A brand-new introductory playground from Bouffon mistress Briony O’Callaghan

About the workshop

A brand-new introductory playground from Bouffon mistress Briony O’Callaghan, artistic director of award-winning theatre company Created a Monster.

We will play, strut, stuff, crawl, dance and dig down into the transcendent muck that is Bouffon - from the roots of the form growing out of the Lecoq pedagogy, to modern territories of mockery and ridicule. How can we mock ourselves? How can we mock others? Can we? May we?

All levels welcome. No experience of Bouffon necessary. Some experience of performance is encouraged. Willingness to play in the muck of your own strangeness necessary. Open to actors, clowns, dancers and performers of all kinds.

About the teacher

Briony is artistic director of Created a Monster (https://www.createdamonstertheatre.com/), and associate artist/core company member of the David Glass Ensemble (https://davidglassensemble.co.uk/)and SALTYDOLLS (https://www.saltydolls.co.uk/). Briony works as a performer with Blind Summit and Dream Awake, the new sister company with Gecko, directed by Amit Lahav.

Created a Monster is an award-winning theatre company. It was founded in 2014 at Ecole Jacques Lecoq, and focuses on physical storytelling to play with audiences through mime, the grotesque and the exploration of personal hells.

The company has taught in major UK drama schools, including East 15, Italia Conti and Rose Bruford; on drama courses at both FE and HE level; and has taught drama teachers across the UK for the exam board EDUQAS, including workshops at the Royal Court Theatre.

Awards

The LET Award 2019 (finalist); The Stage Debut Award 2022 (winner); The OffFest Award for Best Show 2022 (winner); The LET award 2023 (finalist); The Phoebe Waller-Bridge Keep it Fringe Fund 2023 (winner); The Pleasance Charlie Hartill Award 2023 (winner).

Reviews

"★★★★★ ...a standout show that keeps the audience at the midpoint between laughter, discomfort and horror." - The Stage

“★★★★★ …one of the most original, risk-taking shows on the fringe.” The Reviews Hub

“★★★★★ …leaves an indelible mark on its audience.” Theatre Weekly

"★★★★ ...we become aware of our shared, complex and valuable humanity. It’s beautiful." - Broadway Baby

"★★★★ …Wonderful…exhilarating…” - The Scotsman

“★★★★ Bristling with a Rottweiler-level energy. Brilliantly powerful.” - Spy in the Stalls

Description supplied by the event organiser.