How to Structure a Retiro de Clown Program

Preparing for the Workshop of the Year

This blog is designed especially for all those involved with the RETIRO de Clown at Artmósfera Artistic Residence in Easter week – the 14-21 april 2019.

I actually do not like the word RETIRO (retreat) as it suggests for me stepping backwards – I prefer the word ADVANCE, but as of yet this semantic does not equate well with the needs of modern marketing.

But this blog hopefully may also clarify what we may be doing for anyone indecisive about attending this workshop or any other that Jef Johnson and I may plan together for the future. Both Jef and I are very approachable on social media so any just get in touch…

Essentially what is a retiro de clown ?

It will be sharing of energies, talents, skills and – more importantly for me – information and techniques which can transcend the banal approach to performance and its dreaded stereotype; mechanical acting. What Peter Brook wrote in his classic book – The Open Space – about theatre acting and the boring practice of deadly theatre.

Jef and I are also quantum healers from differing mystic schools, so this is an important and relevant part of our teaching. This week of Easter is a heavily celebrated Vatican control game. I feel it is significant we are undertaking this course during Semana Santa.

Leaders Jef and J both have depth of pedigree in training and experience who somehow, in the this troubled world, still retain a sufficiently positive sense of humour together with a dedication to help others. Our purpose – to open doors to achieve similar joys and highs that we’ve both enjoyed through our careers in our chosen forms of creative expression…

The program below is to serve as a timetable which may change according to the mood of the participants and development of the work; it serves as a blueprint to help us all see how we can manage our days: extra needs or wishes can be suggested and integrated from both student and leader as they come up. Fatigue might well become an issue for certain people for example.

Jef and Johnny are reputed improvisers on the stage and in life which also is a handy tool ! Flexibility will be the order of the week…


Street performance of Melville workshop from Tenerife.

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PROGRAM

Jorge and Berta will be your hosts at ARTmósfera. The weather will be fine and warm in the day – 20C , night temperatures will fall to around 7 C.

SUNDAY 14

16.00-18.00 settle in

18.00 Games and fun session as introduction

19.00 Jef talks about his ideas, aims or whatever

19.30 Johnny talks about his ideas, aims or whatever

20.00 students Q/A

20.30 – 21.30 mealtime

MONDAY 15

8.45 – 9.40 Breakfast

9.40- 10 warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1 – …….all with Johnny

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 class 2 …….. all with Jef

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

22.00 – 23.00 special function ……..rhythm /drum night

TUESDAY 16

8.45 -9.4-0 Breakfast

8.40- 10 – warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 class 2

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

22.00 – 23.00 special function – Jef talk about past with pix…?

WEDNESDAY 17

8.45 -9.40 Breakfast

9.40- 10 warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 class 2

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

22.00 – 23.00 special function Johnny talk about past with pix?

THURSDAY 18

9.00-9.45 Breakfast

9.40- 10 warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 class 2

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

22.00 – 23.00 special function massage / meditation

FRIDAY 19

9.00-9.45 Breakfast

9.40- 10 warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

BERTA of ARTmósfera in the village of GRAñEN

16.00 – 17.30. prepare / rehearse street event

18.00-19.00 Rehearsal for cabaret

19.30-20.00

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

22.00 – 23.00 special function massage / meditation ?

SATURDAY 20

8.45 -9.4 Breakfast

9.40 – 10 warm up with Carolina

10 -14 class 1 / street event Grañen / discuss street event

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 class 2

20.30 – 21.30 dinner

SUNDAY 21

9.00-9.45 Breakfast

10 -14 class 1

14.30 – 15.30 lunch

15.30- 16.00 rest

16.00 – 20.00 rehearsal / preparation

17.30-18.30 performance for local public

20.30 – 21.30 dinner / party

TIME TO GO HOME!!!

In addition to Jef and Johnny there will be assistant Carolina Feliu (Potenciaclown) who will lead the morning warm up.


Carolina will also be filming with video camera through the week . We plan to make a documentary of the event, so all participants please need to sign a release form during the week. If you do not agree to being filmed or do not wish to be in the film please tell us the first day!

ARTmósfera audience

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