The Toolbox
What is The Toolbox?
We believe the best way to prepare yourself for working in the theatre is to deepen your experience and understanding of different techniques and approaches to theatre making. So, we've designed a physical and practical workshop to help theatremakers broaden their creative horizons and fill up their creative Toolboxes with the help of expert practitioners.
The Toolbox is series of 5 workshops for theatremakers and creatives to learn five disciplines from five different experts in their field. Each day different practitioners will teach and talk through different forms of and approaches to theatremaking, such as Clown, Movement, Six-viewpoints method, Approaching Text, Puppetry and beyond.
These workshops will be focused on learning how, when and why you might incorporate different methods into your creative practice.
Who is The Toolbox for?
The Toolbox is aimed at all theatremakers, whether you're an actor, director, writer, technician or stagehand. We encourage people of all abilities to join us and learn more about their craft.
Even the most seasoned actor will find something valuable on this course. Get a taster of how an eclectic pool of different directors work and experience the specifities of their crafts firsthand.
How much is it? Where and When?
The Toolbox is £100 for all 5 workshops or £25 per workshop.
If you would like to attend all the workshops, but cannot afford to pay all at once, please send us an email and we can set up a payment plan that suits you. (thedirectorsplayground@gmail.com)
All workshops will be held in Hoxton, every Thursday evening Nov 5th- Dec 3rd.
List of Services
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The Game with Lil Wenker - 5th NovemberList Item 2
This workshop offers an introduction into the world of clowning, starting from the most crucial foundation: the game.
Learn how to find, build, and repeat The Funny. I will lead a series of exercises to discover your unique way of making the audience laugh. This workshop is open to folks of any background and experience level, so come along and have some fun!
Lil Wenker (real name) is a clown, writer, and teacher originally from Minnesota. She now lives in London, and she tours solo clown work (including critically acclaimed Bangtail! and Boyking) around the UK, Europe, the US, Australia, and sometimes further afoot — she'll be in Mumbai this November! She earned a degree from Yale University and completed comedy and theatre training at the world renown Ecole Philippe Gaulier. Lil is represented by United Agents.
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Catching your clown with Piotr Sikoria- 12th NovemberList Item 1
The more you try to find your clown, the faster it runs away. Maybe you're not playing enough games. Clowns love games. So we'll play. And perhaps, if we're having enough fun, your clown will come for a visit. That, for me, is the best way to catch a clown.
This work isn't only for clowns. It's practical for any performer who wants to become more aware of their vulnerability, stay connected through eye contact, build sensitivity to their stage partners and audience, and learn how to really play with the people in front of them. We'll explore how letting go of control can make you more present, more responsive and, very often, much more interesting to watch.
Piotr is a Polish clown and comedian with a passion for exploring the rich world of clowning and physical comedy. His journey has led him to create the original, award-winning comedy show Furiozo: Man Looking For Trouble. In 2024, Furiozo earned “The Besties” award at the Edinburgh Fringe and was nominated for the Comedians Choice Award for Best Show in both 2023 and 2024.
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Theatre of the Funny with Toby Park- 19th NovemberList Item 4
We believe that everyone can be funny in their own unique way, and that the best theatre is one that embraces this quality in its artists. With the emphasis on supporting a space that is accessible, supportive and safe for all to laugh, we will use our favourite games and exercises as practical illustrations, to create belly-laughter with games and improv exercises (the sometimes scary pleasure of saying ‘yes’ to the unknown), explore practical concepts such as ‘finding the game’, the importance of complicity, or fixed point, of playing together with our friends, and of sharing that particular quality of Funny that you and only you can be.
Toby Park is the co-artistic director of Spymonkey. He studied Drama at Hull University, and trained at Fool Time Circus School, Bristol, and with Philippe Gaulier and Monika Pagneaux in Paris. Toby co-created all Spymonkey shows to date. He performed in Stiff (1998-2011), Cooped (2001-2019), Zumanity with Cirque du Soleil (2003-2005), Bless (2007), Moby Dick (2009), Love In (2010), Oedipussy (2012), Mrs Hudson's Christmas Corker (2014), Every Last Trick (2014), The Complete Deaths (2016), Christmas Carol (2018), The Frogs (2024).
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Physicality of Clown with Peta Lily- 26th November
Movement is essential to clown, and each person physically engages with clown in a different way. This workshop covers the physicality of Clown, how to enter Clown state and some basic physical comedy techniques.
We will explore how to use the body to release into play, the principles of laughter creation and management, rhythm work and the concept and practice of play through movement.
Peta is an award-winning performer/theatre maker and one of the key figures in the early Physical Theatre movement; well-known for her solo career, her work with the David Glass Ensemble and with Claire Dowie. Lily teaches at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and London College of Fashion (Costume Design for Performance MA). She has also taught at Circus Space (NCCA), The Actor's Centre, Central Saint Martins, and École Philippe Gaulier.
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Acting through clown with Stephen Sobal- 3rd DecemberList Item 3
Acknowledging one's own ridiculousness is fundamental to any actor, performer ot theatre maker. Through play, games and exercises we will unlock a more open, daring and vulnerable way of working.
In this workshop, we will try to turn off the ‘clever’ part of the brain and tap into a simpler, impulse led way of approaching acting and theatremaking.
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Stephen is a multi award winning director, performer, teacher and the artistic director of All In. He studied acting at ALRA and clown, bouffon and physical comedy with Philippe Gaulier. Stephen has taught for many educational and performance based institutions including RADA, RSC, ArtsEd, Rose Bruford, ALRA, Doreen Bird, Theatre Royal Bath and The Rose Theatre, Kingston.
