Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is one of the oldest and most vibrant theatre traditions in the world — a physical, masked, and deeply improvisational art form that has influenced comedy and performance for centuries. In our workshops, we bring this tradition to life through movement, voice, character work and improvisation.
Commedia dell'arte Workshops
What you'll explore
- Iconic characters and masks: Pantalone, Arlecchino, Colombina, the Captain, the Lovers and more — each with distinct physical and vocal qualities.
- Status and power dynamics: The classic master-servant relationship, how to play with status for comedic effect and how to subvert the status quo on stage.
- Physical transformation: How the mask and body work together — posture, gesture, tempo and rhythm as storytelling tools.
- Voice and sound: Grotesque characters, onomatopoeia, invented languages (grummelot / gibberish) and the musicality of sounds.
- Movement and ensemble work: Space awareness, tempo-rhythm, working in pairs and groups to communicate through body language.
- Improvisation within structure: How Commedia dell'arte techniques directly strengthen your improv — spontaneity, listening, and finding comedy in conflict.
Guest instructor: Chiara D'Anna
Our Commedia dell'arte workshops are led by Chiara D'Anna — a distinguished movement instructor at RADA's MA Theatre Lab and lecturer at Rose Bruford College, East15 Acting School, Goldsmiths University and the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. She holds an MA in Physical Theatre from Royal Holloway University and a PhD in Performing Arts from London Metropolitan University. Chiara is also known internationally as a film actress, with acclaimed roles in Peter Strickland's Berberian Sound Studio and The Duke of Burgundy. More at chiaradanna.com.
Interested in future Commedia workshops?
We run Commedia dell'arte workshops periodically with guest instructors.
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