September 1^st → 6^th , 2025
Boulder, Colorado, USA

THE GREENHOUSE OF BOUFFONS

A Devising Intensive
for Bouffons and GrOTESQUE CREATURES

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A unique combination of devising and training
specifically devised to support performers to work on their own material

In order to create and write from one’s own bouffon state, it is necessary to understand what lies at its comic core: which are the founding principles of Bouffons Satyrical Play ? The “mechanisms” of this particular form of theatre making?
As a theatre genre and a poetic territory, Bouffon works in a very specific way. In order to devise with its comic rules and dynamics, the actor-player needs a sharp understanding of their nature.
Once the devising process starts shifting from improvisation and playing towards writing and directing, this knowledge is crucial.

THE PROGRAM

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This workshop is designed as a devising laboratory to support the projects of the participants.
Participants will bring their Bouffon creature/s, and one existing act, routine or project, solo or not, finished or unfinished. They will present their work on the first day (max. 15 minutes), and this will be the basis for a series of coaching sessions that will focus on the three different hats that the actor/creator needs to wear and their areas of competence, responsibility and choice making.

THE PLAYER /PERFORMER



• The Bouffon State
• The Bouffon Body
• The Player’s technique: le jeu, amplification, repetition and ritualization
• Articulation of movement and levels of playing
• The contact with the audience
• The Mocking eyes
• The shapeshifting between the Bouffon and the Roles/Characters that they play

THE DIRECTOR

/STAGER

• Playing in space and with space
• Rhythm: pace, crescendo, suspension and attacks
• The structure of an bouffon act: arrival of the Bouffons, arrival of the theme, development and variations in the mocking cycle, crescendo, climax, finale, exit
• Costume and props
• Directing the Player

THE WRITER
/AUTHOR

• The poetic field of Bouffon in relationship with Tragedy
• The choice of themes and their development
• Understanding Satire
• The dynamic between the author and the Bouffon
• The Bouffon as a non-linear story-teller
• The “politics” of the act

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THE DIFFERENT SESSIONS

The aim of this training is to give participants professional theatre tools, in order to create within their own poetic world. It addresses theatre artists with experience in the world of Bouffons. Participants need to bring an existing project, something they have already worked with and that can be performed on the first day.

The workshop will unfold with different kinds of sessions:

– Presentation of the work to the group and collective work on the feedback, to understand basic principles of playing, writing and directing.

– Individual coaching with Giovanni

– Autonomous rehearsal time

– Collective exercises on core principles emerging from the work

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PRACTICALITIES

In order to apply to this workshop it is necessary to have already trained in BOUFFON with Giovanni Fusetti, in one of his previous workshops and training, or at the KIKLOS or HELIKOS schools.

Two modes of participation are possible:

PERFORMERS
Minimum 4 – Maximum 6 projects. 

Their performing material will be presented in the coaching sessions.
It is possible to participate with a SOLO project or as a BOUFFON BAND. 


A Project can also involve
 a director/author, who can participate as assistant.

DEVISING ASSISTANTS
It is possible to attend this week without any material to present, and assist to all the coaching sessions and presentations, as well as participating to the collective classes and observe the creative process. This role includes supporting the creative process through feedback and questions, as well as learning about the different kinds of posture involved in supporting a devising process: director, author, movement coach, pedagogue, “outside eye”… These roles have a different perspective and give different focus and feedback. They are often confused or entangled in ways that make the devising process less effective.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE PERFORMERS
Please write a letter of intent describing the project you want to work at.
The application must include
– some pictures from the project;
– a link to some video material;
– a vision for the development of the project.
Please note that the material you want to work on needs to have been already performed to a live audience.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVISING ASSISTANTS
Please write a letter of intent describing what leads you to this training.
The application must include
– your experience in theater devising as a performer, director, author, producer, teacher…
– some questions that you would like to be explored during this training.

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TUITION

PERFORMERS
Tuition for individual projects: US$ 850
Tuition for projects involving more than one person: US$ 1.200

Devising Assistants: US$ 400

To confirm the enrollment, a deposit is due.
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.

DEPOSIT for Performers: US$ 400
DEPOSIT for Devising Assistants: US$ 200

Please note that the tuition does not include accommodation and that participants will be responsible for organizing their staying in Boulder.
You can find some useful information about housing in Boulder in the document: Boulder Information Kit.

LANGUAGE: The workshop will be taught in ENGLISH and a basic understanding of ENGLISH  is required

LOCATION
The training will take place in Boulder, Colorado, at the BOULDER CIRCUS CENTER
4747 26th St, Boulder, CO 80301, United States

SCHEDULE
Monday September 1st to Saturday September 6th
Monday through Friday: 9:00 to 17:30
Saturday: 12pm to 10pm, with a public presentation of the scenes/projects

EXTRA REHEARSAL TIME
Upon request it is possible to book, at an extra cost, a studio of the Boulder Circus Center to rehearse before the start of the workshop or after the end. If you are interested in this option, please mention this in your application.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATIONS

The first DEADLINE for sending the application for the PERFORMERS is JUNE 15th, 2025

For further information about the workshop and for APPLICATIONS, please contact

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PHOTO CREDITS
(1) We Too Us Too Me Too Too Too, LAMAMA Theatre, Melbourne, 2022
(2) Bouffon Performance at Dell’arte School of Physical Theatre, 2007
3) Bouffon Intensive 2024, Boulder
4) Bouffons Workshop, Melbourne, 2017
(5) Bouffon Intensive 2010, Boulder
(6) Helikos, Florence, 2014, by Stefano Borghi