TALK

Tom Morris   (UK)
Chapter 3  

ICA Theatre >
Sat 23 Jan 2.30pm
Session runs approx 75 mins
£7 (£6 concs)

Tom Morris is Artistic Director of the Bristol Old Vic, where he will direct Juliet and her Romeo, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, in March. He was director of BAC from where he revolutionised the programme and established the venue as a national centre for the development of new theatre, working with companies such as Complicité, Improbable, Ridiculusmus and many others, and nurturing high profile projects such as Jerry Springer: The Opera.

In 2004 he became an Associate Director at the National Theatre and was responsible for the development of some of the NT’s greatest successes of recent times, Coram Boy, A Matter of Life and Death (adapted with Emma Rice of Kneehigh), and War Horse, which he also co-directed. Throughout his professional career Tom has been closely associated with Britain’s most notable visual theatre companies, supporting people and ideas that, in his own words, “turn out to be blooming marvellous a few years later”. Tom’s production of Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (co-directed with Felix Barrett of Punchdrunk), opens in the Olivier Theatre on January 12th.

WORKSHOPS

Acting The Puppet
Led by Gavin Glover (Faulty Optic)
FULLY BOOKED
Sat 16 Jan 10am > 3.45pm,
followed by discussion (4-5pm), led by Nenagh Watson, Central’s Creative Fellow in Puppetry and Object Theatre.
Presented in association with
Central School of Speech & Drama
62-64 Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY
£45 Bookings:
Email:

A one day workshop to explore the possibility of making a puppet as lifelike as any actor through manipulation and focus. Working individually and in groups we will examine the extremes to which a puppet can work theatrically, with and without text. The basic rules covered are the fundamental parameters to using any type of puppet for adults, children, film and TV. Suitable for all theatre disciplines.

Coming to Life
Led by Yuval Fingerman & Renana Raz
(Etgar Theatre)
Mon 18 Jan 10am > 3.45pm,
followed by a discussion (4-5pm)
Presented in association with the Puppet Centre Trust & Central School of Speech & Drama
62-64 Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY
£45 Bookings:
Email:

A one day workshop examining the relationship between puppetry, movement and dance. Participants will explore story telling through movement; character creation through use of the body; how puppets can become ‘human’ and the psychic imagery of manipulation.

How To Be A Stupid
or The Clown’s Intelligence
Led by Angela de Castro
Mon 18 > Fri 29 Jan
10am > 6pm (Mon-Fri)
Battersea Arts Centre
Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TF
Fee: £450
Bookings: or

How To Be A Stupid is a unique workshop, a full time full-on course exploring the state of clown - an intense, inspiring, challenging and transformatory journey, with laughs and play along the way.

For Angela de Castro, clowning is not a technique but a ‘state’. Through practical exercises and games, this energetic workshop helps you find your clown persona and experience it in this ‘state’. It gives truthfulness and depth to your clowning, embracing the tragic as much as the comic. For actors and other performers, it helps make performance more real, individual and joyful. For beginners, it is a journey of discovery.
Angela de Castro is one of the most loved women clowns. She has been awarded fellowships with Nesta Dreamtime, the Arts Foundation and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She is well known for creating the Green Clown in Slava’s Snowshow.

Creating Theatre and Performance
Led by Thomas Prattki, Michael Brown and Aurelian Koch
Sat 23 > Sun 24 Jan 10am > 6pm
London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA) The Old Lab, 3 Mills Studios, Three Mill Lane, London, E3 3DU
£100 for the two days
Bookings:
Further information:

A new generation of performing artists is changing the landscape of modern theatre. What began a few decades ago as an avant-garde movement has changed the vision of main stream theatre as well. The idea of the performer as a creator of her/his own work is no longer a fringe phenomenon, but reflects the broad desire of an entire generation of performers to develop their very own artistic voice and to take creative responsibility in shaping their vision of life.

This two-day physical and improvisational workshop will give an insight into the teachings of LISPA and its unique vision of an integral theatre pedagogy for the performing arts. It addresses performers, dancers, actors, directors and teachers in the field of the performing arts with an interest in the idea of creating original work.

Eccentric Dance
Led by Barry & Joan Grantham
Sat 30 Jan 10am > 5pm
Sun 31 Jan 10am > 12 noon, followed by a discussion (12.30-2pm) led by Jon Davidson, Central’s Creative Fellow in Clowning
Presented in association with Central School of Speech & Drama
62-64 Eton Avenue, London NW3 3HY
£75 Bookings:
Email:

A workshop for clowns, mimes, comedians and all performers wanting to extend their movement vocabulary. Barry and Joan Grantham ‘s wealth of experience in dance, mime, music-hall and theatre makes them sought after world-wide performers, advisors, directors and teachers. this popular workshop offers the chance to learn time-honoured show business routines and eccentric steps made famous by legendary performers like Max Wall, Little tich, Rubberneck Jackley, and Snakehips Johnson. Barry Grantham has worked in ballet companies and West End musicals and has coached members of many physical theatre and circus companies such as Told By an Idiot, No Fit State and Gifford’s Circus. With his wife Joan he toured the Music Halls learning from greatest stars of the day including Randolph Sutton, Billy Dainty and Wilson Kepple and Betty.

Clown Through Mask
Led by Jonathan Young
Mon 4 Jan > Thu 4 Feb

This powerful course, which synthesises Native North American and European clowning traditions, uses the magic of masks to reveal what is normally invisible. By each making and wearing six masks, we face all directions of the self, allowing us to embody our humanity fully – both ridiculous and beautiful. The rich inner worlds and distinct personas we each discover through the masks then serve as guides, allowing us to go much further in our performing than we could alone. This visionary training is open to performers and artists who are open to working through the body, voice and imagination.

Jonathan Young, artistic director of Shams, is an experienced teacher, performer and creator whose work combines visual theatre, circus, multimedia and installation.

Mon 4 > Fri 8 Jan
(10am > 5pm): an intensive, stand-alone introduction where we explore presence, colours, innocence and experience; each person making, wearing and performing with their first mask.

Mon 11 Jan > Thu 4 Feb
(9.30am > 1.30pm Mon-Fri): a recommended continuation where the five remaining masks
are made and worn, creating a strong
foundation for your clown. Includes
technique and bodywork sessions,
assisting the improvisation and
performance work.

1st week only: £225 ( £200 concs)
Full month: £600 (£550 concs)
Eastbourne House Arts, Bullards Place,
London E2 0PT (Bethnal Green tube)
Bookings:
or