August 2011

The best deal on my new three week 'Modern Clown' Summer School, to be held in January next year, is coming up at the end of this month. We can be a little flexible with the deadline, but we do need to get deposits in to confirm places. We still have one scholarship available to a 'serious clown student', which brings the cost down considerably.

In the Features we have information on Clare Bartholomew & Derek Ives two week clown and physical comedy course in Melbourne, Australia. Designed for experienced performers with a variety of performance backgrounds, participants will find their own ‘clown’ relationships and characters and discover different techniques that work for them. This intensive workshop runs November 14th - 25th.

Also featured is Juggling With Finesse, a workshop with Kit Summers, the author of the book Juggling with Finesse. A world-class juggler and performer since 1977, Kitt will show you how to put together a great show and how to make money with your performing. The workshop is September 27-28 in Melbourne.

International clown Martin Ewen has information on his new book, Panto Damascus - One Clown's Alphabet. He has compiled a global alphabet of short stories of his experiences in towns and cities covering over two decades and it is now available as a Kindle download or in hardcopy.

Butterfly Crush, my first feature film, has received 3 'Best Feature Drama' awards at film festivals in the States over the past couple of months and I have more information in the feature below. Casting has starting on my next film, True Believers, and I am looking for a female clown/magician for one scene in the film. Anyone interested in auditioning for this role should drop me an email and you can find more information on my film projects at www.artmedia.net.nz.

In Networking we have information on auditions being held by the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington. These are for students wanting to attend classes next year. Application forms can be downloaded and auditions will be held in October. In Australia, the Dinosaur Show, a family show which tours schools, is looking for 3 puppet actors. They are required to operate a number of different puppets, do sound effects and make set changes. Preview shows start in October.

The Sydney Fringe needs willing and enthusiastic volunteers. If you're not already involved, this is your chance to be a part of the festival and they promise that "it’s probably the most fun you can have without getting paid!" Also in Sydney, Jewelz A Hoopz is holding a weekend hula hoop retreat in November and offering a range of workshops, including hoop yoga and acrobalance for hoopers. The Early Bird price runs until Aug 31.

Also in Australia, the Canberra Playback Theatre is looking for new members. If you are interested, they will be holding open rehearsals from August 10th - September 21st. They are keen to get new people who have a variety of skills, life experience and interests. While in the US, the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is seeking an Aerial Instructor to begin teaching in September 2011. The position requires an Intermediate to Advanced Level of skill and candidates should have considerable experience in both performing and teaching aerials.

In the UK, London youth theatre Oily Cart are holding auditions for a puppeteer and a black female performer for a new interactive immersive adventure show for young kids. The application deadline is August 22nd. The Hèlikos School in Florence, Italy is holding an admissions Workshop for anyone interested in getting to know more about the school or thinking about applying for the upcoming training. The workshop runs October 3rd to 8th.

We aim to provide an avenue of communication for the physical theatre community, so promote your event or project by taking a Feature or a Sponsorship in this newsletter, and please also forward this to someone else who may be interested.

Theatre LOTE provide innovative Bilingual Performances for schools and festivals. http://www.theatrelote.com.au
Find information on the Artmedia film projects. http://www.artmedia.net.nz
Playspace Clown Training information. http://www.artmedia.com.au/Clown.htm
Sue Broadway has information on her touring performances and projects. http://www.artmedia.com.au/broadway.htm
Aerialize have information on their aerial theatre classes and projects in Sydney. http://www.artmedia.com.au/aerial.htm (Photo right: Aerialize)

Our artmedia.com.au website deals still provide great value. For one page on the Artmedia site, it is just Aus$20 a month, or Aus$30 for as many as you want, so contact us if you want to promote your work on a site which features search engine referrals direct to your page, and over 1,600 links from like-minded sites. We also have a publishing service, where we do your website at your address. On this deal it is just Aus$40 a month to maintain and promote the site, no matter how many pages you have, and only Aus$20 a page set up cost.

Playspace: 'Modern Clown' Summer School with Alan Clay, January 2012 - Wanganui, New Zealand

The Price Buster deadline for the Modern Clown Summer School is coming up at the end of this month. We can be a little flexible with the deadline, but we do need to get deposits in to confirm places. We still have one scholarship available to a serious student, which brings the cost down by NZ$300.

