TORONTO: 2 ONE-WEEK BOUFFON WORKSHOPS
May 21 to 31, 2024
Satire creation, play, and performance
May 21 to 31, 2024, join us for 2 one-week intensives exploring, creating and presenting bouffon at the Sweet Action Theatre
This May, Adam Lazarus is hosting two one-week intensives in bouffon. Held at the centre for all thWeek one, Bouffon 101. Week two, Bouffon Creation and Presentation.
Limited spots. Will fill fast.
WORKSHOP INFORMATION
Bouffon 101 (max 15 people):
We will focus on the language and skill of the bouffon. Students will play games and do exercises to help discover the pleasure to mock social hypocrisies while simultaneously making audiences love you. You'll be challenged to take risks, hone your improvisational skills, and become a better performer.
Bouffon Creation and Presentation (max 10 people):
Students will form an ensemble and build solo and goup bouffon turns/numbers to perform twice for a public audience.
(If only interested in week 2, please contact us to discuss)
The class will be taught by Adam Lazarus and guest instructors.
Class Schedule Week One:
Tuesday May 21 to Friday May 24
10am to 4pm daily
Class Schedule Week Two:
Monday May 27 to Friday May 31
10am to 4pm daily
Performance Schedule:
Friday May 31
4pm performance
9:30pm performance
*these performances will be pay what you can with money going back to the students.
Fees:
The fee structure is designed to make this course accessible to students with different financial situations:
1) Two weeks - $700
2) Just week one - $340
3) Just week two - $425
4) Artist/Union - 20% discount
Hold your spot by emailing info@playontheatre.ca and sending in a $100 deposit
CLASS SIZE LIMITED
Toronto Creating Bouffon Workshop - December 10-15, 2018
6 days of exploration and performance
Workshop Information
In this workshop, the first five days will focus on the language and skill of the bouffon and building a five minute bouffon turn/number. On the sixth day (Saturday night!), you will perform for a public audience. Throughout the week, we will play games and do exercises to help you discover the pleasure to play and mock social hypocrisies while simultaneously making audiences love you. You'll be challenged to take risks, hone your improvisational skills, and become a better performer.
The class will be taught by Adam Lazarus and guest instructors.
Class Schedule
Monday December 10 to Friday December 14, 2018
10am to 4pm daily
Performance Schedule
Saturday December 15, 2018 — 8pm
*the performance will be a pay what you can event with money going back to the students.
Fees
The fee structure is designed to make this course accessible to students with different financial situations:
1) Fee - $450
2) Artist/Union (20% discount)- $350
3) Sliding Scale - $250
Hold your spot at info@playontheatre.ca
CLASS SIZE LIMITED and will fill up
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Toronto Spring Bouffon - June 4 to June 8, 2018
a one-week exploration into the art of satire
Workshop Information
Practicing bouffon is practicing satire. It is to revel in mockery and mischief, discomfort and discord. Bouffon aims to make an audience laugh at everything - particularly the hypocrisy of the human experience. For the bouffon, no subject, person or institution is spared mockery and ridicule.
In this one-week workshop, games and exercises are used to help students discover their pleasure to play and mock social hypocrisies while simultaneously making audiences love you. Students will be challenged to take risks, hone improvisational skills and push through performance inhibitions to find the pleasure of being present, space, rhythm, fixed point, complicity, focus, flop and play.
Each day will be begin with a rigorous physical warm-up and then students will explore the bouffon form. By the end of the week, students will have the foundational tools to create their own bouffon characters, stories, and scenes.
The class will be taught by Adam Lazarus and guest instructors.
Schedule:
Monday June 4 to Friday June 8, 2018
10am to 3:30pm daily
Fees:
The fee structure is designed to make this course accessible to students with different financial situations:
1) Fee - $350
2) Artist/Union Member- $250
3) Sliding Scale - $190
$100 deposit required to hold a space
Hold your spot at info@playontheatre.ca
Toronto Winter Bouffon - December 18 to December 22, 2017
a one-week exploration into the art of satire
Workshop Information
Practicing bouffon is practicing satire. It is to revel in mockery and mischief, discomfort and discord. Bouffon aims to make an audience laugh at everything - particularly the hypocrisy of the human experience. For the bouffon, no subject, person or institution is spared mockery and ridicule.
In this one-week workshop, games and exercises are used to help students discover their pleasure to play and mock social hypocrisies while simultaneously making audiences love you. Students will be challenged to take risks, hone improvisational skills and push through performance inhibitions to find the pleasure of being present, space, rhythm, fixed point, complicity, focus, flop and play.
Each day will be begin with a rigorous physical warm-up and then students will explore the bouffon form. By the end of the week, students will have the foundational tools to create their own bouffon characters, stories, and scenes.
The class will be taught by Adam Lazarus and guest instructors.
Schedule:
Monday December 18 to Friday December 22, 2017
10am to 3:30pm daily
Fees:
The fee structure is designed to make this course accessible to students with different financial situations:
1) General - $350
2) Artist- $250
3) Union Members - $200
$100 deposit required to hold a space
Hold your spot at info@playontheatre.ca
FREE BOUFFON WORKSHOP - December 20-22, 2016, 10am - 4pm, Toronto
All are welcome. Drop ins too. Any and all experiences. Participate or sit and watch. Come. This is my #ResistanceAction. In wicked times, this work is vital. We can learn how to mock the monsters, open a conversation, and bridge communities.
If you are interested, please contact info@playontheatre.ca and let me know if you'd like to participate, audit, or a bit of both.
Peace -- Adam
November 14 to December 4, 2016
Monday to Friday, 9:30am - 4:30pm
The three weeks will culminate in performances on December 3 and 4*
Maximum number of students is 18
To register contact info@playontheatre.ca or(416) 821-3833
Class Information:
At the core of Bouffon is the fine art of satire. Dating back to the middle ages, the Bouffon were the outcasts of society who sat in their ghettos, their swamps, watching the mainstream world, noting their foibles and laughing. Today, Bouffons have permeated our mainstream media - Sasha Baron Cohen, Stephen Colbert, the South Park guys, Chris Lilley, Seth McFarlane, The Yes Men. For the Bouffon, no subject, person or institution is spared mockery and ridicule.
In this three week workshop, games and exercises are used to help students discover their pleasure to play and mock social hypocrisies while simultaneously making audiences love you. Students will be challenged to take risks, hone improvisational skills and push through performance inhibitions to find the pleasure of being present, space, rhythm, fixed point, complicity, focus, flop and play.
Each day will be begin with a rigorous physical warm-up and then students will explore the bouffon form. As we delve into the form, characters, stories, and scenes will be developed and refined for a public performance at the end of the course.
*Teaching hours will be longer during the final week for tech and performances on Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Workshop Teachers:
The bouffon will be taught by Adam Lazarus. Co-teachers and warm-up instructors include Kate Alton, Melissa D'Agostino, Ann Marie Kerr, Adam Paolozza, and Guillermo Verdecchia.
Fees:
$1500
20% discount for union members and previous students
scholarships and payment plans available
$200 non-refundable deposit required
Students travelling from out of town who need cheap/free accommodation, we will do our best to find a billet or appropriate housing.
To register contact: info@playontheatre.ca or(416) 821-3833
