About this Event
COMMEDIA DELL'ARTE WEEKEND
Join us for an exciting weekend exploring the main archetypes of Commedia dell’Arte, their relationships and comic interactions. This workshop, led by one of the leading Commedia Dell’Arte practitioners in the UK, offers a dynamic approach to theatre making blending tradition with contemporary practices, equipping participants with practical tools to create bold characters, develop comic scenarios and perform with confidence.
When: Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th MAY 2026
Where: Colet House,151 Talgarth Road, London W14 9DA
About the Tutor
Chiara D’Anna is an Italian director, actress, movement coach, and specialist in Commedia dell’Arte and physical theatre. Her work spans theatre, opera, film, and interdisciplinary performance, including site-specific and multimedia productions, widely recognised for their originality, visual power, and expressive physicality. Chiara teaches at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) and the Accademia dell’Arte in Italy, bringing her professional practice and research into a dynamic, practical approach to actor training.
What Is Commedia dell’Arte
Originating in 16th-century Italy, Commedia dell’Arte is a mask-based theatre form that uses heightened physicality and structured improvisation to create bold, character-driven performance—and laid the foundations of modern comedy.
Workshop Structure
The weekend is structured in three sessions: a movement workshop exploring instinctive movement, spontaneity and physical freedom; an introduction to the main archetypes of Commedia dell’Arte, mask techniques and physical comedy; and a masterclass on developing and performing a canovaccio - i.e. Commedia dell’Arte scenario.
Who Is this for?
- Actors, directors and drama teachers
- Devisers and creatives
- Anyone interested in movement
- Anyone curious about mask and character work
What You’ll Explore:
- Develop instinctive movement
- Physical improvisation
- Body–voice training for comedy and devising
- Principles of physical storytelling
- Character work with Commedia archetypes and masks
- Tempo, rhythm, and comic timing
- Audience interaction
- Creating a Commedia scenario (canovaccio)
What Makes this workshop Unique?
Chiara D’Anna’s workshop offers a fresh and dynamic approach to Commedia dell’Arte, blending tradition with contemporary theatre-making.
What makes this experience stand out is its focus on play, exploration, and accessibility. Chiara invites participants to approach movement, character work and Commedia dell’Arte with curiosity.
This isn’t just about learning Commedia’s style and techniques—it’s about discovering how mask work can enhance and transform your work as a performer, director, or creator in a way that feels relevant and personal.
Program Overview:
Sat AM (11:00–13:00): Natural You Movement
Natural You is a movement session designed to awaken the body. Blending elements of yoga, physical theatre and improvisation, this practice encourages spontaneity and physical freedom.
Sat PM (14:00 – 18:00): Commedia Archetypes & Mask Techniques
This session is designed for those who approach commedia for the first time. It is a physically demanding class that will equip you with the tools to explore masks' interactions and develop comic scenes with confidence.
Sun (10:00 – 18:00): Commedia Masterclass on developing a Canovaccio
In this masterclass we will learn how to develop a Commedia canovaccio, integrating the techniques and basic principles of physical comedy introduced on Saturday such as timing, repetition, asides, and audience interaction.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Colet House, 151 Talgarth Road, London, United Kingdom
GBP 11.55 to GBP 227.14
