HELIKOS | CHARACTERS AND CLOWNS

CHARACTERS AND CLOWNS

25 Novembre, 2017 → 26 Novembre, 2017 - AUCKLAND - New Zealand - Aotearoa

A masterclass on the pedagogy of

Physical Characters and Clown

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Welcome to a unique event celebrating the art of teaching movement based theatre, exploring its roots in Analysis of Movement, Mask Theatre and Somatic Psychology.

This seminar follows the pedagogic process of the journey from the Neutral Body to the Clown, two essential polarities in the world of physical theatre.

Through the Neutral Body 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, this web appears like paintings/markings on a white sheet. They are “dramatic” in the etymological sense. They contain a drama: an action.

While searching for Neutrality the actor discovers her unique way of being personally non neutral. The latin word persona meaning mask. If treated with the Red Nose this physical persona becomes a unique source of comedy.

The Neutral State teaches the actor to unfold any "individual physical drama" in order to reach a state of engaged presence in space, in the silence of the present moment. It’s the basis for all theatrical characters and masks.

The discovery of the Clown emerges from the analysis of the physical and emotional world of each actor, as revealed by her or his natural body. 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. The clown emerges from a state of playing where the poet 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.

After developing the awareness of the Neutral State and her own comic persona, the actor can explore the infinite possibilities of creating characters, based on variations from neutrality. Each character development is based in an unbalance from neutrality. And the Poetic Body can explore the world and its infinite variety of forms and masks.  

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THE WORKSHOP

In the workshop, the practical exercises are integrated with a strong focus on the THEORY that stands behind them. This creates a space of reflection and intellectual elaboration: a field of discussion, analysis of the practice, examples, questions and synthesis. It gives food for the mind, references, history of ideas, articulation of principles, creation of new exercises.

Etymology tells us that the word theory means something you observe, a spectacle, and it has the same root of the word theatre. A theory is a choreography of ideas and principles. An intellectual performance to attend and enjoy.  

The workshop will include different ingredients:

- Lectures on theatre pedagogy

- Core practical exercises 

- Pedagogic analysis of the exercises 

- Discussion on the questions from the participants

The Theoretical contents of the Seminar 

- Jacques Lecoq: the Journey of the Poetic Body. The way of the Masks.

- Gestalt: Masks and characters as forms emerging. 

- Reichian Analysis and Bionergetics: Characters as somatic impression of emotions, drives and urgencies.

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The Practice: The Journey from Neutral to Expressive

- The Neutral Body.

- From the neutral state to the expressive state: movement analysis of the body in space. 

- Physical characters as Masks.

- The Red Nose as a mask: amplification and articulation of movement.

- Emotions in the body: awareness and contact with the emotional body.

Clown Archetypes and the relationship among clowns: hierarchy, masters and servants, levels of stupidity  .

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ADMISSION

The aim of this seminar is to explore the foundations of the process of creating Characters and Clowns from the perspective of the teacher.
It is addressed to people who are actively teaching theatre and/or working in theatre, who wish to explore the theoretical ingredients of this work, as well as to develop their own teaching perspective.

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.

HOW TO APPLY 

There is no application form. To apply to the Seminar please email  a letter of motivation sharing the essence of what leads you to this seminar... and a burning question that you would like to be addressed by the seminar.

Once accepted, places will be given in order of arrival.

Please note that the number of participants is limited, so apply early to avoid missing out.

TUITION

Early Bird Discount: NZ$ 240, if tuition is fully paid by November 1st, 2017.
 Full Price: NZ$ 290.  

A limited number of WORK-EXCHANGE options is available. A reduction of the tuition will be offered in exchange for the following works:  
- Transcription of the audio recordings of the classes.
- Video recording of part of the seminar  .
If interested please contact Giovanni.

Please note that the tuition does not include accommodation and that participants will be responsible for organizing their stay in Auckland.

If travelling to Auckland from other places, there is a direct bus and ferry link to the venue from the airport.

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PRACTICALITIES

LOCATION 
Takapuna Grammar School
210 Lake Rd, Takapuna, Auckland 0622, New Zealand

SCHEDULE 
Saturday: 9:30 to 1 and 2:00 to 6:00.
Sunday: 9:00 to 1 and 2:00 to 5:00.

Please note that the workshop is a learning continuum, so it is not possible to attend the class only in parts, or to miss any session of the work.

For further information about the content of the workshop, please contact Giovanni Fusetti

For applications, enrolment and practical enquiries please contact:

Phone: 02 11681057

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

PHOTO CREDITS   
Picture n.1: Boulder Clown Traning, 2015
Picture n.2: KIklos School, Padova, 2000
Picture n.3: The Vitruvian Man, by Leonardo da Vinci
Picture n.4: Friedensreich Hundertwasser - Silver Spiral (1988)
Picture n.5: Helikos School, 2012, 2013