Saturday program
About the Antonio Fava workshops...Festival participants who have 3-day registration can nominate which Antonio Fava workshop
group they would like to attend, either Group A , B or C. Each group, A, B & C, will have one session on Friday AND one
session on the Saturday, Whole group on Sunday. As workshops in each session run concurrently, you will be unable to
attend the other workshops in the same session as your Antonio Fava workshop. However, workshops are scheduled so
you will be able to attend workshops by the same speaker on a different day.
Daily warm-up
8.30am - 9:00am
Towards the embodiment of the mask.
Woodward Theatre
SESSION 1
9:00am- 10:30am
Antonio Fava Workshop 2, GROUP A
Antonio delivers the 'what, where and how' of Commedia. He
teaches in movement, the basic posture and gesture of Zanni (servants),
Lovers, Capitano and Magnifico (Old Man), or ‘Pantalone’. Some from the
group will have the opportunity to participate in improvisations where the
main characters will be put in classic situations.
Woodward Theatre
Festival participants NOT in GROUP A, select either of the workshops below:
The thinking actor beneath the mask of character - the calculation
|
Clear and concise exercises to cast the High Status
|
Gerard Boland (NSW) |
Tony Kishawi (QLD) |
| This workshop explores the calculations that actors must make in terms of progressing the dramatic action while playing with the audience. It explores how audiences can only see what the performer is able to transform. Improvisations focus on experiments concerning the spontaneity that can come from moments of discovery and the depiction of contrasts. |
Assume everyone has something to offer onstage and suddenly you can see talent everywhere. But not everyone is good at every role, so knowing how to cast your group makes a difference. Working with an actor's strengths is ideal, but it means that first you have to find what they are! Tony presents exercises that sort the high from the low, the Arlecchinos from the Pantalones, the Capitanos from the Brighellas, not to mention the maskless roles. |
| Workshop Studio |
Workshop Studio |
SESSION 2
11:00am- 12:30pm
Antonio Fava Workshop 2 (repeat), GROUP B
Antonio delivers the 'what, where and how' of Commedia. He
teaches in movement, the basic posture and gesture of Zanni (servants),
Lovers, Capitano and Magnifico (Old Man), or ‘Pantalone’. Some from the
group will have the opportunity to participate in improvisations where the
main characters will be put in classic situations.
Woodward Theatre
Festival participants NOT in GROUP B, select either of the workshops below:
Plotting Commedia scenarios
|
Discovering by covering
|
Robin Davidson (ACT) |
Carmencita Palermo (TAS) |
| You’ve
cast characters and improvised a few scenes, how do you get from there
to an interesting story that will entertain an audience and allow the
comedy of the characters to shine? Robin will look at traditional plot
structures, and contemporary approaches, including using Commedia to
address current issues, and how to deal with gender imbalances in a
cast. He will also consider how the plot needs to fit the reasons for
doing the show, and the strengths and weaknesses of the cast. Robin
will draw on his experience of creating Commedia scenarios in a range
of contexts. |
Workshop on the use of Balinese mask. How to make a mask alive? The body has to become one with the mask, has to become the mask! Based on Balinese Topeng masked dance-drama and Italian Commedia dell’Arte techniques, this introductory workshop aims to give insights into the transformative nature of the body-mind in order to become a true character. In the beginning, the exploration of the Balinese dance techniques allow us to connect with the source of movement for purpose which is pure breath; then you can search for new body shapes and characters through using the improvisation techniques of Commedia dell’ Arte. The mask is used as a tool of transformation, as well as a focused object for use on stage. This workshop will give you tools to create your own characters with or without masks. |
| Workshop Studio |
Workshop Studio |
SESSION 3
1:30pm- 3:00pm
Antonio Fava Workshop 2 (repeat), GROUP C
Antonio delivers the 'what, where and how' of Commedia. He
teaches in movement, the basic posture and gesture of Zanni (servants),
Lovers, Capitano and Magnifico (Old Man), or ‘Pantalone’. Some from the
group will have the opportunity to participate in improvisations where the
main characters will be put in classic situations.
Woodward Theatre
Festival participants NOT in GROUP C, select either of the workshops below:
Expressing the Spirit of the Mask - for the actor
|
Through the eyes of the mask -a tool for social change
(repeat) |
Commedia Academy of Australia (WA) |
Corinna Di Niro (SA) |
| …before the mask, before the costume, before the traditional
gestures…What moves the physical body -what drives the performer in
the checkered costume? What switches the body on? After more than 20
years of exploring the performers craft, we present these essential exercises and techniques designed to give you the fine tuning to connect with your breath and raise awareness of basic physical impulses. |
This interactive lecture looks at how Commedia dell'Arte can be used as a tool for social change. It will aim to discuss such topics as triggers of abuse and the power of the mask plus also covering sections of my latest project - 'Through the eyes of the mask; the impact of verbal and emotional abuse.' Participants will also have the opportunity to explore and play with masks in a guided role-play and improvisation session. |
| Workshop Studio |
Workshop Studio |
