Residential Commedia Dell’arte And Leather Mask-making Workshop

RESIDENTIAL COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE AND LEATHER MASK-MAKING WORKSHOP

Held by Massimo Macchiavelli and Tania Passarini

Seventh edition

From 1° to 10 August 2011

In the village of Campeggio (Monghidoro, Bologna) in a house immersed in the Apennine Mountains

Participants will lodge in a multi-bedroom house with use of the kitchen

Program

Commedia dell'arte is more than just a genre of theatre. It represents the dawn of modern theatre. All of the great 20th century acting teachers exalted its value for actors’ training. Working on plot, pantomime, comic techniques and the study of universal “types” through the use of masks are invaluable elements of a modern actor’s training. Far from being just an historical art form, through the complexity of its techniques, Commedia dell'arte provides an excellent introduction to any theatrical genre from the most ancient and folkloristic to the most modern and refined. This intensive workshop, through detailed work on these techniques, will show the actor how direct his own character construction development, making use of work that goes from that of Decroux , through Copeau, Jouvet and Stanislawski all the way to that of Barba and Grotowski, which we believe represents the essence of 20th century dramatic acting.

Commedia dell’arte workshop

• Elements of Mime (Decroux tecnique) applied to Commedia dell’arte

• Construction of stock characters Vecchi (elders), (Graziano and Pantalone) Servi (servants)(Arlecchino, Zanni and Brighella), Amorosi (lovers) and Capitani (captains).

• Pantomime choreography (Melodrama and Callot)

• Characters in situations (repertoire development

• Rules of mask use (neutral and expressive)

• Lazzo improvisation

• Plot improvisation

Leather mask construction workshop

Construction of plaster cast/mask

Leather-working

Mask finishing

Mask decoration

(The students will get to keep their own masks)

Hours of activity- 9:30-12:30/ 2pm-6pm/8pm-11pm

Who should sign up- This workshop is aimed at people particularly motivated to the study theatre arts and to those who intend to enrich their already established base of theatrical training by adding the knowledge and competence of the language of the Commedia dell’Arte which is at the base of many training methods.

Cancellation must be communicated at least 15 days prior to the beginning of the course and in any case the Company will withhold 50 euro for administrative expenses.