A WEEK COURSE 
WITH VERONICA NEEDA AND VIVIAN GLADWELL
Join us for an exciting journey of research on the edges of Playback and Clowning.
Course description
Our challenge as we grow through the work (both in Clowning and Playback) becomes about learning how to speak in as many voices as possible, to become sensitive to both our inner and outer worlds.
Both Playback and Clowning have spontaneity, creativity and play as key values and practice in our work. Both work with personal and social stories – listening to and honouring these stories. But what happens when we allow play to unravel and reveal multiple stories? Can the clown’s naive exploration still respect and work within boundaries?
Our conversation will explore the function of rules… and the implications of breaking them through laughter, metaphor, transposition…
How do we negotiate play? How do we step in and out of roles? What is neutrality?
The clarity of the Playback forms bring an awareness of breath, suspension, space, eye contact, posture, physical tension…. essential tools for actors. We will explore the role of the musician as an important co-player in the ritual of beginnings, changes and endings.
This course introduces the key concepts of “social” clowning.
Join Vivian Gladwell of Nose to Nose and Veronica Needa of the School of Playback Theatre UK for an exciting journey of research on the edges of Playback Theatre and Clowning.
Playback Theatre
Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theatre in which audience members tell stories from their lives and watch them enacted on the spot. Founded in 1975, Playback Theatre is practiced in hundreds of locations and contexts around the world.
The Clown Within
The clown’s nose, the smallest mask in the world, is the mask that unmasks. Through the clown we can rediscover inner qualities of openness, spontaneity and play. The clown allows our imagination to soar, whilst keeping our feet firmly on the ground. Working with warm-ups, games and on the empty stage, we will find our inner clowns through improvisation, play and welcoming everything that emerges.
Facilitators: Veronica Needa (Playback Theatre) / Vivian Gladwell (Clowning)
Veronica Needa 
Veronica has been actively involved in playback theatre since 1991, graduating from the School of Playback Theatre in 1995. She was President of the International Playback Theatre Network (1997-2003). Now teaching playback internationally, and Board member of the Centre for Playback Theatre (NY, USA), she is based in London, core member of London Playback Theatre, and director of True Heart Theatre which specializes in playback theatre for the Chinese community in the UK. She founded the School of Playback Theatre (UK) in 2006. Also a storyteller performer, she has created a solo show – FACE – performed in English and Cantonese, which explores issues of identity and belonging.
Veronica is a Director of the School of Playback Theatre UK and an Accredited Playback Theatre Trainer
True Heart Theatre & London Playback Theatre
Vivian Gladwell
Vivian is the founder and director of Nose to Nose and has given hundreds of workshops around the world. He lives both in the UK and France where he started clowning in 1978. He speaks French and English fluently.
Vivian began teaching in 1988 as part of the Lifeways Festival at Emerson College – UK. He trained as a facilitator with the Bataclown in 1990 and joined their team in 1991 also working as a modern day Court Jester (Clownanalyst).
He created Nose to Nose UK in 1990, Nose to Nose of North America in 2006 and Fool View, the Social Clowning group and has trained facilitators in the UK, the USA, Germany and Italy – view history.
He continues his role as ambassador for the work by researching the applications of clowning in the context of teacher training, medicine, conflict management, ecology and intercultural work in many countries (South Africa, USA, Senegal, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Italy, Germany, Norway…)
He holds clowning as a social playground for exploring our humanity.
Course fee: £345 – Tuition only – Bring a friend and get a 20 % reduction for the two of you.
Accommodation and meals:
To book your accommodation and meals at Emerson go to http://www.emerson.org.uk/clowning2
To contact Emerson email bookings@emerson.org.uk
Date and times:
The course begins Sunday – 18h15 (with supper)
Ends Friday – after lunch – 14h30
Venue: Emerson Village, Forest Row, East Sussex
TO SIGN UP for the course, simply pay your deposit of £120 with Paypal or a Bank Card below.
Confirmation of payment from Paypal means you are signed up for the course**
**Please check the course requirements before signing up.
Paypal or Credit Card – CLICK HERE
If full please email us at mail@nosetonose.info to go on our waiting list.
We’ll let you know when a place becomes available.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: This workshop is open to any one everyone especially clowns and playbackers.
MORE INFO CONCERNING COURSE FEE
Fee £345 – (a deposit of £120 is required to hold your place – Your deposit is NOT REFUNDABLE LESS than 2 months before the start of the course. There is a £20 fee for refunds – for Paypal fees + admin costs. If the course is cancelled your deposit will be refunded in full.)
Q: Can I talk to someone? A: Yes, just send an email with your phone number to mail@nosetonose.info and we’ll call you as soon as we are free to do so.
Q: Where can I stay? A: If you require accommodation and meals at Emerson during the clowning course in November you can go to their web site and book directly, the link is http://www.emerson.org.uk/calendar
Q: Are there still spaces available on the course? A: To find out just click on the Paypal or Credit Card link above and you will see the number of places available. It will not be possible for you to book if there are no spaces available.
Q: Can you put me on the waiting list? A: Sure, just write to mail@nosetonose.info to ask. We will put you on our waiting list and let you know when a place becomes available.