10am - 4pm Monday to Friday, January 23rd - February 10th (3-weeks accommodation, 15 work days, no training on weekends)

Reconnect with the playful, inquisitive, cheeky, clown spirit in a centrally heated studio space with adjoining dormitory accommodation, overlooking the mouth of the Wanganui river. This is a new course led by Alan Clay at his retreat centre in New Zealand.

Each day will start with a yoga warm up and participants will work physically to free themselves from patterns and to connect with their emotions. Clown is empathic, 'feeling with' the audience, and it is also playful, open to the impulses in each moment, and this workshop will train and develop these skills through improvisation exercises. Street theatre has informed and assisted the development of modern clown, and participants will take exercises from the studio and work at street-cafe's to develop interactive audience skills. It's easy and fun.

The summer school is aimed at those with a professional interest in clown. It is suitable both for beginners and for those with experience, and it functions best with this mix in the class. There will be a minimum of four and maximum of eight on the workshop. The residential nature of the summer school provides a relaxed atmosphere and secluded environment which means that students get more out of the contact hours and can also process and discuss the work outside of the class.

The summer school runs 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday from January 23rd - February 10th 2012. Participants will have the weekends free and the studio will be available for individual work. The studio is within reach of breathtaking west coast beaches, bush walks and jet boat or canoe expeditions, but still handy to good coffee and all facilities.

Fees: NZ$1100 Price Buster (by August 31st) NZ$1300 Earlybird (by November 1st) and NZ$1600 Full. A NZ$200 deposit to hold a place. (All fees and deposits are non-refundable). Fees include 20 nights accommodation (from January 22nd - February 10th inclusive) with kitchen facilities.

Scholarships: A limited number of scholarships are available which offer the course for NZ$800 (until August 31st). These are available to those serious students who need financial assistance. Email us with information on your work.

Enrolment: Send an email to: clown@artmedia.com.au to hold a place or make enquiries about this workshop.

You! Clown? Wanna be stupid onstage, without being a dunce? Spend two weeks in the idiot world of clown & physical comedy with Clare Bartholomew & Derek Ives

A two week Clown & Physical Comedy intensive.

With a focus on group work in improvisation, games exercises and also solo and duet exploration, performers will each find their own ‘clown’ relationships and characters and discover different techniques that work for them. Emphasis will be on the playfulness and complicite between performers onstage and their joy at being ‘seen’ by the audience. During the two weeks there will also be time spent mentoring and directing known or newly created, solos, duets and/or small group pieces.

This workshop is for experienced performers who may have a variety of performance backgrounds; it is not necessary to have a history with ‘clown’.

WHEN: November 14th - 25th, Monday - Friday, 10am - 4.30pm
WHERE: Dancehouse – 150 Princess St, North Carlton (Melbourne)
HOW TO APPLY: Send expression of interest and a very short biog to admin@thecircusspot.com.au or call 03 9354 7825
PLACES STRICTLY LIMITED!! Send your biog ASAP

Cost – Early Bird special - $950 ($200 deposit in by September 30th will secure your position upon acceptance)
After September 30th - $1,100 ($400 deposit required to secure your position upon acceptance)

Feature: Juggling With Finesse - A workshop with Kit Summers, September 27-28, Melbourne

Juggling With Finesse - A workshop with Kit Summers, author of Juggling with Finesse

Designed for beginning to advanced jugglers. Learn to apply new ideas and techniques to achieve immediate results with your juggling. Learn MANY tricks with balls, clubs, rings, boxes, etc. Learn how to put together a great show and how to make money with your performing!!

