This is a training lab primarily based in clown techniques and exercises (but also with some viewpoints and other physical theatre mixed in) pointed not at making clown numbers or comedy in specific - but toward making more dynamic performances and performers.
The short-term goals for this workshop are to:
share the practice/vocabulary/ideas focused on:
creating a dynamic space
engaging directly and indirectly with relationship to audience
giving the performer greater freedom of choice and a better understanding of how to keep their performance engaged
create a network of performers with this vocabulary
provide a low cost opportunity for performers to train (it's something that I wrestle with as a facilator — I hate that good training is often so expensive and in a way gate-keeping)
Dates: Looking at Dec 15-17/18 or Dec 18/19-21
Hours: 10am-2pm or 11am-3pm
Location: Probably in Brooklyn - I'm looking at space options now (but possibly in Manhattan).
Minimum/Maximum Participants: 8/12
Cost will be somewhere between $60-$120/person for the entire workshop (this would be to cover the cost of the space and perhaps help out with the cost of my travel)
Note: It's pretty last second - so I'm not 100% sure I can fill the lab this late, but I'm going to try. If I can’t I might try to do 1-2 days. If interested in 1-2 days, please say so.
If you’re willing to share with others, even if you can’t participate, I’d love that.
To express interest or request more information, contact: toph@tophenany.com
Toph Enany is an international director, performer, and pedagogue originally from Connellsville, PA. Recently, he co-created and directed the award-winning and critically-acclaimed Up Up Up Up Up and co-created and performed in the Dentities, a show commissioned for the 2024 Ziguzajg Festival in Malta. He also has an active pedagogy practice and facilitated workshops on five continents.
Toph trained for two years with Philippe Gaulier. He holds an MFA in Advanced Devising Practice from arthaus.berlin. His final research was on creating a performance workshop/lab for creating a vocabularly for performers, directors, and lighting designers to work more collaboratively. He has also trained with Anne Bogart and SITI Company, Eugenio Barba and Odin Teatret, Spymonkey, Larry Moss, Audrey Francis, Kimberly Senior, Roberta Carreri, Bill Irwin, De Castro, Paola Coletto, Avner the Eccentric, Giovanni Fusetti, and Shakespeare & Company.