Clowning for Improv Comedy

This workshop brings the weird and wonderful world of clowning into improvised comedy. We take clowning and improv exercises that help us develop a more playful and responsive style to our performance. As well as exploring show formats that could be taken to the stage. 

This workshop will help you:

• Bring more play, physicality and props into your improv

• Give the audience more of what they want by listening and responding to them more

• Be okay with breaking the rules in order to follow the fun

• Discover old and new improv show formats that benefit most from these techniques

We do this by looking at various concepts such as:

• Game

• The flop

• Fixed point

• Major / minor

• Audience sensitivity

• Breaking the rules

Suitable for intermediate to advanced improvisers or clowns. You do not need experience in both improv and clowning, but do need experience in at least one.

FAQs

• What is clowning?

  Clowning is often silly, physical comedy that fosters a deep connection to the audience. It’s one of the oldest and most universal forms of comedy, and its teachings can help all manner of performing, from stand-up and improv to acting and giving presentations and just having more play in your life!

• Why should I sign up to this class?

  Clowning is fun and playful. We're big believers that being more playful can help you live a happier life. Whether you're new to the world of clowning and comedy or have done some before, we manage the class so everyone feels welcome and gets to experience new things and different ways of thinking.

• I'm a performer, how can this help me?

  Clowning can help your performance in lots of different ways for heightening your audience awareness, building resilience through play, improving your instincts on stage and experiencing vulnerability. You can read more about this in our blog here.

• Is this a solo or group type workshop?

  All of the above! You can clown by yourself, with a partner, in a group, bring it into stand-up, acting, improvisation and life. Our workshops usually involve a mixture of solo and group work.

• What happens in a workshop?

  We'll do some warm up exercises which will bring you into the room and into your body. We'll then run exercises as a group, individually and in pairs whilst making links to why we are doing these as how they can help you learn more about yourself, your performance style and how to use these skills in your practice/ life.

• Are there any breaks?

  Yes, depending on the length of the workshop, energy of the participants etc. we'll have breaks. There will usually be at least one 5-10min break every 60-120 minutes.