Book now and get CAD $60.00 off regular price. Remaining balance due on or before Oct 16, 2024 to qualify for CAD $60.00 off regular price. This offer valid until Oct 16, 2024. Package prices include room, regular tuition and meals.
  • Dorm bed (lower) - Participant – CAD $1,180.00
  • Basic Room - Shared - Participant – CAD $1,240.00
  • Basic Room - Private - Participant – CAD $1,420.00
  • Forestview - Shared - Participant – CAD $1,303.00
  • Forestview - Private - Participant – CAD $1,546.00
  • Oceanview Room - Private - Participant – CAD $1,750.00
  • Oceanview Suite - Private - Participant – CAD $1,840.00
  • Staying off-premise - Participant – CAD $1,060.00

Date & Time Details:
Nov 14th - dinner at 6pm, first session follows at 7:30pm
Nov 17th - finish with lunch

Location: In Person at The Haven

Address: 240 Davis Rd, Gabriola, BC

Contact: Haven Registrars, register@haven.ca
1-800-222-9211 ext 1

Email us about program

Act Natural: Rediscover the Play in Life

With Jane Geesman and Sarah Lucht

November 14 - 17, 2024

Rediscover the Play in Life

Connect with your creativity, purpose, and sense of aliveness in this unique workshop that blends actor-training techniques with Haven concepts of connection and relationship.

Act Natural is based on our belief that access to one’s unique emotional life and authentic energy is the richest foundation for creativity, honest expression, and passionate living – onstage and off. Accessing these inner resources can be inhibited by physical tension and limiting beliefs developed over a lifetime that can compromise our ability to fully connect and communicate. The Act Natural process includes actor-training and body-centered experiences to explore self-expression and the ways we hold ourselves back. Scene work, improv, movement, and storytelling offer opportunities for freer expression, renewed energy, and confidence in any endeavor.  And, let us not forget, an abundance of fun!

People who lead, teach, facilitate groups, or engage in public speaking find this program especially helpful in enhancing their skills and minimizing performance anxiety. Individuals enjoy personal growth and transformation in a fun and unique way. Couples find renewed connection and co-creativity as they grow together in an environment that encourages openness, curiosity, and freer self-expression.

This program is all about process, imagination, and tapping into your sense of play. Absolutely no prior acting experience is necessary! There is no final performance, but rather an exploration of expression in its many forms, what it means to be present, and trusting your creative instincts.

“One of the deepest, most impactful programs I’ve ever done. I deepened my relationship with myself and the others in the group through acting, laughter, dancing, playing and reconnecting with my inner child. I HIGHLY recommend this program!”

Participant- Shana J.

In Act Natural, you will:

  • Enhance focus, presence, and confidence
  • Connect to yourself and others with clarity and compassion
  • Identify obstacles that block creativity and self-expression
  • Tap into your inner resources in aid of communication, connection, and effective engagement
  • Experience the fun of creative collaboration and storytelling

“Jane and Sarah are masterful in their presentation and facilitation of this fabulous workshop! Amazing how much information and how many experiences they were able to fit into the few days. Their expertise, energy, love of the material, wonderful humour, ability to connect, the fun they have presenting, the integration/base of Haven philosophy, the relationship they have, all add up to a GREAT workshop.  It goes back on my ‘to do’ list!”   

Participant – J Cimbalo

Read more about how this program was created here.

Investment:

Our Earlybird tuition price of $775 is available to those registered up to one month prior to the program start.  Regular tuition is $835.  Full payment is due one month before the program start date regardless of tuition price.

We are offering private and shared room options.

You can find our cancellation policy here

Schedule:

Your program begins with dinner at 6pm and your first session at 7:30pm

Daily schedule:

  • Breakfast 8:00 – 9:00am
  • Morning session 9:15am to noon
  • Lunch noon to 1:00pm
  • Afternoon session 3:00 – 6:00pm
  • Dinner 6:00 – 7:00pm
  • Evening session 7:30 – 9:00pm

Your program finishes with lunch on the last day.

Transportation:

If you are travelling to Gabriola as a foot passenger on the Gabriola Ferry a shuttle to The Haven can be requested.  Information on this option will be included in your pre-arrival email.

 

 

Admission requirements: The student must have the desire and ability to learn.  Must demonstrate a capacity for responsible self care, responsible self organization and sound mental health.  The student must understand and speak English.

This program does not require approval by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.  As such, the registrar did not review this program. What does this mean? Click here to learn more.

Leaders

Jane Geesman
Jane Geesman MFA has over 40 years’ experience as an actor (onstage and on film), director and teacher, and has trained and/or led programs at The Haven since 1993. In 2001 she and Sarah Lucht developed Act Natural, a workshop that uses a blend of actor-training and personal-development concepts to explore communication,  creativity, and the obstacles within ourselves that stop us from fully expressing who we are and what we want.  Jane has a reputation for creating a safe, fun, and lively environment for people interested in developing their presence, confidence, and creative impulses, both professionally and personally.
Learn more about Jane Geesman
Sarah Lucht
Sarah Lucht is a professional actor, educator and coach. A member of Actors’ Equity and the Screen Actors Guild, she has 35 years’ experience in theatre, film and television. She has been training and leading programs at The Haven since 1995. With Jane Geesman she leads Act Natural, a program which combines actors’ training techniques with Haven concepts and models. Sarah and Jane have created a vehicle for exploring self-expression and creativity in the context of theatre arts. Sarah uses her expertise, warmth and humour to invite people to explore and express their intuition, presence and engagement with others. Website:…
Learn more about Sarah Lucht