Clowning, Play and Presence

Learn clowning, play and embodied communication 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.

Learn to respond impulsively in this immersive, movement-based workshop exploring clowning through play, interaction and presence. Learn to work physically and be in the moment by engaging in a series of guided exercises designed to sharpen awareness, 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 work, you will develop the ability to notice what is happening, respond without overthinking, and stay present in interaction. 
Across the day, you'll move between individual and group exercises that build sensitivity to rhythm, deepen listening, and develop your capacity to act in the moment. The focus is on doing rather than discussing, giving you direct experience of how presence, play and communication emerge through the body.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this clowning and creative expression workshop, you should be able to:

• respond with greater ease and spontaneity in group settings;
• apply core clowning principles: timing, attention and responsiveness;
• use embodied exercises to build awareness and presence;
• engage in simple improvisation with clarity and focus;
• reflect on how attention and response shape communication;

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 planning;
• developing sensitivity to rhythm, timing and audience.

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 everyday contexts;
• closing exercises and group reflection.

Intended audience:

Who is this clowning and creative expression 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;
• anyone curious about working physically, interactively and in the moment.

Course venue:

TBA

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 direct experience;
• no performance or prior experience is required..