clown/physical theatre workshops
and coaching
announcement: I've been forced to take a permanent medical leave due to my diagnosis of High Risk Multiple Myeloma, an incurable cancer. If I survive beyond COVID19, I'd love to resume my teaching. In the meanwhile feel free to email me for a list of recommended clown teachers -Helen WHY STUDY CLOWN? Your inner clown deserves to shine! The ruling philosophy is everyone has a clown within them. Revealing the playful, impish, contrary, curious, tragically delicious side of you is both a worthy personal and public journey. You will uncover aspects of yourself in a supportive environment which results in an increased confidence, lightness of being and perspective of your own mythology. Often the motivation to study clown lies outside theatre training, though it is an important ingredient for actors and physical performers. WHO STUDIES CLOWN? Anyone and everyone! My students come from a variety of backgrounds: performers (circus, theatre, etc), teachers, psychologists, researchers, social workers, lawyers, nurses, people in finance, design.... Clown goes beyond the realm of entertainment, and does not stop at being the idiot or the wit. We see them in hospitals, theatres and the street as part of political movements. The power of the clown is in the ability to hold a mirror up to society, reflecting the truths of humanity in all its imperfections and beauty. Clowns reveal these truths through vulnerability, empathy and direct contact with the audience. This intimate connection separates clowning from acting; a magic space is created between the clown and the audience. Clowns defy time and space— reality is elastic, anything is possible. “Clowns are born when society has a need for them. Remember that Chaplin and Keaton were most popular during the Depression. And that the Indians say that clowns appear when the leaders get out of hand! What we need is a clown for our time. A clown… that celebrates our humanness, our animalness, and the times that we can touch each other in a moment of laughter." -Richard Pochinko, Canadian Master Clown teacher Uncover what lurks beneath the surface: get at the heart of all that you are—that playful, impish, contrary, curious, tragically delicious YOU! I offer the following clown workshops: DISCOVER YOUR CLOWN workshops for beginners, DEVELOP YOUR CLOWN for a level 2 returning student, and occasionally shorter workshops including those in GIBBERISH, WRITING FOR AND IN YOUR CLOWN, and DOUBLE TROUBLE duo workshop for intermediate students. PRIVATE COACHING: I also offer private and semi-private coaching for advanced individual clown artists seeking direction and refinement of their character and physicality or to work on theatrical pieces in readiness for cabarets and shows. For information on the next workshops or for coaching, please contact me. Please note: I am proud to offer students a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere in which to discover and explore. My workshops are LGBTQ2-positive and ethno-culturally diverse. ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: A professional and internationally-renowned clown performer, Helen is also an award-winning teacher of clown. She has been offering public theatrical clown workshops and physical theatre to adults worldwide since 2004, and has been a guest instructor at institutions including Second City (Toronto), Ryerson University (3rd year drama students); The University of Toronto (UC Drama Program, 2nd year students), Puppets: the Animation School (Toronto); the Living Arts Centre, Fleming College, Durham College and the Haliburton School of the Arts.Her independent workshops Discover Your Clown, Develop Your Clown are offered a few times a year. CLOWN CLUSTERS and other advance clown workshops are offered occasionally. Private coaching is available for more advanced clown artists. For more info, please enquire. Helen also offers workshops to those in healthcare, business and educational communities. In the therapeutic clown world, she has offered training to clown artists from around the globe working in healthcare. Topics have included spontaneous song and sound; connection techniques with teens and with those who are pre- or non-verbal; and presenting on best practice standards. Helen is a graduate from the University of Toronto with an Honours B.A., Specialist in Drama. Helen has been clowning and performing since 1994. She was proud for many years to perform her own shows and to clown for special events worldwide. Phone: 416-536-4323 |
