Working with The Mask
A workshop with Rikki Tarascas
Part of Constructed Geographies exhibition

“A mask is a device for driving the personality out of the body and allowing a spirit to take possession of it. A beautiful mask may be completely dead whilst a piece of old sacking with a mouth and eye holes in it may have vitality and presence”.

Course content: This is a practical workshop involving the wearing and operating of a mask not a ‘mask making’ workshop. We will be working with ‘the neutral mask’. The neutral mask holds many keys to the nature of performance.

Through tutor led practical exercises the workshop will introduce students to the practical advantages of approaching performance through the body. We will explore the body mind connection through : concepts of centering and neutrality in the body derived from the martial arts and theatre training.

We will observe the importance of focus, observation, sensation and awareness. Working with the breath we will explore balancing , effort and non-effort, stage presence and the notion of the inner life of the performer. We will explore what it is to inhabit a mask and in so doing raise questions about embodiment . Through action and observation participants will become aware of how to make fuller use of all their senses and subtle energies to deliver an engaging performance.

We will explore ‘What it is that makes you watchable?

Aimed at all levels this workshop will both fun and fascinating.

Please wear loose clothing.

Book your place here >>