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**A workshop and creative residency exploringthe Art of play and the 'Rites of the Ridiculous'**
After many years of being called to create this offering, it is such a pleasure to be stepping into its very first realised encounter in the exquisite and humming lands of West Cork, Ireland.
It has always been a longing for an offering where as a participant you can experience a workshop, receive some vital foundation and then can immediately continue to be held as you explore what you have found and weave it into your own practices in a free-form setting. It is from this longing that the form of this happening has emerged.
This is an invitation to explore how the philosophies of clown and fool can be a guide through any discipline, art-form/life-form. How we can traverse thresholds and excavate the many landscapes and corners and alleyways and cupboards and drawers and and ponds and bellies of our strange and wonder-full beings.
Whether you are new to the craft of clowning or fooling, or have been playing in these realms for a while, we are all eternal beginners, and we are all welcome.
Even more excitingly this event is an invitation to go further and to bring any discipline/form/fascination that you wield and whittle to adventure into your creative practice with an extended co-created creative residency opportunity on the land and in the land.
***The setting of the event is the incredible Eirie Retreat Centre. The land gives us opportunities to play with the ocean with our very own private bay, which is in itself a huge ampitheatre. The forests which offer so many playful pathways, orchards, a stone circle and a beautiful bright and large studio space.***
++There are two ways you can join this experience:++
*Offering 1 - Two Day Workshop with Afa
*Offering 2- Two Day Workshop Leading into the Three day Creative Residency (5 Day Total)
*OFFERING 1*
2 DAY WORKSHOP WITH AFA SIMPSON
31st August and 1st September (arrival 30th August preferably)
“If your mind is empty, it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities; in the expert’s mind there are few.” Stephen Nachmanovitch, Free Play
This workshop is an opportunity to be led in practice with the ancient and often misunderstood art-form-philosophy of Clown and Fool to discover connection, cultivate curiosity, follow play and unleash expression.
Through actively engaging in play we can re-awaken a sense of curiosity in the world around us and within us, which brings a transformative window of ‘being’.
The work invites you into presence and encourages the freedom to embody and share the beautiful ridiculousness of our multi-faceted selves whilst in togetherness.
The workshop will culminate in a 'Rites of the Ridiculous' ritual theatre act.
*OFFERING 2*
2 DAY WORKSHOP EXTENDING INTO 3 DAY CREATIVE RESIDENCY
“Ultimately, the only techniques that can help us are those we invent ourselves.” SN
Saturday 31st August to Wednesday 4th September
The invitation of extending your practice into the creative residency is to continue exploring and developing your discoveries in a more free-form setting. This will be supported by Afa and the group with opportunities to document and present the fruits of the creative process as it develops.
We are welcome in this to explore the making of film as well as live performance. Any medium that your heart desires, we can give space to bring to fruition.
This offering encourages an integrating of multi-disciplinary practice; weaving your own crafts into the creative process.
In this residency we recognise ourselves as a supportive and collaborative community of creatives who honour each others unique expression of artistry.
***WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP AND CREATIVE RESIDENCY FOR?***
This workshop is open to people who are feeling curious, or maybe people who would like to feel more curious in life! Whether you are completely new to Clown and Fool or are already practicing, this work has a wonderful way of making us all into eternal beginners.
Maybe you have a project which needs you to find a new perspective, maybe you are longing for play and togetherness and stupidity (there will be plenty).
If you have a creative passion in your life, this work can act as a catalyst for expanding the possibilities of your craft. Creating new and curious pathways for creativity to meander along.
Whether in art or life Clown and Fool create ripples which bring new perspectives and ways of engaging with the world around us and within us.
This work is therepeutic, but it is not therapy and not intended as such. If you are on a journey of healing as so many of us are, this is a great space to go on that journey with yourself, but the facilitators are not trained therapists and although the work can support a process of healing and overcoming, awareness of your capacity is important.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions for clarity.
