Course Information

All courses are “stand alone”, repeatable and are not required to be taken in sequence provided the individual course prerequisites are met. 

MASK AND CLOWN INTENSIVE (BABY CLOWN)

Prerequisite: None – all are welcome, from all walks of life.

This course is based on the work of Canadian Clown Master Richard Pochinko and has been named many things: From Mask to Clown, Clown Through Mask, or The Baby Clown Workshop (the student’s clown is born at the end).

In this workshop students begin with a focus on listening. The initial exercises are used to awaken and encourage a sense of pleasure, an awareness of the audience, and an honest physical and emotional response to internal impulses and external events. Many exercises are done with eyes closed to help exercise and expand the student’s experience of perception and focus. The body (through specific movement exercises) is approached as a source of visualization for character or story elements through improvisations that include a great deal of work with colors.

Once the color work is done the students are ready for the making and wearing of six masks. This is an involved process of physicalization and visualization, exploring the innocence and experience of each mask and the relationships between them. The masks are guideposts to the student’s creative playground and as such are also the guideposts to his/her clown. With each mask the student prepares a short turn (sketch) to express the essence of the mask without the use of verbal language. Through these turns and the exercises of the entire workshop the rules of clown emerge giving the student a fundamental understanding of clown and a deeper experience of the elements at play in any performance situation. This workshop is an intense blast and furnishes the student with multiple characters and a malleable structure for continued creative exploration with limitless applications. It is not necessary to be a performer to take this course.

BOOT CAMP 1

Prerequisite: Mask and Clown Intensive (Baby Clown)

This workshop is the next stage of exploration after Baby Clown. Using various writing and development techniques and exercises to evoke both left and right brain involvement, the participants explore their own unique approach to the creation of material and performance. The mask and colour work is expanded upon (including the establishment of the gesture work) to deepen the student’s relationship with them as both a source for material and as character for performance. This workshop is perfect for those coming fresh out of The Mask and Clown Intensive (Baby Clown) or for those who seek to reacquaint themselves with the foundations of this style. The 6 days will begin with an emphasis on exploration and creation but will move towards the development of pieces for performance. Students should be aware they will be extremely challenged and while it is not necessary to bring a prepared piece they will be welcome to do so.

JOEY AND AUGUSTE

Prerequisite: Mask and Clown Intensive (Baby Clown) and Boot Camp 1 (or equivalent)

Begin to explore the exquisite dynamics of two and three clown relationships. Also referred to as the manipulator (Joey), the victim (Auguste), and the perfect balance between the two (Ringmaster), this workshop begins with the discovery of each archetype within the individual. Then each student has the opportunity to bring them out to engage with their complimentary counterparts in the external world. This workshop is done primarily working in partnership with another performer. It is not necessary to bring a partner and if you do it is still recommended students work with several different students during the workshop. There will be two public performances at the end of this workshop.

ADVANCED BOOT CAMP

Prerequisite: Mask and Clown Intensive (Baby Clown) and Boot Camp 1 (or equivalent).

This workshop will continue with the work begun in Boot Camp 1 with a stronger emphasis on the development and execution of professional work. Each day will consist of a minimum of 3 hours focused on creation and 3 hours focused on performance. There will be many additional hours for exercises, discussions, and the exploration of themes that arise out of the classes. Students will be able and encouraged to explore a broader application of the clown work including but not limited to spoken text, song, dance, bouffon, Joey & Auguste and a synthesis of any of the above. If students have any specific desires for this workshop they should feel free to begin a conversation on the subject at any point after application. Students should be aware they will be extremely challenged and are to bring 2 short prepared pieces in addition to other work to be discussed after registration.

Students are selected according to application information and date of application. A brief telephone interview and/or letter of reference from a previous teacher, director, or other associated professional may be required prior to acceptance.

SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION:

Please fill out our online form here.

SEND US YOUR DOCUMENTS:

The following documents are required in addition to submitting an online application form:

• Applicant’s CV/Resume
• Applicant’s Headshot/Photo (optional)
• Applicant’s Cover Letter detailing reasons for applying

Please e-mail documents to apply@theclownfarm.com.

You will be notified once we have received your completed application and documents.

Please Note: If you have attended a workshop at The Clown Farm (or MCCP) within the last two years and your information has not changed significantly, you may omit the documentation.

 Please be sure that your application is completely filled out and that all documentation has been provided.

PAYMENT

Upon acceptance, students will be given further information on how to make payments.

Please Note:

• 50% deposit is necessary upon acceptance of application to ensure a spot in the class.
• Deposit can be refunded minus a $35.00 administration fee until 90 days prior to start-date.
• Deposit is non-refundable after 90 days prior to start-date unless a replacement is found.

The Clown Farm is committed to ensuring that all its courses, workshops and advanced training opportunities are financially accessible. Scholarships are available to assist students with the costs of instruction for courses, workshops and other training opportunities at The Clown Farm as well as in outreach (off island) activities. Scholarship applications can be made for up to $500, though awards typically value between $300 and $400.

Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need, a demonstrated history of artistic/performative work, and the applicant’s articulation of how training at The Clown Farm will contribute to their future work and/or goals. Financial need will be assessed based on the applicant’s financial declaration. Artistic/performance merit will be assessed based on the applicants’ previous artistic performance training and experience, including but not limited to previous experience at The Clown Farm, and their stated artistic goals and explanation of the relevance of our training.

Scholarship applications are particularly encouraged from low-income residents of Northern Ontario, as well as from Francophone and Indigenous students. Priority is given to students who have attended our courses in the past without receiving a scholarship.

Scholarships are funded from the following two sources: a) donations designated for the scholarship fund; and b) a portion of students’ fees from the courses, workshops, and training offered by the Conservatory. Approximately ten percent of the spaces in any given course, workshop, or training opportunity are available to scholarship recipients, with the exception of the Mask and Clown Intensive. Please note that this form cannot be used to apply for funding for the Mask and Clown Intensive.

Scholarships on Manitoulin Island, except in very specific circumstances, are offered only to those camping on the property.

Scholarship numbers and amounts for Off-Island workshops are also subject to varying faculty transportation, accommodation, local facility and material costs, and will therefore be determined on a case by case basis.

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

Please e-mail the following information and documents to apply@theclownfarm.com.

• Two letters of reference
• Signed statement of financial need, including a budget;
• CV/Résumé
• Statement of artistic interest in the course for which the scholarship is requested. (Tell us why you are interested in the course, 500 words maximum.)

 Please be sure that your application is completely filled out and that all documentation has been provided.