About this Event
About the Masterclass
This 16-hour intensive masterclass offers a practical introduction to the physical and comic world of Commedia dell’Arte.
Over three days, we will explore the grotesque and highly physical characters of Commedia through its traditional gallery of stock characters and half masks. Participants will work with physical transformation, character development, improvisation, lazzi (comic actions and routines), and canovacci (scenario-based structures for improvisation).
Alongside the traditional form, we will investigate how these centuries-old characters, relationships, and plotlines can be translated into the modern world—and why their desires, conflicts, failures, and comic situations remain recognisable today.
Commedia dell’Arte provides performers with powerful tools for developing physical awareness, characterisation, stage presence, vocal expression, rhythm, and comic play. Rather than approaching character only through psychology, we begin with the body: posture, movement, gesture, rhythm, impulse, and physical transformation.
Working with the half mask takes this transformation further. The performer creates not only a mask for the face, but also a mask for the body and voice, allowing them to move far beyond their habitual ways of behaving and discover a heightened theatrical presence.
Fri Jan 22 6pm-9pm
Sat Jan 23 10am-5pm
Sun Jan 24 10am-5pm
*To attend you must take part in all 3 sessions
*Price inclusive of all 3 sessions
*If you are experiencing financial hardship, please email for a discounted place on the course.
Daily Programme
Friday: Introduction to Commedia dell’Arte
We begin by entering the world of Commedia dell’Arte through fundamental physical theatre exercises, exploring our everyday mannerisms, habits, and body language. Through movement and observation, participants will begin to discover how the body can be transformed and amplified for the stage. The session includes an introduction to the history and theatrical tradition of Commedia dell’Arte, which emerged in Italy in the 16th century, as well as an introduction to its principal stock characters, masks, and conventions. This first evening establishes the physical vocabulary and historical context that will form the foundation for the weekend’s practical work.
- Including a tea break.
Saturday: Pantalone, Masks and Lazzi
Saturday focuses on Pantalone, one of the central stock characters of Commedia dell’Arte. We will explore his distinctive physicality, psychological motors, rhythms, and ways of moving before bringing the character to life through the half mask. Animal studies will provide a starting point for transforming the body and discovering heightened physical characteristics. We will also introduce lazzi—comic actions, routines, and situations that form an essential part of the Commedia tradition—and begin using them as tools for play and improvisation.
- Including a 1h lunch break and tea breaks.
Sunday: Zanni, Stock Characters and Improvisation
On Sunday, we turn our attention to Zanni, the servant character and one of the fundamental figures of Commedia dell’Arte. Beginning with animal studies, we will explore Zanni’s physicality, psychological motors, rhythms, impulses, and relationship with the mask. We will continue developing our understanding of movement analysis and the “body mask,” discovering how the whole body can transform alongside the face and voice.
We will also look at four principal groups of Commedia stock characters through their characteristic postures, steps, gestures, and movement qualities.
- Including a 1h lunch break and tea breaks.
About The Teacher — Tiia-Mari Mäkinen
Tiia-Mari Mäkinen is a Finnish theatre professional with a wide experience of movement & mask theatre. She has a degree in pedagogy at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki, Finland, and has been trained in Commedia dell’Arte at Scuola Internazional dell’Attore Comico diretta di Antonio Fava, Reggio Emilia, Italy, and in Lecoq pedagogy at École Internationale de Théâtre Lassaâd, Brussels, Belgium. During the past decade Tiia has been working as a director, actress and teacher at various places around the world, such as Tampere University (FIN), Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company (UK), Shanghai Theatre Academy (CHINA), Naropa University (CO, USA) and Chickenshed Theatre (UK). Tiia's vision in creating theatre arises from the belief in ensemble work where the creation becomes a polyphonic symphony of different views surrounding the world. Her artistic view comes from understanding the world through gestures and movement, through body talk, without boundaries of language, culture, or time.
Event venue & nearby stays
Drama Studio London, 1 Grange Road, London, United Kingdom
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