Workshops for Schools

o. arlecchino

 

Rosa's workshops and performances are now a twice yearly fixture on our Year 9 timetable. They are entertaining, engaging and inclusive. This commedia program at Waterford is always greatly anticipated by the Drama students as the time she spends with us is talked about by past students as being one of the highlights of the Year 9 Drama curriculum.

Gillian Gilchirst, Drama Teacher, St Kevins College, Waterford Campus, Richmond

 

Rosa was engaging from the very beginning and had the students transfixed. She was flexible with her program to fit with our schedule and injected humour and life into her workshops. She was able to see the unique personality of each boy and build on his enthusiasm.I would highly recommend this program.

Miriam Rawson, LOTE Coordinator, Xavier College, Kew

The kids adored the Workshop. They were so enthusiastic about it in our next class, it was such a joy to see. It helped them with not only the written work they needed to complete but also with their performances. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Amy Christensen, Drama Teacher, Wesley College

My girls and I all thought the Workshop was excellent - thank you. Your wealth of knowledge was evident and you have a lovely, open approach with the students that they felt very comfortable with you.

Marisa Rowlands, Drama Teacher, Strathcona Baptist Grammar

 

Introductory Workshop

This workshop is an excellent introduction to Commedia dell’Arte and is also an ideal way to consolidate a unit on this style of theatre.

 

  • Recommended workshop length is 90 minutes, however, session times can be adapted to your timetable.
  • The workshop begins with an introductory DVD where we meet the stock characters and place them in a relevant cultural and historical context.
  • Explore and play with traditional improvisations and lazzi.
  • Explore the physicality and psychology for the various masks.
  • Some of the characters we look at are: Arlecchino, Pantalone, I Zanni and Il Capitano to name a few.
  • Practice the Italian language through improvisations.
  • All bookings come with a resource kit.

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    Click here for a printable brochure.

     

    Extension Workshop

    The extension workshops can be catered to your curriculum. The following are some suggestions for how we can extend your students:

    • Further develop the stock characters.

    • Analyse and explore Commedia dell’Arte scripts ie Goldoni, Machiavelli and Il Canovaccio (Commedia dell’Arte scenarios) as a foundation for creating an ensemble performance.

    • Mask construction (materials are to be provided by the school).

     

    Workshop Requirements

    • Please provide an adequate cleared space for a practical workshop.

    • Please provide a DVD player and a television in the space for the beginning of the workshop.

    • We advise that Make A Scene and/or its directors, employees or agents will not be legally responsible for the supervision of the participants. We insist that a teacher or an adequate number of teachers are present to actively supervise the entire workshop.

    • Photographs may be taken, however, we ask that the workshop not be filmed under any circumstances. Filming the workshop is in breach of our intellectual property rights and may result in legal action.

    • Any photographs taken of the workshop must not be published without prior written consent from Make A Scene.

     

    Bookings

    Contact us to tentatively book dates then download the Workshops for Schools Booking Form. Complete and post the paperwork to: Make A Scene, PO BOX 1728, Preston South, 3072 or scan and email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

     

    Cost

    The cost (including GST) is minimum $260 per workshop for 30 students or less. Add $7.50 per extra student.

    Please refer to our payment policy in the FAQ for Commedia dell’Arte Performance and Workshops for Schools.