The Fool’s First Step: Clowning, Play and Presence

Learn clowning, embodied communication and improvisational performance techniques with our performing arts short courses in Sydney!

“The fool is the part of us that steps forward without certainty yet is open, responsive and willing to be seen.” — Alicia Gonzalez

Develop practical skills in embodied communication, responsiveness and improvisation through this immersive, movement-based workshop exploring clowning, interaction and presence. Working physically and in the moment, you will engage in a series of guided exercises designed to sharpen awareness, timing, responsiveness and connection with others.

Join this class to explore clowning as a practice of attention, timing and honest response. Through movement, improvisation and relational exercises, you will develop the ability to notice what is happening, respond without overthinking, and remain present in interaction. These techniques are widely used in theatre, facilitation, public speaking, collaborative practice and interpersonal communication.

This workshop introduces foundational techniques drawn from physical theatre, improvisation and clowning practice. Participants will engage in structured exercises designed to develop communication, responsiveness, audience awareness and embodied performance skills.

Across the day, you’ll move between individual and group exercises that build sensitivity to rhythm, deepen listening, and strengthen your capacity to act in the moment. The workshop uses experiential learning methods to develop practical communication, improvisation and performance skills through direct participation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this clowning and embodied communication workshop, you should be able to:

• apply foundational clowning and improvisation techniques in structured exercises
• demonstrate improved responsiveness, timing and attention in group interaction
• use embodied communication techniques to support presence and audience engagement
• participate effectively in collaborative improvisational activities
• analyse how physical awareness and response influence communication and performance

After finishing this course, you might like to enrol in a related acting, improvisation or public speaking course.

Course content

What will be covered in this clowning, play and presence workshop?

Session 1: Arriving in the body

• grounding and awareness exercises to support presence
• introduction to play through physical exploration
• establishing group connection and shared attention

Session 2: The clown state

• working with openness, vulnerability and responsiveness
• noticing impulses and responding without pre-planning
• developing sensitivity to rhythm, timing and audience awareness

Session 3: Improvisation and interaction

• responding in real time through movement and gesture
• simple improvisation structures focused on clarity and connection
• listening and reacting to others with precision and awareness

Session 4: Expression and presence

• developing embodied communication and stage presence
• working with stillness, timing and focus
• short solo and paired explorations with feedback

Session 5: Integration and reflection

• consolidating key principles through practice
• translating awareness, timing and responsiveness into communication contexts
• closing exercises and group reflection

Intended audience

Who is this clowning and embodied communication workshop for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners and requires no prior acting or performance experience. It is ideal for:

• adults interested in developing presence and awareness through practice
• creatives seeking to deepen their engagement with play and improvisation
• professionals wanting to strengthen communication through embodied skills
• performers, facilitators, educators and presenters seeking to build responsiveness and audience awareness
• anyone curious about working physically, interactively and in the moment

Course venue

ReadyMade Works Ultimo

Course materials

Learning resources

All materials and exercises will be provided during the workshop.

What to bring to class

• comfortable clothing suitable for movement
• water bottle
• notebook (optional for reflection)

Additional information

Please note the following:

• this is a highly interactive, movement-based workshop
• the emphasis is on participation and experiential learning
• exercises are designed to support communication, improvisation and performance skill development
• no prior acting or performance experience is required

Developed in accordance with the Sydney Community College Course Description Style Guide.  
Structured using the Steps to Course Creation framework.