A world-class juggler and performer since 1977, one of the feats Kit achieved was juggling 7 clubs. The author of Juggling with Finesse, Kit will help you much with your juggling and/or performing!! Thousands of jugglers from all over the world have benefited from Kit Summers’ tips and techniques: “Thanks to Kit, my love of juggling has gotten much stronger. You’ve taught us not only juggling, but also the way we can live our life with confidence." Iguchi Atsushi, Tokyo, JAPAN

Date: September 27-28 Time: 10am-5pm
Cost: EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!!! - $110 (payment must be received by August 25th in order to secure your place)
Cost after August 25th: $150
Venue: The Circus Spot – 204 Sussex Street, Coburg North (Melbourne)
Bookings: classes@thecircusspot.com.au or call 03 9354 7825

Visit Kit’s web site to learn more of the benefits of the workshop for you: http://www.kitsummers.com

Feature: Angels Can Fly, a Modern Clown User Guide - now available for the iPad and Kobo readers

Angel's Can Fly has just been released for the Apple iPad and is available through the iBooks app at iTunes. We recommend purchasing the book for the iPad as this gives you the best value product and the most versatile reading experience. The ebook costs only US$9.99 and is searchable with links between pre-requisite and co-requisite exercises. The ebook can also be purchased for the Kobo reader in New Zealand through Whitcoulls or in Australia through Borders or Angus & Robertson.

Angels Can Fly is now in use in the drama departments of over 150 Australian and New Zealand high schools and has started to make its way into US and UK universities. This is a textbook for a fast changing art form, as clown escapes from the circus to perform in theatres and streets. The traditional approach to teaching clown is routine or gag based and this sits uncomfortably both with the teaching practices in modern performing arts education and with today's audiences. This book includes a total of 50 practical clown exercises appropriate for workshops or performance, developed by Alan Clay through 30 years of teaching. Specific prerequisites to any exercise are detailed in each chapter.

You can find the paperback on Amazon at this link: http://tinyurl.com/9nrwj And check out more info at: www.alanclay.com

"Puppet Actors Required for Tour, The Dinosaur Show, Australia. The Dinosaur Show is a live touring show that will travel to primary schools in the Sydney and Wollongong areas. The Dinosaur Show will perform one show per night at 3 - 4 schools a week (Wed - Sat). We are seeking 3 puppet actors and a stage manager for a preview season in October, November 2011 and a possible year long season in 2012. Actors should be prepared to assist with bump in and out as part of their role. Bump in begins at 3pm. Shows start at 7pm (duration 1hr). The Dinosaur Show uses a variety of puppetry styles (full body, stick and shadow). Actors are required to operate a number of different puppets, do sound effects and make set changes. The Dinosaur show is a family show and we are looking for energetic, kid friendly actors with a great sense of humour. Previous puppetry experience preferred but not necessary. Rehearsals Oct 3 -17; Show dates 2011 (to be confirmed) Oct 26 - 28, Nov 2 - 4, 9 - 11, 16 -18; Equity rates. For more detail contact Adam Loxley. Visit the web site for contact details." Adam Loxley. Find a link to The Dinosaur Show under Resources at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links8.htm

"Call for Volunteers, Sydney Fringe, Australia. The Sydney Fringe launched officially to the media on Thursday 4th August, with the Fringe Program and Pocket Guide both hitting the streets. And the Box Office opened for business on August 1st, via the website. This is your chance to be a part of the festival. There is a heap of stuff going on all over town and we can’t deliver this myriad of festivities without the willing and enthusiastic participation of our volunteer Fringeheads. It’s probably the most fun you can have without getting paid! Visit our web site and click on the Get Involved, How to be a Volunteer tab. Contact us today." Fringe HQ. Find a link to the Sydney Fringe Festival under Festivals at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links9.htm

"Hula Hoop Workshop/Retreat, Jewelz A Hoopz, Sydney, Aus. November 4th - 7th. Hoopy Happenings 2011 - Australia's only Hooping Retreat! An entire weekend of Hooping Fun! 4th - 7th November 2011 in Sydney's south. Workshops will include Hoop Yoga, Hoop Flow & Movement, Hand Hooping, Hoop Splits, Fancy Starts & Finishes, Burlesque Hooping, Acrobalance for Hoopers, Hoop Isolations, Group Hoop Movement plus Cabaret the first night, Renegade stage the 2nd night & Hoop Trivia! Food, dorm accommodation & workshops all for $350 Earlybird till 31st August. Download a registration form from the web site. For more info contact me. Hoopy Loopy Happiness!" Jewelz. (Photo left: Hoopy Happenings) Find a link to Hoopy Happenings under Training at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm

