International Performance Residency

A global residency designed to inspire and broaden the artist in any discipline & at any stage in their career, deepening their relationship with collaborative performance in an intercultural context.

Calling all

Actors

• Musicians

• Dancers

• Directors

• Designers

• Dramaturgs

• Choreographers

• Playwrights

• Actors • Musicians • Dancers • Directors • Designers • Dramaturgs • Choreographers • Playwrights •

2026
Residency

Applications are now open!

OYL substack

The International Performance Residency is a series of global residencies designed to inspire and broaden the artist in any discipline & at any stage in their career, deepening their relationship with collaborative performance in an intercultural context.

Work with OYL Theater Company in the remote, breathtaking locations of Varadenahalli Village, India; Lake Nojiri, Japan; and Papingo, Greece. Intrinsic to artistic activities, programming also includes excursions into the cultural and natural landscapes of each country.

In 2026 OYL’s International Residency in all three countries will focus on dreams and mythology. In Greece the performances will be an original devised work centering around the myth of Orpheus.

OYL welcomes artists of all disciplines (actors, musicians, dancers, directors, designers, dramaturgs, choreographers, playwrights) to apply at any stage in their studies and/or career. We aim to create an international company that is cross-disciplinary, multigenerational, and multicultural.

OYL’s artistic team differs per country.

The Residencies

OYL India - in collaboration with Infinite Souls Artists Retreat

2 Weeks – Arrive Bengaluru 6/14/2026 & Depart Bengaluru 6/27/2026

Public Sharings: Create and participate in a public sharing centered on a Kannada folk story for the village of Vardenhalli.
Workshops & Curated Performances: Study with guest artists such as Kirtana Kumar, Akhshay Gandhi, Maya Krishna Rao, and Konarak Reddy; Study the ancient art form of Konnakol; Take a makeup workshop with Theatre Yaksha; Attend uniquely curated performances of a vast array of Indian performing arts, such as Yakshagana, Dalit film-makers and activists, Rumi Harish, Konarak Reddy, and more

Culture: Live in residency at Infinite Souls Artists Retreat (read their blog here) in the South Indian state of Karnataka; Participate in a cooking workshop with recipes native to Karnataka; Speak and Walk with conservationists native to the region; Trek the landscape around Savandurga – one of the largest monoliths in Asia; Enjoy South Indian cuisine; Experience the beauty of the South Indian monsoon season

OYL Japan

2 Weeks – Arrive Tokyo 6/28/2026 & Depart Tokyo 7/11/2026

Public Sharings: Create and participate in a public sharing for the community of Nagano prefecture.
Workshops: Study with Noh artist Jinya Imai; Participate in Nuhon-buyō workshops with Kabuki artist Hanayagi Taechizu; Play the largest Taiko Drum in the world with Taiko Drum master, Kensaku Sato; Work with contemporary musicians, including Ren Kosaka; Suzuki and Viewpoints; Alignment and Body Awareness work.
Culture: Attend a Kabuki performance in Tokyo; Visit active Buddhist Temples and Shinto Shrines in and around Nagano; Live on Lake Nojiri; Forest Bathe in the Sasagamine Forest; Experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and make Soba noodles; Enjoy Japanese cuisine; Experience Japanese village life.

OYL Greece

4 Weeks – Arrive Ioannina 7/13/2026 & Depart Athens 8/10/2026

Performances: Create and perform an original work in Greek in 5 to 7 village squares in the Epirus region.
Workshops: Acting workshops including music, dance, modern Greek chorus; Greek language; Suzuki; Viewpoints; clown; and more.
Culture: Attend a show at the ancient theater of Dodoni; Visit up to two archeological sites (in years past this has included ancient Corinth, Delphi, and the Acropolis); Live in the Vikos-Aoos National UNESCO geopark; Attend a Panagiri, the annual festival hosted by the village; Raft on the Voidomatis River; climb the peak of Astraka and stay overnight in the mountain refuge; visit the Dragon Lakes.

OYL India, Japan, & Greece

We also welcome artists who are interested in attending a combination of 2 or all 3 legs of the OYL International Performance Residency.

The Details

Dates

OYL India = 6/14/2026 - 6/27/2026

OYL Japan = 6/28/2026 - 7/11/2026

OYL Greece = 7/13/2026 - 8/10/2026

Full Residency = 6/14/2026 - 8/10/2026

People

OYL artistic team to be announced. Read artist bios from past years here, and read testimonials from past participants here.

Program Cost

$1,250 per week inclusive of all tuition, meals, transportation within each country, and housing. (Not included in program cost: international flights and Insurance)

OYL India = $2,500

OYL Japan = $2,500

OYL Greece = $5,000

Full Residency = $10,000

There is a non-refundable application fee of $49.00.

Financial Assistance

The Babis Gousias Memorial Fund is committed to help applicants in need of financial assistance. The Fund application will open in December, and must be completed after submitting an application to the Residency. Find more information on the Fund HERE.

2026 Practicalities

Flights

Participants arrange and pay for all their own international flights and are expected to arrive and depart each city on the dates listed above. Please note that for Greece the arrival airport is Ioannina (IOA) and the departure one is Athens (ATH).
In all three countries OYL will arrange all transportation to and from the airport. Participants joining for all three countries will be advised what airlines OYL is using for their staff between countries no later than April 1st so that they can coordinate flights when possible.

Accommodations and Meals

While in India, Japan, and Greece all accommodations, internal travel, and meals are provided by OYL. Accommodations will differ in each country and will range between dormitory style housing to bed-and-breakfast style. Three meals per day are provided.
Dietary needs will be respected, but options may be limited and differ per country.

Insurance

OYL requires all participants to obtain travel insurance prior to arriving at the residency. www.insuremytrip.com is a very useful website to compare and purchase travel insurance policies appropriate for your situation.

Physical Preparation

The OYL International Performance Residency is a highly physical undertaking, yet designed carefully to be attainable for all. Expect to walk at least 3 miles a day, both up and down hill. We strongly encourage basic daily fitness activities in advance of the residency. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us to discuss at ianthe@oneyearlease.org and we will work with you to make the program attainable for you.

Application Information

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 15, 2026. If any program fills up before March, OYL will close applications for that program.

Each application is carefully reviewed by a panel of the OYL Artistic Staff. Selection and participation is wholly based on the quality of the written and material submissions as well as an interview following the application. Spots are strictly limited and highly competitive, with a capacity of 25 participants. Consequently, applicants are encouraged to apply early, and to take time and care in their written responses. The Residency is designed college-level artists as well as artists at any stage of their career. All applicants must be at least 18 years old to apply.

At time of submission, you will be asked to supply the following: