Elena
Kaufman

Elena Kaufman is a Canadian-born writer, actor and coach living in Hamburg, Germany. She has an MA in Dramatic Literature from the University of Toronto and an MSt in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford. At the Humber School for Writing (Toronto) she received a Distinction with Canadian novelist Joan Barfoot and studied with novelist and short story author Lauren B. Davis at WICE in Paris.

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Her happy creative place is at The Writer’s Room in Hamburg when she’s not herding her twin boys, Bearded Collie, and German physicist hubby. Elena writes short stories, stage plays, and psychological thrillers. Her plays have received staged readings and productions in Stockholm, Vancouver, Paris, and Hamburg. A member of Sisters in Crime, Playwrights Guild of Canada, Writer’s Guild of Great Britain and the Hamburg Writer’s Room. Her Bootcamp Writer’s Group has been going strong throughout the pandemic and she led writing workshops and Nanowrimo events for 5 years with her Meetup group in Hamburg.

 

As an actor, she’s played on stages in Toronto, Vancouver, Paris, London and Hamburg, also voicing cartoons, science scripts, and audio drama. She’s a proud member of The Hamburg Players and their Improvisation Troupe.

 

​As a coach in her company Creative Communications EK, she works with scientists, academics, and business people on their Vocal Power and Physical Presence, storytelling techniques, slide design, and job interview skills. Also, she leads improv theatre for scientists classes.

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Elena loves red wine and dark chocolate, long walks - preferably 500 miles (Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James), playing improv theatre, doing pilates and yoga and reading in many genres.