Giovanni Fusetti
| We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art.Henry James (1843 - 1916) |
FROM THE NEUTRAL MASK TO THE RED NOSE
9 March, 2020 → 13 March, 2020 - Melbourne-AUSTRALIA
The essence of Physical Comedy
1
2
This workshop unfolds the journey from the Neutral Mask to the Red Nose, two referential masks in the world of movement theater.
First the work will lead the students to explore the "Neutral State" and subsequently to tweak that state toward character work and eventually toward the idiosyncratic and personal world of the Clown.
Through the Neutral Mask the actor discovers a state of physical presence, calm and openness to space. There is a web of "non-neutral attitudes" and physical and emotional "background noises" within each person's movement and physical presence. If observed through the reference of the Neutral State, these movement patterns appear like paintings/markings on a white sheet. They are “dramatic” in the etymological sense. They contain a drama: an action. The Neutral Mask teaches the actor to unfold any "individual physical drama" to reach a state of pure presence in space, in the silence of the present moment. It’s the basis for all theater masks.
After developing the actor's awareness of a State of Neautrality, the workshop will explore some of the infinite possibilities of creating comic characters, based on variations from neutrality. The focus will be on exploring how each character development is based in an unbalance from neutrality.
The final step will be the discovery of the Clown through the analysis of the physical and emotional world of each actor, as revealed by her or his body in space, with the help of the Neutral Mask. The use of the smallest mask in the world, the Red Nose and the amplification and articulation of personal themes allow the actor to enter the Clown State. This will lead to the discovery of a unique clown, with a specific body, tempo, voice, costume, attitudes, emotions, and poetic world.
3
The clown before being a character, it’s a state of playing, in which everyone has access to this key question: what is so funny about myself?
For a performer, there is something fundamental in the discovery of her or his personal Clown: it's raw, direct personal, unique, challenging, empowering, revealing, extremely rewarding...
To discover one’s own clown is to reveal one’s own unique comic persona and turn it into a universal comic form.
It's the exquisite pleasure of touching the empty space of sublime stupidity.
As a theatre genre, Clown has a unique poetic potential because it allows the performer to explore and play joining the naiveté and the vulnerability of the child, with the rigor and the technique of the adult, thus revealing the poetry of the ridiculous, and a unique poetic power.
As the Neutral Mask is the mask of humanity, the Red Nose is the humanity of the mask.
During this training participants will use Neutral Masks by Donato Sartori, Abano Terme,
Italy.
4
ADMISSION
Giovanni will choose students from the applications received, forming the group. Places will be given in order of email submission. Once Giovanni has selected 12 participants, the workshop is full, and a waiting list will be created. If you intend to participate, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
The workshop will be confirmed as soon as the minimum number of 10 participants will be reached.
Once accepted, to confirm the enrollment, a deposit of 300 AUD is due. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.
TUITION
Early Bird Registration: AUS $ 750, if tuition is fully paid by January 31st, 2020.
Full Price: AUS $ 850.
Please note that tuition does not include accommodation and that participants will be responsible for organizing their staying in Melbourne.
Application Deadline: JANUARY 31st, 2020
No application will be considered after this date.
Please read the page on Giovanni's Pedagogy as well as Giovanni's bio and the page The Roots, to review the essence of his approach to clown and theatre.
5
PRACTICALITIES
LOCATION
2 Elm St, North Melbourne VIC 3051
SCHEDULE
Monday March 9th to Friday March 13
9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Please note the worshop is a learning continuum. Participants will not be allowed to miss days, skip sessions, arrive late or leave early.
The workshop will be taught in ENGLISH and requires a basic understanding of this language.
For further information about the content of the workshop and
for the application
please contact
GIOVANNI FUSETTI
giovanni.fusetti @ helikos.com
For enrolment and practical enquiries please contact
KIMBERLEY TWINER
ktwiner @ gmail.com
Tel: 04 68664466
There are as many clowns as there are human beings.
There is one way to stand while there are infinite ways to fall.
Intelligence is limited. Stupidity is infinite.
Giovanni Fusetti
6
PHOTO CREDITS
Picture n.1 & 2: Helikos School, Florence, 2013
Picture n.3: Red Nose Intensive, Melbourne 2018
Picture n.4: Red Nose Intensive, Melbourne 2018
Picture n.5: Giovanni Fusetti during a mask demonstration, 2009
Picture n.6: Helikos School, 2013
Picture n.5: Giovanni Fusetti during a mask demonstration, 2009