Creative development course in the art of being a clown

from 4 to 7 weeks

For more information on the next workshops in December, March and March/April please download here the pdf documents

This creative development course in the art of being a clown is the fruit of a long artistic experience and research that began in France and matured in Italy.

Being a clown... this primary need to express oneself - vital and moving, making one laugh and making rhymes with our astonishing humanity.... To make a scene of a new life, a new body, a new skin...living each instant as if it were a new treasure... Like the way a baby moves, the clown returns to the origin of things. As long as desire moves and possesses the body it is then the clown becomes a poet.

Jean Ménigault alias Méningue

Courses dates

Stage sur l’art d’etre clown
29 July 2024 - 8 August 2024 - Smukfest 2024
Stage sur l’art d’etre clown
10 May 2024 - 12 May 2024 - Teatro nelle Foglie
Stage introductif sur l’art d’etre clown
1 May 2024 - 4 May 2024 - Agriturismo del Montevaso, teatro del Montevaso

Archives

Creative development course on the art of being a clown (3 weeks)
8 March 2024 - 28 March 2024 - Agriturismo del Montevaso
Stage mime
17 February 2024 - 18 February 2024 - Associazione Ricoclaun
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
2 October 2023 - 7 October 2023 - Agriturismo del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
3 July 2023 - 7 July 2023 - Castello di Querceto
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown (4 days)
28 April 2023 - 1 May 2023 - Teatro del Montevaso
Creative development course on the art of being a clown (3 weeks)
18 March 2023 - 7 April 2023 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown (3 days) Brindisi Puglia
27 January 2023 - 29 January 2023 - San Bao
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown (7 days)
5 December 2022 - 11 December 2022 - Teatro di Lari
Creative and formative course on the art of being a clown
29 October 2022 - 9 November 2022 - Tenuta Agroforestale del Montevaso
Workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
3 October 2022 - 9 October 2022 - Teatro del Montevaso
Workshop on the art of being a clown
27 August 2022 - 2 September 2022 - Teatro del Montevaso
Workshop on the art of being a clown continue training
10 June 2022 - 12 June 2022 - Agriturismo Teatro Montevaso, Chianni - (Italie)
Stage Being a Clown
13 May 2022 - 15 May 2022 - Massoneria Casamassima (Italie)
Workshop on the art of being a clown continue training
2 April 2022 - 3 April 2022 - Associazione culturale Connessioni, Ravenne - (Italie)
Intensive creative, training workshop on the art of being a clown of 4 weeks
24 March 2022 - 22 April 2022 - Teatro del Montevaso
Workshop on the art of being a clown
12 February 2022 - 13 February 2022 - Associazione culturale Connessioni, Ravenne - (Italie)
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
6 November 2021 - 12 November 2021 - Teatro Montevaso Agriturismo, Chianni - Toscane (Italie)
Intensive creative, training workshop on the art of being a clown of 4 weeks
4 October 2021 - 29 October 2021 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
16 August 2021 - 20 August 2021 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
26 July 2021 - 30 July 2021 - Teatro del Montevaso
Intensive creative, training workshop on the art of being a clown of 4 weeks
1 March 2021 - 26 March 2021 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
12 December 2020 - 13 December 2020 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
9 November 2020 - 15 November 2020 - Teatro del Montevaso
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
3 October 2020 - 9 October 2020 - Teatro del Montevaso
From Harlequin to clown
10 August 2020 - 22 August 2020 - Théâtre Le Colombier
Training workshop introduction on the art of being a clown
27 July 2020 - 31 July 2020 - Teatro del Montevaso

Méningue also gives short training courses during the year. They offer an opportunity to discover and to experiment, using a particular approach and providing a springboard to go further.

The clown springs from the dynamic essence of a state that the actor constructs in the now – the starting point of the course – there where emotion wells, passing from laughter to tears, from tenderness to cruelty. The clown is more than a character – he is a state of mind where nothing is impossible!

A state where the actor constructs, parting from his deepest truths with his qualities, physical imperfections, attitudes, ways-of-thinking, talking, moving and loving…

The art of clowning is furthermore the grotesque, the brave, and fantasy. It is the total incarnation of an extraordinary emotive state, of extreme truth. Humility, vulnerability, simplicity, trust and empathy assume a state in which time stands still, magnificently dilated.

This work parts from one’s inner self and requires generosity, con-centration, distance, intensity, rigor, perseverance and benevolence in order to make all of our simple complexity easy to look at.

The pedagogy has its roots in physical, gestual and vocal theatre. It enables the participants to acquire the improvisation techniques of playful clowning and to create, day by day, one’s own clown character with make-up, costume and grand entrance…one’s own number…

The course concludes with, in agreement with those participants who wish it, public shows during the last week. Some will be held at the Teatro del Carmine in Orvieto in Umbria and the Teatro del Montevaso in Chianni in Tuscany. Previously, some of these were presented Teatroclown (Clowntheater) in 2008; Serata Clownesca (Clowning Evening) in 2009; Serata Clownesca (Clowning Evening) in 2010. The workshop is a residential one and takes place each spring in Tuscany, Italy, near Pise. It is held in a comfortable old farmhouse, “Agriturismo Teatro del Montevaso ”, The farmhouse is situated in the middle of an unspoiled natural place but is close and accessible to the city.

The experience is focused on a work of high quality but at the same time on relaxation and rest. Living together contributes to harmonious interaction amongst the participants.The grocery shopping and cooking is done by the groups. The number of participants is limited to a maximun of 12. The languages spoken are: Italian, French and English. The city of Cecina or Pontedera is easily reached by train. A pick-up at the train station is provided. The next four-weeks’ course is expected to take place from the 24rd of march to the 22 st of april 2022.