HELIKOS | THE RED NOSE: the actor in search of the clown

THE RED NOSE: the actor in search of the clown

28 February, 2011 → 5 March, 2011 - Firenze, ITALY

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

Deeply rooted in movement based theatre, this workshop proposes an introduction to Clown, considered 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. This will lead to the discovery of a unique clown, with a specific body, tempo, voice, costume, attitudes, emotions, and poetic world.
The journey begins with the exploration and analysis of the body within the theatrical space. In terms of movement, no body is neutral; every body carries profoundly expressive themes, embodied 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 an actor is observed with an eye to movement, using the reference point 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 first a state of playing where everyone has access to the 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.
For a performer, there is something fundamental in the discovery of her or his personal Clown: it's raw, pure, personal, unique, challenging, empowering, revealing, and 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 with the naiveté and the vulnerability of the child, and with the rigor and the technique of the adult, thus revealing the poetry of the ridiculous, and a unique personal poetic power.

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.

Giovanni Fusetti

THE PROGRAM

THE CLOWN “STATE”
- Play, action/reaction and fun
- 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
- Playing with space and with objects

THE PLAY (le jeu)
- The relationship among clowns: hierarchy, leaders and servants, levels of stupidity
- The Circus Clown Archetypes: Augustus, White Clown, Monsieur Loyal
- The Clown's Voice
- Clown numbers and le bide (fiasco)
- The Rhythmical space: entrance, crescendo, development of themes
- The actor’s skills in the service of the clown

CLASSES

The workshop will start on Monday February 28th and will end on Saturday March 5th at 1.pm.
Each day from Monday to Friday includes 6 hours of Master Classes.
Classes take place each day from 9am to 1 and from 2 to 5.
Saturday will be from 10am to 1pm.

Master Classes include:
Movement Analysis and Movement Technique
Improvisation
Voice

ADMISSION

This workshop is primarily addressed to students who are in the process of applying for the three year training at Helikos or are interested in experiencing the pedagogic approach of the Scuola Internazionale di Creazione Teatrale HELIKOS.

Priority will be given to students who have formally applied for three-year training , and who wish to enroll in the First Year starting October 2011.
Any remaining spot in the workshop will be offered to students interested just in the core elements of Giovanni' Fusetti's work and the Pedagogy of Helikos school.

This workshop will be a basic training on one of the foundations of Helikos pedagogic work. It’s not an audition of each student's skills as a performer, but of the skills as a learner and a group member, as well as the level of attunement with the work proposed by the school.

Helikos school engages the students and the teachers for a very long period of work together, in the mutual commitment of an intense pedagogic relationship. For this reason, before the final admission to the school, Giovanni Fusetti as the director of the school, wants to meet each applicant in person, in a training context similar to the context of the school.
This will allow both parties to verify if they can and want to work together.

On Saturday March 5th, Giovanni will present Helikos, and the journey proposed by the school. Then he will have an individual session with each of the applying student, to discuss about their admission to Helikos.

TUITION

Tutition for students who have applied to Helikos: 300 Euros
General Tuition: 350 Euros

Please note that tuition does not include accommodation and that participants will be responsible for organizing their staying in Florence. Upon request, Helikos office will provide a list of useful inofrmation and ho wto organize your travel and your staying in Florence.

To apply for the workshop, please send a CV and a letter of motivation to :

The deadline for sending the application is January 31st 2011.

Language
The workshop will be taught in English. A basic understanding is required.

The training will happen in Helikos studio.

Via Della Chiesa 36-rosso
50125 FIRENZE
ITALY

Tel: +39-339-4986375
(GMT+1)

For further information about the content of the workshop and for applications
please contact: