from Yorgos

Dear Labbers,

Every year I am deeply touched when it comes time for the official announcement of our annual gathering in Crete.

In the past, we referred to it as a residency or a mentorship. Since last year, however, we have consciously shifted to calling it a retreat. A residency suggests a more fixed structure, whereas a retreat allows space—for expansion, rest, openness, and listening. This change reflects the way we now work together: with greater warmth, curiosity, and responsiveness to what emerges.

We work spontaneously at different times each day. We use nature as our landscaper and as the ground for our inquiry. We swim, practice grounding in the sand, and open questions on acting, deconditioning, artistic aspirations, mental blocks, and social conditioning by the sea. We take silent walks in the forest, play games among the trees, rehearse in the ancient theatre, and then return to the studio to make art with all of it.

We also take time. The questions we raise—individually and collectively—are given space to unfold, so that potential answers and pathways can emerge while we are still in Crete. Actors leave having integrated the work. We stay together for six days. We learn from one another.

I am present and running the retreat throughout all six days, holding one clear question: how can I best stay in dialogue with each one of you, so that together we arrive at the questions that truly matter for you? Questions that help us understand your natural way into performance, the areas you already embody with ease, and the obstacles we can gently resolve together—so you can thrive in expressing your artistic spirit freely.

Filming the text work is now an integral part of the process and an organic culmination of our time together. You will leave the retreat with a tape that has, in many cases, led to actors being cast without even going through a traditional audition process—or opened the door to significant, career-changing opportunities.

Alongside the artistic work, we also support the body. As part of our grounding and integration process, we include energizing fitness training with our wonderful, smiley, motivational, and wisely spirited Dimitris Logothetis, as well as deeply restorative massages from our excellent practitioners.

The retreat has one clear goal: for each of you to reach personal freedom—to reach artistic freedom—to fully embody your free spirit. We move toward this through self-inquiry, shared learning, and the support of a group of like-minded spirits walking this path together.

It is raining heavily in Athens today, but in my heart it is sunny. I can already see myself in Crete, with a beautiful group of people, riding a journey of self-discovery this summer.

I hope to have you there.

YOU ARE INVITED

Sending you all my love,