Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bouffon-clown-masterclass-3-weeks-tickets-551470281457
Hi all,
I will be running 3 two hour sessions in Bouffon Clown. Details below:
Course Dates:
- 6th April - 18:30 - 20:30
- 13th April - 18:30 - 20:30
- 20th April - 18:20 - 20:30
- The Monkey House, 97-101 Seven Sisters Rd, Greater, Finsbury Park, London N7 7QP
Open to all levels. Whether you're a complete beginner or know more than me!
DO YOU?
- Want to expand your Clown and Physical Comedy skills?
- Want to learn the techniques of the Bouffon Clown?
- Want to learn how to manipulate, charm, seduce and shock your audience?
- Want to have an entirely new toolkit to create Characters?
- Want to learn how to write and devise your own material?
- Want to learn an entirely new performance style?
- Want to learn how to use the best parts of yourself to create something truly glorious and beautiful?
- Want your soul nourished?
- Want to just try something new?
In these 3 two hour in person sessions, we will be exploring:
- How to create a Bouffon body.
- How to find your inner pleasure from being monstrous.
- How to creatively explore a certain territory
- How to be unashamedly naughty and get away with it.
- How to change the lives of everyone in the room.
- How to use Charm, Truth and The Grotesque?
What is Bouffon Clown?
Bouffon is an form of Clown where the performer lives purely for their own enjoyment and pleasure at the expense of the audience's shock, comfort and marvel.
Bouffon Clown creates an open yet sometimes dangerous discussion with an audience. The Bouffon will parody, mock, challenge and hold a dark mirror up to society. Peeling away at the layers of life and exploring the dirt underneath.
Notable Bouffons: Sacha Baron Cohen, Philomena Cunk, Dave Chappelle, Nina Conti, Red Bastard, Shrek, Aubrey Plaza.
Who the hell is Calum Robshaw?
Calum Robshaw is a multi-talented Performer, Director, Teacher, Cabaret Performer and Writer who trained at East 15, Fourth Monkey and completed his Advanced Diploma in Commedia Dell Arte' in Italy in 2019. He is the Artistic Director of IntoTheFire Theatre and Co- AD for Loosely Based Theatre.
Calum has also trained in Bouffon by Clown gurus Steve Sobal (All in Theatre) and Eric Davies (Red Bastard).
Calum's solo Bouffon show titled "Sonder" was performed in several venues (Theatre N16, Wandsworth Fringe, The Chapel Playhouse, Canal Cafe) and achieved very high critical acclaim:
"Calum won me over. It is a beautifully constructed collection of varying characters which all depict an element of self worth, depression or anxiety that Calum has drawn from his own experiences. Calum delivers a committed performance, throwing himself into each character. The result is sometimes alarming and uncomfortable, yet utterly captivating, entertaining and hilarious."
(Phillip Dehaney - That Stagey Blog)
Workshops Testimonials:
‘I have had the pleasure of spending four workshops with Calum. Three group sessions, and a one on one session. His approach to Commedia and Bouffon is one that instantly won me over. He himself loves these disciplines, and that rubs off in his teaching style. He is focused, committed, informed, approachable, and very good fun to work with....I can safely say that his input has directly affected, helped, and improved my characterisation for this piece. I would recommend him to anyone.’
‘I have had the pleasure of spending four workshops with Calum. Three group sessions, and a one on one session. His approach to Commedia and Bouffon is one that instantly won me over. He himself loves these disciplines, and that rubs off in his teaching style. He is focused, committed, informed, approachable, and very good fun to work with. I have been fortunate enough to work with him in detail during a current production that he is assistant directing, and I can safely say that his input has directly affected, helped, and improved my characterisation for this piece. I would recommend him to anyone.’
"From working with Calum, I was able to create a deeper and more tangible connection with my character, thanks to the physical approach to his work. I really enjoyed this because it allowed me to lose myself in the text and the character, avoiding acting that may be deemed ‘contrived’ or ‘cliche’. He made me aware of traps in intonation or delivery which really helped me. He challenged me to not go for the obvious and make character choices that were more detailed and hence forth, more interesting to watch. "
