Get your Bouff' On
A 6-week Bouffon Course

Join Robyn Hambrook for a six-week wild romp and deep dive into the intense, fun and liberating world of the Bouffon.

great starting point for understanding bouffon and what it can be. Heaps of fun!"

The dark cousin of the clown, sharp and dangerous, the Bouffon revel in parody, mockery and wit. The Bouffon “... believe in nothing and make fun of everything” according to Jacques Lecoq.  Through breaking social conventions, the bouffon can access extreme levels of freedom, laughter, intelligence and emotion.

Over the six-weeks we will create a playful, brave space to explore this fantastic comedic form through:

• Complicity and connection
• the Bouffon chorus and collective movement
• Emotional and embodied freedom
• Laughter and subversive humour
• the Bouffons unique position to the audience
• The rhythms of a different, ‘fantastic’ body (grotesque, distorted and abstract)
• As well as Politics, Provocation, Parody and Play.

The position of Bouffon can be an incredibly liberating and powerful experience for participants. It’s a physical form that trains presence, immediacy, improvisation and imagination. 

Who's this for?

This course is suitable for clowns, actors and performers interested in broadening their repertoire or exploring the political edges of their work. For non-actors the bouffon provides a safe place to let go, loosen up and feel free.

If you’re not sure if your level of experience would support you to join this workshop, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to help identify if the classes are right for you.

"An amazing exploration of physicality, tapping into ugliness and taboo. Really affirming and beautiful connections, questioning and mocking constructions of gender and what it is to be pretty, good, or acceptable. A great starting point for understanding bouffon and what it can be. Heaps of fun!" Participant - Laboratory of The Un-Beautiful Online

How it works

Dates & times:
Wednesdays
18, 25  Feb, 4, 11, 18 Mar & 1 Apr
(no workshop 25 Mar)
7 - 9pm

Venue:
The Spark Space, Redfield, Bristol, BS5 9HH

Application and Investment:
To apply please fill in this form by Friday 6 February:
https://forms.gle/V1BYW9fCLsbYeQkU9
Once invited; the course investment (for 12 hours training):
£180 - Full price
£160 - Concession (low/no income, student)

EARLYBIRD discount: £20 off if you pay before 15 January

Payment will be requested via paypal or BACs

Prerequisites:
None. All levels welcome

sign me up

“A must for anyone wanting to take their connection with and ideas for theatre work a little closer to a devilish cutting edge.” Participant - Laboratory of The Un-Beautiful Weekend Intensive

"Robyn's unique blend of directing and shaping play through quick wit and a caring yet urgent tone - sets the tone and pace beautifully." Participant - Activist Clown Weekend Intensive

About the facilitator

Robyn Hambrook is a Bristol-based director, teacher, and performer with over 20 years’ experience in clowning, physical theatre, and circus. In 2023, she founded the Bristol Clown School, following her earlier launch of The Online Clown Academy during the pandemic. Driven to explore the intersection of clowning and activism, she creates bold research spaces like the Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy and the Clown Congress. Keen to explore the political edges of her work, Robyn has most recently been diving back into the territory of Bouffon, training with Jaime Mears, Bim Mason, Eric Davis and the grand master Bouffon-himself; Philippe Gaulier.
www.robynhambrook.com

---