Theatre and Performance Studies News

Mask workshop

with Giulia Filacanapa and Boris Dymny, assisted by Léandre Ruiz

Mon 19 - Thur 22 March (10.00-13.00 each day)

Department of Theatre & Performance Studies

University of Warwick

The mask is traditionally an enhancing instrument that extends the actor’s body and makes it hybrid, not dissimilar to the computer-generated avatar animated by a performer. Can the masks of the commedia dell’arte and their associated techniques of improvisation help us to understand and develop the theatrical potential of the avatar? Can masks enhance the performer’s creativity? In order to help investigate the relationship between the artefacts and practices inherited from the commedia and the digital technology of the avatar, we will explore the world of theatrical masks, and in particular the characters of the commedia dell’arte.

We will examine the ‘code’ of commedia masks, with the objective of discovering ‘narrative gesture’. As with historical commedia dell’arte, where the characters communicated in many different dialects, we will weave different languages to create short multilingual plays. It won’t be necessary to understand every word in order to understand the story: the body language, gesture, geometry of the stage and emotions of the characters will be enough. During this workshop we will undertake training, improvisation exercises, writing sessions, and onstage trials.

Dr Giulia Filacanapa is the founder and director of the theatre company GenteGente !! The company promotes the creation and the dissemination of theatre masks. Giulia obtained a double PhD in History of Theatre (University of Florence) and Italian Study (University Paris 8) in 2015 (her dissertation concerned the renaissance of the commedia dell’arte in the 20th century in Italy and France). She is currently an Assistant Professor at University Paris 8, and with Dr. E. Magris has managed The Augmented Stage: actor's techniques, creative practices and training methods, a three-year project funded by the Labex Arts-H2H (2015-17). In 2016 she created the experimental research programme Masks and Avatars as part of this larger enquiry.

Boris Dymny is a director, actor, and writer. He trained in physical and mask theatre with Samovar, Mario Gonzalez and Carlo Boso. He founded Di Mini Teatro in 2012 to conduct research and practice with masks, and the company’s activities include training courses and social action theatre (for example working with traveller communities).

Léandre Ruiz is a performer with GenteGente!! directed by Dr. Giulia Filacanapa, with whom he has been working since the creation of the company. Since 2013 he has developed and participated in applied performing arts projects, mostly with teenagers in the medico-social field. Following a BA degree in theatre, he is currently studying for a Masters degree in the department of dance studies at Paris 8 University, focusing on pedagogy and movement analysis.

This workshop is part of the Mask and Avatar project, which includes a phase at Warwick, culminating in a mask/mocap Engagement Day with performances (G55) on Friday 23 March 2018.

To sign up, please email Kate Brennan (c.brennan@warwick.ac.uk). Please note that numbers are limited, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.