Performance

With so much pressure on us to look right, think right, live right... it can be liberating to wear a mask!

We continually manage ourselves to seem smart, respectable, cool, funny, etc; whatever is consistent with our personal character.
As yourself, it can be shocking if this model breaks down.
But if it is not you; if the mask is being expressive and new, then calculated behavior can be set aside and creativity can begin.
In this mask workshop we work with simple expressive faces in half mask. The masks are made from a variety of lightweight materials such as papier mache, plastic and foam.
The wearer's mouth is able to move freely for speech and sounds.
Students are asked to choose a mask that is comfortable and then to look in a mirror.
Simple instructions are given to allow a spontaneous character to emerge.
Making sounds helps to release the body and stop the mind from planning ahead.

If the mask is strong, we continue, if not, we leave it aside and try another.

The new character is nurtured by giving it experiences and teaching it simple tasks. The mask leads this process and intellectualizing is avoided.
We then put masks together and let them teach each other how to behave.
We can set up short scenarios and even give them text.

When a mask is developed it can do almost anything onstage to the delight of the audience because it is a pure being, free from critique, free from being right.

This workshop may be coupled with the Mask Making workshop