HIT + MISS - a weekend workshop exploring movement, clown and play
with Izzy Stott and Oliver Fife-Nilsson
There is beauty in success! And there is beauty in Failure! How can we find freedom whilst discovering the joys of being in the midst of both? Bringing together the technique of Lecoq and the spirit of Gaulier, this weekend workshop will allow participants to explore movement as a starting point for play and clown practice.
The state of the clown is fully embodied and present, with no separation between body and mind. The word Naive derives from the latin word Nativus, newly born, and to be native to one's body. Through movement, play and clowning, we hope to re-discover our childlike mind and body, a state that is free, non-critical and explorative, and discover ways to merge this with our experienced adult self.
The workshop will be structured around movement, games and exercises, designed to free you up and allow for play. Taking inspiration from the teachings of Lecoq, the movement section serves to liberate the body, providing a physical tool box to use during clown practice. Games and exercises will facilitate play, and focus on vulnerability, impulse, intuition, presence and the joy of failure. Fusing together techniques from mime, mask, clown and physical comedy, this workshop will provide you with a safe and enjoyable space to delve deeper into playful practice and connect with yourselves, each other and the audience.
Suitable for anyone who is interested in playful self-discovery, from beginners or those with more experience, from actors and performers to comedians, burlesque performers and anything in between.
About the teachers -
Oliver Fife-Nilsson is a theatre-maker, clown and mime, director and facilitator. He studied at the International School of Theatre Jacques Lecoq (France). Oliver has toured across the world for nearly a decade and won multiple awards with solo-shows and his co-created theatre shows, with groups such as The Latebloomers, Jon and Ollie and Chicos Fritos. Oliver worked as a weekly play leader for children in a refugee camp in Sweden. He has frequently taught workshops at festivals while touring, and taught drama for youth with Autism for National Autistic Society. He is currently lecturing on movement and physical theatre at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS).
Izzy is a multidisciplinary artist, performer and workshop facilitator based in Glasgow, focusing on contemporary performance, bouffon and clown. She trained at Ecole Philippe Gaulier, and believes that being playful and free whilst creating is the only way to fully release the body and mind's potential to eternally question, react, move, and hopefully, move others. Izzy's socially engaged arts practice focuses on empowerment and interactive performance. She runs SOMEWHERE BETWEEN - a femme/queer performance production company which aims to produce, create and facilitate new innovative and uniquely styled work, as well as teach, host workshops and work with marginalised groups in society, making theatre accessible to all. Izzy is also co-creator of SHIITAKE NIGHTS, Glasgow Southside’s SELL-OUT absurd cabaret. Her workshops centre clowning and playful practice through a psychological lens, exploring vulnerability, failure, self-acceptance and resilience. She has created and performed original work and hosted cabarets at Edinburgh, Brighton and Prague Fringe Festivals, as well as at Eden and Kelburn festivals.
Feedback from previous workshops:
"I benefited from the relaxed safe space where I could be myself and feel free"
“It was nice to bask in some failure."
Where - SHIITAKE HQ, Templeton House, Glasgow Green
When - Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th May, 10-4pm
Priced on a sliding scale, so please choose the ticket that feels most comfortable for you. If money is a barrier to your attendance, please email me. I would like this workshop to be as accessible as possible.
* Limited availibility, sign up ASAP to secure place.
* Purchase of this ticket includes access to the full workshop. We cannot offer refunds on your purchase.
* We share the studio with other (quiet and lovely) artists and cannot guarantee exclusive use of the space.
* Please contact izzystott@googlemail.com for any questions about access.