Thursday, June 20, 2013
Courses Directing Commedia dell'Arte

Commedia dell'Arte - A Practical Guide

  • Tuesday 19th November 2013 10:30am - 4:30pm
  • Toynbee Studios, 28 Commercial Street, London E1

 

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Course Tutor: Didi Hopkins

Commedia dell'Arte is a highly effective tool for students of all abilities and ages. It is a template that can be applied to classical text or contemporary theatre making. This highly practical one-day course gives a solid foundation in commedia, exploring masks and character types, physical storytelling, improvisation, lazzi, stagecraft, grommelot and developing scenarios. Each element of the training can be used to launch other work with actors and students. The strategies, exercises and techniques together form the ABC of commedia for the classroom and the day culminates with the development and performance of classic two-person scenarios. High quality professional Commedia masks are supplied.

Didi Hopkins (Commediaworks) was advisor to Richard Bean when he was writing One Man, Two Guvnors and she works regularly for the National Theatre Education department.

"A triumph of visual and verbal comedy. One of the funniest productions in the National's history." - The Guardian on One Man, Two Guvnors.

Full Details and Booking Form

Download in Word (doc)

This one-day course is suitable for teachers, freelance theatre directors, drama workers and actors who would like to extend their theatrical skills and knowledge.

We shall explore:

  • Masks and Commedia character types
  • Physical storytelling
  • Improvisation
  • Lazzi - comic business
  • Stagecraft
  • Grommelot - the emotional 'babble-speak' of Commedia
  • Developing scenarios

 

“Didi was a wonderful tutor, so inspiring and generous in spirit. I'm so glad I attended and left feeling energised with an enhanced knowledge." - Eileen Fitzgerald, Participant March 2013.
“This course gave us confidence to pick up the techniques and run! The foundations were strong and clear. We used to teach it once to one year group, but since attending this course we have made Commedia the backbone for all our school drama." - Julia Williams (AST), George Green School, London E14, participant on one of Didi Hopkins previous courses.

 

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Didi Hopkins is one of our foremost practitioners and experts on Commedia dell'Arte. As actor and director, she was co-founder of Beryl and the Perils who toured internationally exploring the politics of gender through Brechtian cabaret sketches and cartoon-style physical theatre. Didi was a huge influence on the National Theatre’s One Man Two Guvnors, working with the writer, Richard Bean, who took the original Italian popular play Servant of Two Masters and updated it to the 1960′s so successfully that it has toured, moved to the West End, transferred to Broadway and is now being presented by a second cast at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London.

Didi has been devising and delivering Commedia work for 10 years for the National Theatre (TheatreWorks). She runs on-stage masterclasses to link the play with its roots, and the National Theatre has made five films about her practice that can be viewed on YouTube or downloaded for free from iTunes. She also uses the experiential work of the rehearsal room to work with women in business.

The emphasis will be on a relaxed atmosphere. You will work at your own pace - come with an open mind and you will leave inspired, refreshed and equipped with a new skill set of ideas and approaches. 

Attendance Certificates are also supplied.

If you have any enquiries, please email David Farmer or telephone 01603 465973 or 0797 321 7876.

Booking

Fee: The fee is £175 per participant. There is a 10% discount for each additional colleague from the same organisation. NB Please complete and return the booking form below with your purchase order or payment. An official invoice will be dispatched and payment can be made by cheque, BACS or using the Buy Now button below.

Full Details and Booking Form

Download in Word (doc)

What to bring

Yourself - and a friend or colleague if you like! Comfortable clothing to move in. Light refreshments are included and at lunchtime we usually walk to eat a delicious lunch at Leons at Old Spitalfields Market (lunch not included).

Toynbee Studios is part of the Toynbee Hall complex at 28 Commercial Street, London E1.
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Cancellation

Please visit the Cancellation page if you wish to cancel your booking.

Directing and Devising Courses

Commedia Videos

Below are some videos of classes led by Didi Hopkins for the National Theatre.





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Since 2005 Drama Resource has offered a range of high quality training opportunities to hundreds of teachers, teaching assistants, drama practitioners, actors and directors. Courses on drama in education explore the role of drama techniques to use across the curriculum. Courses on directing and devising theatre use exciting and creative approaches to developing group performance.  All courses are highly practical and supported by course notes, enabling participants to easily adapt the approaches for their own use.

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Mini-Download

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Teaching Commedia dell'Arte (12 years to adult)
Updated from an article originally written for Teaching Drama magazine, this PDF introduces the background to the Italian improvised theatre of the 16th to 17th centuries and shows how it influences theatre and TV today. Activities suitable for Key Stages 3-5 and adults include: Status Gap, Master and Servant, Pantalone and Arlecchino, Character Body Parts, Throw Your Face, Grammelot and Canovaccio. A new page outlines examples of the lazzi (comic business) which Commedia d'ell Arte was famous for. Written by David Farmer.

Buy the full 5-page Commedia lesson plan for just £2.99 with PayPal. You will be sent a link to instantly download the PDF.

 

Commedia dell’ Arte established itself across the piazzas of Italy from the 1530’s onwards. The players lampooned social stereotypes according to their status or regional origin. These evolved into the larger than life stock characters easily recognisable by audiences across a crowded market place. The style has had a lasting effect on popular entertainment. From vaudeville to pantomime and silent movies, from the Marx Brothers to Monty Python, Mr Punch and Mr Bean, all must tip their hat to the commedia dell’arte players.

The whole day was vibrant and action-packed.

Andrea Bird (March 2013)

Didi brought the subject to life. The theory underpinned the practical exercises. I felt able to free myself and improvise in a safe environment.

Gilly Meadows (March 2013)

I really enjoyed the day. It's given me plenty of ideas to take back to school.

Julie Ward (Participant, March 2013)

My highlights were working with others and sharing in Didi's enthusiasm, energy and endless knowledge. It was brilliant receiving direction and playing with the masks.

Amy Howell (March 2013)

Fantastic day! Didi is knowledgable and I love the way in which she strings it together.

Chilla Tamas (March 2013)

Didi's knowledge about Commedia was brilliant. I have learnt so much from today which will be a great help for teaching.

Joanna Ryan, Coventry Belgrade Theatre (March 2013)