Circus Factory is thrilled to announce this 4-Day Clown Intensive with Spymonkey “Theatre of the Funny”.

What is it that makes you as a performer uniquely funny?
How do you share that brilliant, special ridiculousness with an audience so that they are helpless with laughter?

In this 4-day introduction to Spymonkey Clown, we will focus on how to identify and develop that particular quality of Funny that is special to you, and only you. This intensive is suitable for all levels of experience, from novice to seasoned professional.

You will be supported to develop these comedic skills in a safe, fun and laughter-filled environment. This positive group dynamic will allow you focus on identifying and trusting your best impulses, taking risks, being adventurous, generous and honest as a performer. In this highly enjoyable workshop we will play games and exercises, developing trust and complicity with the group. You will find the pleasure in your own ridiculousness, stay optimistic, discover your comedy gold, and get ready to laugh until your face hurts.

We will share many of the methods that Spymonkey have found essential over the years in creating Theatre of the Funny: physical games, improvisational games, status exercises, physical comedy routines, chorus exercises and parody. Toby particularly enjoys using music as a source of comedic inspiration, so we will also look at how song, dance and musicality can lead us to new and unexpected comedic territory.

About Your Spymonkey Clown Intensive:

TOBY PARK managing artistic director, performer and co-founder of Spymonkey and is delivering this intensive. Toby has managed Spymonkey from its conception in 1998.

Toby’s physical comedy direction for theatre includes Jack Absolute Flies Again and Tartuffe at the National Theatre; The Merry Wives of Windsor for the Royal Shakespeare Company; Mack & Mabel for Chichester Festival Theatre; Fantastic Mr Fox for Nuffield Southampton. Direction includes You’re Not Doing It Wrong If No-one Knows What You Are Doing for Rachel Blackman, Howl for Tom Adams. Co-direction includes Enter the Dragons for A&E Comedy; and The Flop for Hijinx. Opera as co-director, composer and librettist includes Fabulous Backstrom Brothers and Big Bang Siegfried. Composing and musical direction includes Karl’s Kühne Gassenschau, Improbable, Guy Dartnell, Mimbre, Adventures in Moominvalley, The Electric Forest for National Trust.

He teaches physical comedy, clown and music workshops around the world, including the National Theatre Connections programme. Aitor and Toby are currently directing a full scale opera, Offenbach’s Orpheus in the Underworld, which will open at the Vienna Volksoper in January 2023.