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2nd INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL ON THEATRE CLOWN, 2008

24 June, 2009  → 20 July, 2009 - Kristiansand, Norway


The Clown is the poetic transposition
of the unique silliness of the actor,
as revealed by a mask: the Red Nose.

 

 

 

Theatre Clown is comic poetry in motion: funny and touching, essential and rigorous. It's a dive into the mystery of laughter.

Deeply rooted in movement based theatre, this course proposes an intensive training in Clown, considered as a specific theatre style. The pedagogy focuses in particular on the analysis of the physical and emotional world of each actor, as revealed by her or his natural body, with the help of the Neutral Mask. This will lead to the discovery of a unique clown, with a specific body, tempo, voice, costume, attitudes, emotions, and poetic world.
The journey of movement theatre begins with the Neutral Mask and ends with the Red Nose. Through the Neutral Mask the actor discovers a state of physical presence, calm and openness to space. In terms of movement, no-body is neutral: every-body carries profoundly expressive themes, em-bodied in everyday movement. There is a web of "non-neutral attitudes" and physical and emotional “background noises" within each person's movement and physical presence. If observed with an eye to movement, using the reference of the Neutral State, this web appears like painting/markings on a white sheet. They are “dramatic” in the etymological sense. They contain a drama: an action.
The use of the smallest mask in the world, the Red Nose and the amplification and articulation of these very personal themes allow the actor to enter the Clown State.
The clown is not a character, it’s a state of playing where everyone has access to this key question: what is so funny about myself? To discover one’s own clown is to reveal one’s own unique comic persona and turn it into a universal comic form.
As the Neutral Mask is the mask of humanity, the Red Nose is the humanity of the mask.
For a performer, there is something fundamental in the discovery of his or her personal Clown: it's raw, pure, personal, unique, challenging, empowering, revealing, extremely rewarding... It's the exquisite pleasure of touching the empty space of complete comedy.
As a theatre style, 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.
The sublime stupidity of the clown is his enduring trust in life, despite his complete imperfection.
The aim of this course is to give participants professional theatre tools, in order to play and create within their own clown world.

 


There are as many clowns as there are human beings.
There is one way to stand, and infinite ways to fall.
Intelligence is limited. Stupidity is infinite.

 

 THE PROGRAM

 

First Week: THE CLOWN “STATE”

Play, action/reaction and fun.
From the Neutral Mask to the Red Nose
From the neutral state to the comic state.
The Red Nose as a mask: amplification and articulation of movement
The clown as a state of being on stage.
The empty space.
Emotional awareness and contact with the emotional body of the actor
Contact with the audience

Second Week: THE PLAY (le jeu)
Playing with space and with objects.
The relationship among clowns: hierarchy, leaders and servants, levels of stupidity.
The Circus Clown Archetypes: Augustus, White Clown, Monsieur Loyal.
Clown numbers and le bide (fiasco).
The Rhythmical space: entrance, crescendo, development of themes

Third Week: THE SKILLS
The actor’s skills in the service of the clown.
Playing with music, singing, acrobatics, juggling, dance and unusual or unique skills.
The writing of a Clown Number.
Accidents and comic routines

Forth Week: THE SHOW
Devising a clown variety show.
Writing and directing clowns.
Rehearsals
Public presentation of a final show.
Re-work of the numbers for three
performances.

 

 

SCHEDULE

Each day includes 5 hours of Master Classes and, starting from the second week, 2 hours of Creation. Classes take place each day, Monday through Saturday, Saturdays afternoon and Sundays are free.
Each week the students receive a specific theme of creation, and they work in an autonomous class. This course culminates, on Saturday morning, in a presentation of the resulting research to Giovanni, who will give feedbacks and animate a session on Clown Directing and Writing.
The workshop concludes with the presentation of a Clown Variety Show, created by the participants under the direction of Giovanni, that will be performed for three nights in Rosegarden main theatre.

 

Master Classes include:
Movement Analysis and Movement Technique,
Improvisation,
Voice
Directing and Devising.


The venue of the training is 5 min. walk form the beach. Mornings are free to enjoy the beautiful summer in southern Norway. During the first three weeks, Sundays are free.
During the programme an Outing is scheduled, with the clowns visiting the town of Kristiansand.

For further tursitic information please visit:

http://www.virtualkristiansand.com/

 

ADMISSION


The course exclusively addresses to artists with previous performing experience (theatre, circus, dance, music, etc. ). It is a training based on generosity and commitment, and the desire of turning one‘s own most genuine humanity into playing.


To apply to the Clown School:

a letter of motivation
and
a CV with detailed artistic experiences

must be sent to Giovanni Fusetti by e-mail.



Each applicant will be contacted by Giovanni, and selected applicants will be admitted to the training and receive the practical information from the organization.
Once selected, places will be given in order of arrival.
Please note that the number of students is limited to 14.



DURATION
Four Weeks: from June 25th to July 20th, 2008.
Tuesday June 24th is arrival day , with registration procedures .
Classes will start on Wednesday the 25th.
The training will end on the night of Sunday the 20th.


TUITION: 950 Euros
Please enquire about financial help if you are traveling from outside of Europe
A reduction of the tuition is offered to students traveling from:
North America: -100 €
South America, Asia and Africa: -150 €
Oceania: -200€


Some scholarships are available for NORWEGIAN STUDENTS. Please contact us for further details.
The tuition does not include accommodation. However, the organization will provide different options of affordable accommodation.
Rosegarden Theaterhouse will also provide the use of a communal kitchen space.


LANGUAGE

The official language of the workshop is English.
A basic understanding is required.

For practical and administrative information
please contact

Knut Østrådal
ROSEGARDEN THEATERHOUSE

e-mail:
post@rosegardenteaterhus.no

Telephone: +47 91648649
Tuesday, Wedensday and Thursday, 09:00 am- 4:00 pm
norwegian time (GMT+1)

          

For further pedagogic information and applications please contact:


Giovanni Fusetti



Telephone: (+39) 349 7130121

 

Design & programming : DomRadisson.net