Course description
Chiara D'Anna, Italian actress, director, writer and academic will teach this exciting course - an introduction to Commedia dell’Arte and its legacy in contemporary performance. Chiara is one of the top practitioners and scholars in the UK: a tutor with both deep, theoretical knowledge and professional experience as an actress, director and teacher. Techniques studied will comprise body awareness, improvisation, stagecraft, slapstick, stock characterisation and half-mask technique.
More about this course
This course is an introduction to Commedia dell’Arte and its legacy in contemporary performance. It is an excellent opportunity for drama students, teachers, professional actors and theatre makers to develop skills that are fundamental in any performance setting – not only physical comedy. The Masks of Commedia dell’Arte are an excellent tool to expand performers’ physical vocabulary, stamina, space awareness and understanding of tempo-rhythm and comic timing.
This workshop is a great opportunity to learn how to create successful ensemble work, interact effectively with an audience and improvise with confidence. Chiara's approach to commedia looks specifically at the application of Commedia dell’Arte principles and masks techniques in contemporary performance. The course will culminate in a performance to a small invited audience of family and friends.
In this course you will learn Commedia dell’Arte’s principles and techniques and how to apply these skills in other theatrical contexts.
On completion of this course you will be able to:
- develop your physical and vocal vocabulary in the creation of grotesque and comic characters
- devise and perform scenes utilising the traditional Masks of Commedia dell’Arte, props, music and costumes
- improvise with confidence
- interact with your audience with confidence
- adapt key commedia techniques for performance today in your future projects
- demonstrate an understanding of the historical and cultural context from which Commedia dell’Arte originated and its legacy in contemporary theatre
Subjects you will cover on this course:
- The Body as a Medium of Expression
- The Servants of Commedia dell’Arte: Zanni, Arlecchino and Servetta
- The Masters of Commedia dell’Arte: Pantalone and Dottor Balanzone
- Gli Innamorati and il Capitano
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Suitability - Who should attend?
This course is an excellent opportunity for drama students, drama teachers, professional actors and directors to develop skills that are fundamental in any performance setting. It is particularly useful for actors, students and theatre practitioners interested in improvisation, comedy, devising and physical approach to characterisation.
Outcome / Qualification etc.
No Qualification