***ABOUT THE FACILITATOR***
Afa is a multi-disciplinary artist and facilitator. Exploring clowning, fooling, visual arts, music, poetry and forms beyond genre as avenues to relish the ridiculous and meander the mundane into magic.
Afa first moved to the U.K in 2013 at 18 years old and joined the National Youth Theatre. Later she enrolled in Goldsmiths University to study Theatre and Performing Arts. While in London Afa discovered the clowning community and found a clown mentor in Zuma Puma, founder of 'Clownlife'.
This was her discovery of how clown is not an isolated art-form, but can be harnessed as a philosophy through which we can transform our outlook and be more honest and present and playful with ourselves and the world around us.
Afa the wrote her dissertation 'Clown as Alchemist' and created an alchemical clown ritual film as her final piece for university.
Since graduating Afa has continued on this path of discovery, apprenticing under Zuma Puma and attending workshops led by Lucy Hopkins, Julia Masli and others.
Afa has also continued to explore her expression as a visual artist and musician, putting on solo exhibitions of her paintings in Cambridge and London and recording and performing music live across the country.
Currently Afa is also doing a masters in Transpersonal Arts Therapy, a form of therapy training which focuses primarily on inter-connectedness.
(you can find a full list of trainings on the 'About' page of her website)
Afa is in the process of developing and touring a one woman clown show 'Dada Yaga', part of a two piece nonsense surreal clown punk band called 'Hear we AHHH' with Sarah Woolfenden and a founding member of a womens fooling group in her local village which is currently nameless and one of her favourite parts of life.
***WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE WORK***
"Everything I had wished for and more. Afa skillfully led our group with humour, wisdom and clarity without squishing the abundant energy to play which was quickly accessed due to the safe space she crafted for us. Afa facilitates in a very freeing way, she is incredibly gifted in reading and adapting to the needs of her group while keeping on the course objectives. Afa's not frightened to embrace the flow and gave us space to deeply connect with our vulnerable moments.
Afa is brilliantly herself and embodies clown in a way you want - need to know more!
I will forever hold my day with Afa and the group in my treasure chest of workshop dreams." - Sharon, Storyteller and Community Facilitator
"Like forgetting and remembering what it means to be a human-being and alive to life. Like visiting another planet, where the language is play, and everything is upside-down and inside-out and possible. You will land home feeling all dreamy and floaty."
Sophia, Artist, Baker and Social Worker
"Clowning should be a compulsory weekly activity for everyone. Afterwards I'd never felt so light!" Jake, Farmer
"This was my kickstarter to get me to finalise the creation of my Edinburgh show- and it worked. I got into a creative space and I hope to stay here!" Gerry Carrol, Clown, Actor, Storyteller
****PRICING****
___2 DAY WORKSHOP___
31st AUGUST -1ST SEPTEMBER
Pricing inc. 2 nights accommodation + food:
Standard - €250 EURO
Abundance - €300 EURO
Concession/support role - €170 EURO
(option to camp for reduced rate)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION:
MIDNIGHT MONDAY AUGUST THE 5th
___2 DAY WORKSHOP AND 3 DAY CREATIVE RESIDENCY___
Price inc. 5 nights accommodation + food:
Standard - €400 EURO
Abundance - €515 EURO
Concession/support role- €315 EURO
(option to camp for reduced rate)
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION:
MIDNIGHT MONDAY AUGUST THE 12th
***SIGN UP :) ***
To find out more details about the event please follow this link to the website:
https://www.afasimpson.com/foolosophical-gather
To sign up straight away fill out the application form through this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo-4cd6YDSBJMyYpO5Aae54pNXjT-KV__2TBSM2ZFLsfvRog/viewform?usp=sf_link
Feel free to email Afa with any questions at:
[email protected]
You can also follow Afa on instagram at @afa_fool_heart to keep up with the latest offerings and happenings.
Or get in touch through [email protected] to sign up to the fool heart love-letter- newsletter.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Ballyrisode, Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland, Dolphin House, Ballyrisode, Skibbereen, County Cork, P81 XN62, Ireland,Baltimore, Ireland, Cork