Physical Theatre Course

The Course

The course will consist of a series of practical workshops focusing on working processes and techniques of physical theatre. Through improvisation, movement and the creation of scenes the course will help the participants to open up and explore their potential. The workshops will be practically-based and will be informed by the company's training and own unique working methodologies which combine a disciplined and systematic approach to theatre with techniques derived from commedia, clowning, the bouffon, Le Jeu, mask work, and musicality of movement, opening up new possibilities and ideas in the creation of physical theatre.

TThe course will be broken down into practical workshops focusing on the following areas of physical theatre:

The Clown and the Bouffon
Beginning with the fundamental play between actors and the actor's relationship with the audience the work of the clown is found, through improvisation, movement and the creation of comedy scenes, this work will help students open up and explore their comic potential. This work then develops further into the fantastic, grotesque world of the Bouffon. Bringing together the child, the demon and the fool the Bouffon returns the actor to a truly theatrical, visceral relationship with the audience.
Musicality of Movement - the actor in the space
An actor needs to be aware of their individual movement in a way that it interests, intrigues, motivates and is memorable to an audience. This work will focus upon the actor's physical presence in a space, locating the actor's restrictions and finding ways to release physical blocks to facilitate natural flow in movement. Through the exercises the actor realises how their body moves, and can begin to work towards the choreography of acting and the musical punctuation of body movement that precedes and then embodies all text.
Mask
Work with the mask requires concentration upon an actor's physical presence in the space. Through the actor's movement and persona discoveries of character and status can be found, allowing an audience to create a narrative. The workshops will look to explore these discoveries through exercises using both character and neutral masks

The Workshops

Each session will be two hours in length and will work with various exercises focusing on preparing the actor for physical work; this will then be followed by practical work looking at the above components, encouraging the individual participants to explore the methods and practices of physical theatre.

In the final stages of the course participants will prepare individual and group pieces, to be performed for the other participants and course leader.

Course Leader

Open Space are an innovative theatre company aiming to offer opportunities to all ages and abilities, alongside creating exciting and provocative work for the stage.

The course director and workshop leader will be Paula Wall. Paula studied acting, directing and writing at Manchester Metropolitan University to gain a BA (Hons) Degree in Drama and Writing. Paula then went on to complete a diploma in Physical Theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts where she worked with Mark Bell and Christian Darley; a choreographer and director of movement theatre with a background in the training of the corporal mime of Etienne Decroux, the voice work of Roy Hart and extensive work with Philippe Gaulier and Monika Pagneux, working with methodologies of the musicality of movement and neutral mask. Paula worked with Mark Bell in the study of physical theatre techniques derived by Jacques Lecoq, with in-depth work of the clown and the bouffon. Since her training Paula has designed and delivered several drama training courses both in Lincolnshire and the West Midlands working with a variety of ages.

Other Information

Cost

The course will cost £15 per person. As we want to make the course open to all who have an interest and we are a non-profit organisation we ask for this fee only as an assurance that the applicant will attend.

What will be needed for the workshops?

Comfortable clothes and trainers/running shoes, though bare feet will be fine. A notepad and pen. Water or cold drink of some kind due to physical exercise.

Where will the course be held?

Post Office Buildings, 149-153 Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8JW.

What are the times and dates of the course?

The course will begin on Wednesday 31st May 2006, and will run for one session each week for a total of five weeks, finishing on Wednesday 12th July 06 (please note: there are two Wednesdays in that period where no workshop will be delivered). The workshop will begin at 6pm and will run for two hours until 8pm. There will be a short break in this time. Following completion of the course there will be a short presentation of certificates for the participants to say that they have completed the course, as well as a chance for any discussion points or questions to be asked.

If you would like to apply for the course, please print and complete our application form and return it to us as soon as possible.