Commedia Dell'Arte was the first form of improvised comedy characterised by a cast of colourful stock characters that emerged in Northern Italy in the fifteenth century. Every year in Britain we see these stock characters emerge in our much beloved Pantomimes: the lovers, on which the plot characteristically centres, the mean parent (or step parent)- Pantalone, the stupid servants or dames- Zanni and the voice of reason Columbina, just like the Fairy Godmother or Buttons.

In this fun filled interactive workshop your pupils will embody these stock characters we find in every pantomime. The facilitators will demonstrate the distinct set of attributes—characteristic speech, gestures, props, and costume— before the pupils embody these characters for themselves. After exploring all of the characters the pupils will get the opportunity to make use these characters to create their very own Pantomime!

In each workshop the students will have the opportunity to use the traditional Commedia masks, props and a backdrop for their set.

In our full day workshops children create a ‘show-back’ type performance for parents and teachers, showing their very own pantomime they have created and highlighting what they have learned from the workshop.