A 12 day Clown & Commedia workshop spread over four weeks to devise and then perform a show – LOVE & MADNESS – in the Netherbow Theatre at Edinburgh’s Storytelling Centre.
Week 1: Tue 30, Wed 31 Aug
Week 2: Mon 5, Tue 6, Wed 7, Sun 11 Sep
Week 3: Mon 12, Fri 16, Sat 17, Sun 18 Sep
Week 4: Mon 19 & Tue 20 Sep are show days
It’s 1592. Welcome to Italy!
Pantalone, takes his daughter, Isabella, against her will, to a distant city to be married.
Her true love, Oratio, and his faithful servant, Grappa, set out to rescue her. They in turn are pursued by Flaminia, who has been spurned by Oratio. She will do anything to make sure the marriage goes ahead, convinced Oratio will fall in love with her if Isabella is out of his grasp.
Isabella feigns madness to avoid the marriage. Oratio and then Flaminia really do go mad, a mysterious figure arises foretelling the end of the world, portents are seen in the sky. Is the whole world going crazy?
LOVE AND MADNESS is an exciting blend of Clowning and Commedia. Using a 500 year-old scenario – but no masks! – we will see Masters and Servants argue and fight in a world full of envy, love and revenge. Much of contemporary clowning has its origins in the Commedia. This project is ideal for all those with some experience of play, improv and clowning who wish to perform and have FUN!
Gerry Flanagan, Shifting Sands Artistic Director, has more than twenty-five years’ experience directing, performing and teaching clowning. PLAY & PERFORM projects have run at Theatre Delicatessen, London; TUT Clown School, Hanover; Theatre Haus Mitte, Berlin; College Street Studio, Nottingham; Deda Dance Centre Derby.
Participants’ Comments:
“Accessible and inspiring.”
“A thoroughly enjoyable journey and a great educational experience.”
“A great project – I have learned a lot.”
“Challenging, exciting, stimulating and fun.”
“Mature, well taught, compassionate – doesn’t hold punches and teaches to a high level the art of clown and ensemble playing.”
“Rigorous, playful, challenging.”
Workshop Fee: £720
Early Bird fee: £600 if booked before 16 August 2022
For further information, please contact shiftingsandstheatre@hotmail.com (Gerry Flanagan), call +44 77519 96864 or visit https://shiftingsandstheatre.co.uk/.
