Physical Theatre

A special two-week course with two of LAMDA’s principal movement teachers. Comprising work on Le Jeu, Neutral Mask, Character Mask, Animal Essence, Clown and the Bouffon, this is an intensive training ideal for the professional or student actor.

Clown and the Bouffon

Beginning with the fundamental play between actors and the actor and the audience, the first half of the course aims to find the actors true idiot, their Clown. From a starting point of ‘how exactly are you stupid?’ and developed through improvisation, movement and creation of comedy scenes, the actor will create or find their Clown.

In week two this is developed further into the fantastic, grotesque world of the Bouffon. Bringing together the child, the demon and the fool and colliding them with everyday drama, television and Shakespeare’s tragic heroes, the Bouffon returns the actor to a truly theatrical, visceral relationship with the audience.

Animal Essence

The aim of this work is to help actors connect their imagination to the physical life of a character. We are often unaware of how much the actor’s imagination is locked up in tense muscles and stiff joints. This is a time to discover how to locate and free physical blocks, to release energy and facilitate natural flow in movement to create a language that is in our control.

By studying animals, we provide actors with a focus that allows them to push themselves into unexplored physical territory without the worries of selfconsciousness.

Once achieved, we work backwards so that we end up playing with the essence of the animal in improvisation and text.

Pilates and Tai ‘Chi are also used to be able to help the demanding physical nature of the work.

Housing is available for all London workshops.