Contemplative Clowning

We all participate in life, and it matters how we show up.

This is true of our participation in the liminal spaces of performance, improvisation and meditation. Curiosity about who we are in these practices can bring a return of freshness and insight into our daily lives. We can learn to participate more fully on stage, in the studio and on the cushion, and by extension, we can let ourselves be called forth to be present in the rest of lives as well.

In our workshop, we propose that 'clown' is a verb that describes this emergent process of participating and showing up, and that we all can and do 'clown' as part of our daily lives.

Clowning might be seen as living on a threshold - of inner and outer, of self and world. Instead of assuming the position of the expert, who asserts ‘I know’, to clown means to be present with life as it unfolds along this edge, in all its strangeness, wonder and unexpectedness. In this practice of clowning, we practice feeling and sharing the experience of discovery directly, as it occurs.

In moments when we are caught out, dis-placed from our usual personality, there is a gap in the armour of our egoic self-knowledge. These experiences can help us to stay curious, and awareness beyond the idea of 'me' can reveal itself.

When we are self-conscious, we are involved in some form of playing. If our self becomes more porous, we can play with the illusion of a solid self, and in that discover ourselves clowning.

In this way, we will explore with great curiosity moments of fluidity and play, as well as the moments, when the ego intervenes in its own playing and tries to freeze it. If others do laugh at us, there might be applause, but this does not have to be the goal. Our awareness can become one hand of an audience clapping: the sound of one hand clapping. Clowning can become a contemplative practice.

We invite you to join us for a week’s exploration, bringing together performance with all the presence and rigour it requires, with contemplative practices of living and playing from observation and responsiveness. The programme is designed for performers, interested in contemplation and contemplators interested in performance.

In her contemplative pedagogy ‘Play of Now’, Jaya brings together inner and outer work. Interactive improvisation exercises can show us exactly where moments of openness lie, or where we hold back – in life or on stage. Then, in meditation, amongst the seeming maze of thoughts, wishes, and fears, we can discover how to release into space. Rejecting nothing, improvisation and meditation feed and support each other. 

Amy works with a performance pedagogy of participatory embodiment, (influenced by Jacques Lecoq’s 'mime-dynamic' and 'open mime') by which a mimetic confluence is developed between the sensory world and the performer’s physical imagination. We will open ourselves to explore our sensory worlds with a fluid boundary between inner and outer experience without regard for the results, comedic or other. 'Process will be the product' in her work with the red nose. (For more on Amy, see https://www.embodiedpoetics.org/)

Residing in a serene and secluded location in the small historic town of Silves, Algarve/Portugal, and enjoying a communal swimming pool, we look forward to working together with you!

The early bird price of the programme is 700€ (until the end of February). From the beginning of March the full price will be 750€ which includes a simple daily lunch together. Some partial scholarships are available - please apply for details.

As participants seek and arrange their own accommodation, advice from our local host is available. You can get in touch with me, if you want to hear more, via the button in the top right of this page. Booking opens in January - there are only 10 places available. Details on the booking form below.

Please download the booking form with further details: