Holly Stoppit's Introduction to Clowning Weekend Theatre & Performing Arts

A magical 2-day journey, exploring with a small group into a world of play, spontaneity and laughter - coming to Exeter for the first time!

Be part of a magical group journey for grown ups (age 18+), adventuring together through a world of play and laughter. You’ll explore what it feels like to put judgement to one side and follow your impulses to play, discover and connect, sharing the joy and pleasure in everything you do.

More about Holly Stoppit's Introduction To Clowning

This is a 2-day workshop which gently immerses you into the state of clown, where everything is possible and nothing is quite as it seems. You will be led through a carefully-paced progression of group games and exercises, designed to free up your body, voice and imagination, anchoring you in the present, connecting you with the group and helping you to effortlessly enter into the states of ‘flow’ and ‘play’. From here, your clown will start to emerge.

Clown is not a character you put on, it's a gentle stripping back to a state of child-like wonderment, where pleasure, playfulness and exploration rule. Your clown is the most curious, spontaneous and authentic part of you and Holly delights in creating safe and non-judgmental environments full of invitations for clowns to come out to play.

Over the weekend, you’ll experience a multitude of technical comedy exercises, all geared towards helping you release more laughter from audiences. We’ll explore how physicality, breath, timing, rhythm, surprise and truth provoke laughter. You’ll discover how embracing and sharing your vulnerability through your clown can open up an audacious, laughter-laden quality of connection with audiences.

This training is ideal for emerging / professional performers of any discipline who wish to improve their stage presence and connection with audiences. But you don't need to be a performer to come to clown school, over the last 8 years, Holly has taught this course to actors, bank managers, therapists, musicians, teachers, politicians, comedians, I.T specialists... If you are interested in cultivating a playful, light, deep and honest connection with yourself and others, then this is the course for you.

What do other people say?

"Holly is an inspirational, passionate and very, very generous teacher.”

"… a wonderful exploration of letting go of ego! To simultaneously release fear of appearing foolish..., cultivate and sustain intimate connection with an audience, and support and be supported by others to follow what’s working, spontaneously and without attachment is an extraordinary practice. I’m not sure whether the wondrous curiosity and playfulness is another layer to the experience, or the only context in which it can possibly happen, and it doesn’t really matter – it just works, and is totally transformative when it does. And I don’t think I have ever laughed so much in two days in my life.”

Pricing:

£150 / £120 / £90
£150 is the sponsor rate for those earning enough money to fund another participant to attend a Holly Stoppit workshop at a supported rate.
£120 is the standard rate.
£90 is the concession rate for those on benefits or in full time education. There are limited concessionary places available.

To apply:

Places for this course will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. However do please still take some time to fill in the application form carefully so we have a good understanding or the skills and expectations of our participants. Thanks.

Follow the link below to complete the application form, or email Holly's admin support on [email protected] if you have any questions.

APPLICATION FORM:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeezw4zDyB1cjyAW-yt6PXlv2GMZncwd81-Ipg9cf1TQNMNcg/viewform

Thanks to Bikeshed Theatre for their support!

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