Embodied Devising

Devised theater for every body (beginner-friendly, trauma-informed, transformational)

 

Hi, I’m Abby. I’m a psychotherapist, yoga teacher, and maker who believes play and presence belong in everyday life. Embodied Devising is my signature program that combines simple theater tools with embodiment and mindfulness to help you feel more at home in your body, connect with others, and make something from nothing—no experience required.

 

If you’ve never heard of “devised theater,” here’s the plain-language version:

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We arrive, we connect, we experiment, we create a piece of theater together, and we reflect on what we noticed. That’s it—simple, human, and surprisingly nourishing.

 

 

Why theater… even for people who don’t "do theater"?

 

Because your body already tells stories. When we give it a little structure and a safe space to express, three things happen:

 

-Stress releases. Gentle, guided movement + breath help your nervous system down-shift.

-Expression returns. Playful prompts (a word, a gesture, a rhythm) unlock voice, movement, and imagination—even if you’re shy or nervous about performance.

-Connection heals. Making things together (without judgement) is medicine. You leave feeling connected and alive.

 

It’s therapeutic, but not therapy: we respect feelings and insight, but we’re not doing counseling or re-enacting personal trauma. You’ll always have choices and never feel pressured to share anything personal.​

 

 

What we actually do (step by step)

 

I guide you through a simple rhythm I call E.A.S.E.—in everyday words:

 

Embody: A short, calming check-in: breathe, orient to the present, notice what's showing up today, and drop into your body.

Attune: Connect with the group through low-stakes partner/ensemble exercises that build trust and start to shape the collaborative environment.

Shape: The process of devising something out of nothing. We play with a prompt—maybe three words pulled from a hat, a quick writing exercise, a concept or theme—and put it “on its feet” as a tiny scene or movement piece.

Express: We express in many ways: through our devised creations, through sharing our ideas, through reflection questions that spark insight into how the patterns showing up in our devised work reflect patterns in our lives. 

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 These four steps interweave throughout our time together to create a transformational experience. You’ll leave more present, expressive, and connected. I invite you to experience the joy and satisfaction of having created something together.

 

 

Who this is for?

 

-People who want a body-based creative practice without needing to be “good at theater”

-People craving play, non-competitive performing arts, and community

-Seasoned performers who want a trauma-informed, kind environment for ensemble work (no harsh critique, no competitive atmosphere)

-Helpers/educators/facilitators looking for fresh, trauma-informed group tools

-People craving new avenues for insight, self-exploration, and self-expression

-Creatives looking to get "unstuck" and get your creative juices flowing in a low-stakes way

 

If you can breathe, notice, and be a little curious—you belong.

 

Safety & care (how we work)

 

-Therapeutic, not therapy. Insight-friendly, trauma-informed, but not clinical care. 

-Consent culture. Touch only with explicit consent; opt-in/opt-out at any time—no explanations needed.

-No personal trauma re-enactments. We keep the work creative, present-time, and resourced.

-Kind feedback. We name what’s alive/clear/safe; no tearing down.

-Non-hierarchical theater-making. All voices are equal. All members of the ensemble have the option to act, direct, write, and provide ideas and feedback--there are no rigid roles.

 

Choose your path:

 

LAB — Feel & Play (experiential)

Open to everyone. Completely beginner friendly. Focused entirely on the process and experience (more therapeutic, less performance-oriented). No public showing. Best place to start.

 

BRIDGE — Shape & Share (hybrid)

Everything in LAB plus an optional, gentle in-studio sharing/performance for invited friends/family.

 

COMPANY — Create & Perform (auditioned)

A committed group creates a work of devised theater for a ticketed audience. Still embodied and trauma-informed—just with the goal of a performance at the end. 

 

Not sure where to begin? Start with LAB. You can move into BRIDGE or audition for ENSEMBLE later.