"Improv Actors, Canberra Playback Theatre, Australia. Aug 10th - Sept 21st. Canberra Playback Theatre is currently looking for new members and will open rehearsals in August and September to people who are interested in learning about playback and joining the company. Canberra Playback is really keen to get new people in the company who have a variety of skills, life experience and interests and although experience in theatre is beneficial, it’s not essential. Playback Theatre is a form of improvisational theatre in which audience members tell stories from their lives and then watch as actors and musicians enact them on the spot using movement, music and words, but without script or rehearsal. Sessions will run on Wednesday evenings 7-9.30pm from 10 Aug - 21 Sept at the Playing Field Studio, located in the demountable building next to the Street Theatre on Childers St, Acton. The first 4 weeks will focus on playback and theatre skills then the following 3 weeks will continue to develop these skills and focus on rehearsals for the next public performance on Friday 23 September. While it is not expected that new players will be ready to perform, input and involvement in rehearsals is welcomed. The term will be introductory training and a trial to see new players enjoy playback and want to join company, and also whether the company feels new players have shown the skills and commitment to join the group. At the end of the term an open decision will be made about whether people are ready to continue with the company. The cost of the training is $50 to assist with hall hire costs and 80% attendance throughout the term is required if you are interested in becoming a member of the company. For more information or to register your interest visit our web site." Leigh. Find a link to Canberra Playback Theatre under Training at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm

"Auditions for Puppeteer and Black Female Performer, Oily Cart, London, UK. Application deadline August 22nd. Our winter 2011-2012 show will be RING-A-DING-DING, a new interactive immersive adventure for all the senses. The audience of 3-6 year olds, their family and friends sit in a ring around a giant revolving puppet stage where every child has a front row seat in this wonderland filled with live music and exquisite visual effects. For our run in the Clore Studio at London’s Unicorn Theatre and subsequent national tour we’re looking for an accomplished puppeteer. We're also looking for a very funny black female performer, playing age 20-30, who sings like an angel and knows how to talk to children. Have a look at our web site for further details of the company and our work, then send your c.v. and photo, with a covering letter saying why you’d like to work with us. The successful candidate will receive £484.60 per week. Deadline for applications: Monday 22nd August 2011. Auditions/interviews: Saturday 17th September 2011. We rehearse 31st October to 2nd December 2011and the tour ends 12th February 2012." Tim Webb, Artistic Director, Oily Cart. Find a link to Oily Cart under Youth Theatre at: http://artmedia.com.au/links5.htm

"Seeking Aerial Instructor, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, USA. The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is seeking an Intermediate/Advanced Level Aerial Instructor to begin teaching in September 2011. Candidates should have considerable experience in both performing and teaching aerials, and be able to coach static aerial skills (solo trapeze, corde lisse, web, lyra, fabric) at all levels. This position requires a great team player and someone who has a passion for teaching and the theory behind it. Candidate must be good with children/teens, though the majority of teaching will be adults. This position will be at least 15-20 hours / week, with the possibility of full-time salary for the right candidate. It also requires someone that is in or willing to re-locate to the Philadelphia area. Philadelphia has a rapidly-growing circus community, a vibrant arts scene, and lots of opportunities for performers. Please send resumes / inquiries to Shana Kennedy. Additionally, please provide a website of your work or link to a video portfolio. Visit our web site for contact details." Shana Kennedy. Find a link to Philadelphia School of Circus Arts under Training at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm

"Admissions Workshop for Training at Hèlikos, Hèlikos School, Italy. October 3rd to 8th. The Hèlikos School in Florence is getting ready for its Second Pedagogic Season on the Fundamentals of Hèlikos - the journey of the poetic Body. The school will gather students and staff from 5 continents and 15 different countries, for a unique training experience. If you are interested in getting to know more about the school or you wish to apply for the upcoming training, join us for the next admission workshop October 3rd to 8th. If you are considering applying to the school, there are still a few places available for the First Year starting this coming October. Please note that there will not be a first year beginning in 2012, and the next available training will start in October 2013. Visit our website to get a hint of this experience! Many wishes for your life and art." Giovanni Fusetti and Hèlikos Staff. Find a link to Hèlikos under Training at: http://www.artmedia.com.au/links7.htm