Workshops and Residencies
All workshops and guest lectures can be paired with a booking of a Faction of Fools’ show for your theatre department or the entire student body.
*Pandemic Update: We are currently booking in-person workshops for Fall 2021. Most workshops and residencies can also be adapted to online learning. Contact education@factionoffools.org to bring us to your digital classroom!
Residencies
All residencies are taught by experienced teaching artists, who have performed and trained with Faction of Fools. Residencies are fee-based and can range in length from a one-day workshop to a semester-length or year-long residency. For inquiries and more information, contact us at education@factionoffools.org
In order to provide the optimum experience for your students, please book residencies at least four weeks in advance of your anticipated start date. Fees are based on the residency length, degree of customization, and number of students impacted. Mileage may be accessed for programs beyond the Metro area.
Workshops
Commedia dell’Arte: Our signature workshop series introduces students to the style and history of Commedia dell’Arte. Students will physically explore the classical stock characters and scenarios, learn improvisation and mask skills, and develop an appreciation for the international and historical context of Commedia dell’Arte. Upon request, workshops can be tailored to allow students to create their own masks and perform with them.
Physical Comedy Bootcamp: Get a comedic workout in our Physical Comedy Bootcamp! Using physical warmups, games, and exercises, instructors will introduce students to comedic styles such as Commedia dell'Arte, Slapstick, Clown, Mime, and Improvisation, and then lead them in creating their own routines based on their own personal comic flair!
Improvisation: This workshop series cultivates imagination and creativity in students through the art of improvisation. Students will collaborate as an ensemble, explore theatre games, and create improvised scenes.
Stage Combat: This workshops series will introduce students to the art of storytelling through choreographed stage combat. Students will learn how to perform scenes of staged violence through techniques that emphasize safety and cooperation. An Unarmed residency will focus on hair and ear pulls, punches, slaps, kicks, and falls. An Armed residency will focus on dagger, rapier, and broadsword techniques.
Acro-Balance: This workshop series begins with individual explorations of the basic kinesiology of balance and moves toward partner work in giving and receiving weight and contact improvisation. Utilizing the Swiss acrobatics maxim, "I put my center under the thing that I do not want to die," we study simple techniques for lifting, carrying, and catching human bodies. We then progress to more spectacular balance and ensemble techniques. Great for slapstick, clown, ensemble work, and developing advanced grappling choreography. This class builds (literally!) "from the ground up."
College & University Workshops
Topics: Commedia dell’Arte, Improvisation, Clown, Ensemble-devised Physical Theatre, Stage Combat, Acro-Balance, and Shakespeare.
Formats: Lectures for Theatre History or Theatre Appreciation courses, Studio sessions for Acting or Movement lab classes, Evening or Weekend Workshop sessions for the entire department, and Semester or Year-long Residencies