6 DAY COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE COURSE

STEFANO GUIZZI  (Piccolo Teatro di Milano, Italy)

Tuesday 6th - Tuesday 13th December 2011
EDINBURGH

BOOKING
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07765096709

What is Commedia about:

It’s the most representative form of theatre in Italian history. Conceived and developed within the arenas of market-place performers, noblemen's courts and universities, its long life cycle spanned for 250 years from the 16th to the 18th centuries, influencing all other forms of theatre to come.
As the performers of Commedia travelled all over Europe, invited by Monarchs and Tsars, they spread the seeds of what was to become modern European theatre . We find comic characters resembling (or taken directly from) the masked characters of Commedia in the works of Shakespeare and Moliére; circus and puppet-theatre (Punch and Judy;) the work of Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Eric Morecombe and Ernie Wise and last but not least, Mr. Bean.
It is well known that the British Pantomime was developed from this craft.

LABORATORY - THE COURSE

Introduction:

• The history of Commedia dell’Arte
• Physical and vocal training
• The body and the mask
• Introduction to the 5 characters (Maschere):Arlecchino, Pantalone, Dottore, Brighella, Colombina
• Technical work on each mask: masters (Pantalone, Dottore)

THEORETICAL COURSE

Programme:

• The audience will be introduced to the history of this craft:
• Origins and meaning of the masks: archetypes of humanity
• The life of the comedians
• The fascinating story of Isabella Andreini as the first woman to lead a theatre company
• The conquer of France by the comedians and the incredible development of this form of theatre all over Europe.

• Servants (Arlecchino, Brighella, Colombina)
• Canovacci (short plots)
• Lazzi (improvisation)
• The city of the Masks:  introduction of
• A specific practice to explore and experiment with the masks

On the last day there will be a short presentation open to the public.

DATES:

• 6 Day Course which includes practical presentation: Tuesday 6th- Sunday 11th December 2011.
  Tuesday 6th - Friday 9th: 5pm - 9pm
  Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th: 2pm - 7pm
• Practical Presentation:
  Sunday 11th: 7:30pm (£150/135)

• 2 Day Course:
  Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th December 2011: 5pm - 9pm (£40/35)
• Theorectical Course:
  Tuesday 6th December 2011: 3pm- 4:30pm (£10).

LOCATION:
Summerhall Edinburgh.

For booking and more information please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel: 07765096709

STEFANO GUIZZI

I saw "Arlecchino, Servant of Two Masters" directed by Giorgio Strehler, one of the most important theatre directors of the twentieth century. Arlecchino, one of the most famous characters of Commedia dell’Art, was being played by Ferruccio Soleri, an established, world-acclaimed actor of the time for his spectacular interpretation of Commedia Dell'Arte's most famous character.

Ten years later I was admitted to Strehler's School of Theatre, where I began training in Commedia dell'Arte with Strehler himself, Soleri, and other actors from the company of the Piccolo Theatre; they were keeping this ancient tradition of Italian theatre alive, taking it all over the world.  The power of the Mask breaks through language and cultural barriers, reaching audiences in Tokyo or in Cairo, in Minsk or Rio, and always waking, stirring and warming their hearts with laughter.I was seven years old when I walked into a theatre for the first time in my life;

In 1990, I appeared on stage for the first time with Mr. Soleri under Strehler's direction.

Today, twenty years on, my study and adventures with the Maschere continue as I travel all over the world with ‘Arlecchino’.  In 2008, I began to teach Commedia workshops, in collaboration with Mr. Soleri and the Piccolo Theatre of Milano, to young actors in different parts of the world, from the Shepkin Theatre School in Moscow to the Fitaz (International Theatre Festival of La Paz, Bolivia).