CHIARA D'ANNA

Actress, Director, Movement Director, Commedia dell'Arte Specialist



THE WORLD OF Commedia dell’Arte



An introduction to Commedia dell’Arte’s masks, principles and techniques for contemporary performers and theatre-makers



Sat 3-Sun 4 May, London, UK 🇬🇧

ENROLMENT FORM: CLICK HERE.





Join Dr. Chiara D’Anna—one of the UK’s leading practitioners of Commedia dell’Arte—for an exciting weekend workshop exploring the extraordinary (literally extra-ordinary!) world of Commedia dell’Arte.


This course is designed for actors, theatre-makers, students, teachers and theatre directors eager to expand their performance skills through physical comedy, improvisation, and ensemble work. If you don’t know anything about Commedia: join us to discover more! This workshop is open to beginners.


When:

Saturday 3rd MAY, 10am-6pm - Sunday 4th MAY, 10am-5pm


Where:

BOLD Elephant Theatre, 21 St.George’s Road, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6ES, LONDON


Fees & Enrolment Info:

Standard £215

Early Bird £165*

Students: £155

Commedia Mailing List: £180

Early Bird Commedia Mailing List: £160*

* Early Bird prices = Payment due by Sat 4th Apr 2025


Enrolment form: CLICK HERE

Contact: info@chiaradanna.com



Why Take This Course?


This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn fundamental skills that apply to any theatrical setting. From building physical and vocal stamina to mastering comic timing and space awareness, participants will gain practical tools to create bold, dynamic characters and perform with confidence. Commedia’s traditional masks serve as an excellent starting point for discovering new ways to embody character, explore physical storytelling, and interact with an audience.







Improvisation with Pantalone.. Students at the Accademia Dell'Arte, AREZZO, Italy, 2021.




What Makes This Workshop Unique?



This workshop offers a fresh, dynamic approach to Commedia dell’Arte, blending tradition with contemporary theatre-making. Chiara D’Anna brings decades of teaching and performing experience, alongside a PhD exploring the legacy of Commedia in contemporary devised theatre. Her workshops focus on unlocking creativity through play, physicality, and improvisation, offering participants tools to expand their theatrical vocabulary.


Her unique approach to Commedia focusses in finding ways to apply its masks, characters, and techniques to create original, relevant work for today’s stage This makes her work accessible, adaptable, and exciting for theatre-makers interested in both traditional and contemporary performance.


As both an academic and a working artist, Chiara’s teaching is deeply informed by years of professional experience in theatre, opera, and film. This rare combination of academic rigour and artistic practice sets Chiara apart as one of the most innovative Commedia practitioners working today. Her acclaimed solo show, Don’t You Dare!, has toured internationally since 2018 addressing the silencing of women’s voices with a dynamic blend of Commedia, physical theatre, and biting political satire.






Chiara D'Anna as Arlecchino in Don't You Dare! solo show, TBT, LONDON, UK, 2019



What You’ll Learn:

> Grotesque Characterisation: Learn how to build physicality and voice to embody believable grotesque and bigger-than-life characters.

  • > Mask Work: Explore the postures, gestures, and voices of the iconic Commedia dell’Arte types - the Servants, Masters, Lovers and Captains.

> Improvisation Skills: Develop confidence in performance and audience interaction through devising and improvisation.

  • >Ensemble Performance: Practice working as part of a group to create dynamic, collaborative scenes.

> Commedia canovacci: Experiment in devising short, comic scenes inspired by traditional Commedia dell’Arte scenarios (i.e. canovacci)


What to Bring:

Wear comfortable clothing for physical movement, water, a notebook, …and lots of energy!


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Master & Servant Improvisation: Workshop participants as Pantalone and Zanni. Dive Deep Into Commedia Workshop, COLOGNE, Germany Oct 2024





Program Overview:

Saturday (10 AM–6 PM): Mastering the Masks

MORNING 10am - 1pm

  • > Historical Context: A brief introduction to the origins and legacy of Commedia dell’Arte.

> Warm-Up: Ensemble Games and Playful Exercises: Activities to build trust, get energised, and build a sense of ensemble.

  • > The Servants of Commedia: An introduction of the big family of Servants: Zanni, Arlecchino, Brighella and la Servetta (clever maid). Explore their driving forces, physicality, and vocal qualities.


AFTERNOON 2 - 6pm

  • > The Masters of Commedia: Dive into the physicality, voice and comic text of the stingy old Master Pantalone and the pompous Dottore Balanzone.

> Improvisations with Mask Techniques: clocking (“colpo di maschera”), entrances/exits, repetitions, motifs, asides and counter scenes

  • > Simple scenes and interactions in pairs or trios. Develop confidence in working with masks, develop a better understanding of tempo-rhythm, and comic timing in performance.


Sunday (10AM – 5 PM): Creating Stories and Scenes

MORNING 10am-12.30pm

  • > Warm-Up: Ensemble Games and Playful Exercises: Activities to build trust, get energised, and build a sense of ensemble.

> The Lovers and Captains of Commedia: postures, gestures, walks, voice and sound of gli Innamorati (Female & Male Young Lovers) and the arrogant boastful Capitani.


AFTERNOON 1.30-5pm

  • > Commedia Canovacci: Introduce participants to the backbone of Commedia storytelling. Work on devising short scenes using lazzi (comic gags), soliloquy, simple dialogues, and asides.

> Final Sharing: Bring everything together. Participants will apply their newfound skills to develop devised scenes, exploring characters, audience interaction, and comic timing.

  • > Closing and Q&A: Reflect on the experience, discuss takeaways, and answer any final questions. 🎭


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GET IN TOUCH!