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A few words from participants:

 

“One word--Inspiring!” -Spring 2025 Participant

 

“Step by step a beautiful representation of our individual and collective consciousness emerged from this practice--creating something truly unique.” -Spring 2025 Participant

 

“Abby provides us with the permission to see the unspeakable unfold. Deep reflection woven with imaginative, playful and empowering energy, this workshop helped a lifetime of movement make a little more sense. Five stars.” -Zorrae (Spring 2025 Participant)

 

​"Through this workshop, Abby holds space for the participants to explore, experience and bear witness to both our individual and collective embodiment of unity and unique expression."​ - Spring 2025 Participant

 

"A grand experiment! Highly recommend!"​ -Spring 2025 Participant

 

"As a theater kid grown up into a musician--this day was grounding, introspective, safe and so refreshing. We dug deep together as a group and taped into authentic connection and free movement. Devised theater is not just for theater kids, it's for anyone who feels things. Come play!" - Rachel (Spring 2025 Participant)

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"I found Abby Ilardi to be a thoughtful and sensitive guide throughout our day together, exploring theatrical movement. Her experience and knowledge in facilitating is deep, providing a safe environment for experimentation or just plain goofiness. I came to play and was not disappointed." -JLC (Fall 2025 Participant)

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"Abby's Devised Theater sessions have been a highlight of this season of my life as a caregiver who moved to KS abruptly, and whose partner still commutes in from a far-away state. Fun, flexible, and a chance to connect deeply with my partner, with a group, and with myself." -Summer/Fall 2025 Participant

 

Common questions

 

1) Do I need experience?

 

No. LAB is truly beginner-friendly and designed for mixed levels. We frequently have people with zero theater experience.

 

2) Will I have to perform?

 

Only if you choose BRIDGE or ENSEMBLE. LAB only involves creating pieces within the context of the group and never requires a public share. You will be asked to participate in exercises and sharing within the group, but you have the option to opt out of an exercise at any time.

 

3) What about touch?

 

Only with clear, enthusiastic consent—and always optional. We also offer non-contact versions of everything. Some sessions, touch is never on the table. Other sessions may involve exercises with some optional contact. In those cases, we will begin with clear discussions of each person's boundaries and comfort level.

 

4) I’m shy / I get overwhelmed. Can I go at my pace?

 

Absolutely. This work often feels empowering for shy people. We provide choices and opt-out options, and people are encouraged to speak up for themselves and their needs. You can watch, write, move smaller, or sit out a round—your pace is welcome.

 

5) I have mobility limitations. Can I still participate?

 

Absolutely. Though this method is movement-based, we provide options and choices to try to make it as accessible as possible. No one is ever forced to do any specific movement, and everything can be adapted to be done from a chair. (*Please note that our current venue at Be Moved Studio in Lawrence is on a second floor with stairs-only access. If you are interested in this method and that poses a problem, please reach out, and I'll see what I can do.)​

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6) Where are you located? Do you tour/travel?

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I am currently based in the Lawrence, KS/Kansas City area. However, I would LOVE to bring this method on the road, and I am open to booking events/workshops/trainings/retreats in various locations. If you want to bring this method to your city, reach out!

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7) I want to lead events like this. Do you lead a teacher training/certification program?

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I currently have a teacher training/certification program in the works. I envision a fully online option plus an in-person weekend intensive version. If you are interested, please email me at info@abbyilardi.com, and I will reach out with more information.

 

How to join:

-Join the email list to stay up to date → [Email List]

-Join the next LAB → [www.bemovedstudio.com/events]

-See all upcoming dates→ [Events]

-Express interest in COMPANY → [Contact]

-Have a studio? Want to host a workshop/event/training/retreat? → [Contact]

-Want to learn to teach this method? Express interest in my teacher training/certification → [Contact]

-Questions? Accessibility needs? I’d love to hear from you: [Contact]

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The why behind this work:

 

I created Embodied Devising because we all deserve spaces where our bodies can arrive, our minds can play, and our hearts can make meaning together. If you’re curious, come. You are welcome in our ensemble.