peta LiLY
  • ABOUT
  • COURSES
  • Shows
  • BLOG: Dark Clown, Clown plus
  • Contact
  • FAQs for the Clown & Dark Clown course
  • Creative Mentor / Acting Coach / Director
  • ONLINE COURSE INFO
  • What people say about the Clown & Dark Clown course
  • What people say about the Alchemy of Archetypes course
  • What people say about the Barefaced Commedia dell'Arte course
  • PLAYS and POETRY
  • What people say about the Clown Course
Photos above: Robert Piwko, Tiff Wear, PL. Colour sketch: Tracey Tofiled. Colour illustration E. M. Parry.
'I am so amazed by what you offer in your workshops!' recent Course Participant

Courses are available either ONLINE or IN-PERSON and include:
Alchemy of Archetypes, Alchemy of the Elements (Earth Air Fire Water), Commedia dell'Arte ('Bare-faced Commedia' when ONLINE), Mask & Movement (with 'neutral' masks), Mime: making the Invisible Visible, Comedy Toolbox, Red Nose Clown, Clown & Dark Clown, Dark Clown Level Two (for graduates of Clown & Dark Clown) and - stay tuned in 2023 for new courses:
​ Melodrama and Sad & Tragic 
Clown.
​
join the mailing list for open courses  /   book or enquire about workshops
Picture
Open to those with some clown experience (workshop experience is fine)

This is the course to experience Dark Clown at the first level.
Re-fresh your Clown and be guided safely over to the Dark Side!

In Clown work we connect with play and expression and learn the comedy craft that supports the Dark Side Play. 
Dark Clown gives possibility to portray darker emotions and themes ... plus it develops emotional range, timing and increases your audience awareness. Watch the Dark Clown video – see below!

'Incredibly transformative, inspiring and jam-packed with technical gems to build on my clown stage presence.’ - Alice, Art Therapist and Movement Facilitator

'Best Zoom course - I forgot I wasn't in a room!'
- Course Participant

WHEN: 
3- 6 March 3pm - 6.00pm UK time (GMT) daily
Friday 3 March 15.00 - 18.00
Saturday 4 March 15.00 - 18.00
Sunday 5 March 15.00 - 18.00
Monday 6 March 15.00 - 18.00
outside UK? - check your local time on these dates
USA friendly time slot!

WHERE:
ONLINE - via ZOOM
‘I felt very nourished - a surprising connection over Zoom’ - Course Participant

COST: £209 -  
OR pay by 20 Feb and save £50
Early Bird Price just £159

 
Email petalily[at]gmail.com with your full name, brief biog and mobile number for information on how to book.

'Important, brave and powerful work.'
- Lexi Strauss, Artist, Performer, Fine Art Lecturer

'A marvellous teacher. She provides support and encouragement for each member of the group with a very precise structure and an acute eye that sees exactly what would be helpful or not at a particular time. Highly recommended.' - Stephen K. Levine–Educator, Theatre Practitioner, Author

‘Fabulous journey, discovering emotion, comedy and more.'
- Course Participant

READ THE FAQ's for the Dark Clown part of the work:
http://www.petalily.com/faqs-for-the-clown--dark-clown-course.html

The Clown & Dark Clown course is the prerequisite for the Level Two Dark Clown course.

‘Dark Clown showed me how to find the comic rhythm in tragic feelings. The work explores the point where the deepest pain meets lunacy and eventually freedom. I didn’t know that a zoom course could feel so real!
The course gave me a lot of new tools for my professional work as an actress.’
 - Sandra Lange, Actress
PictureIllustration by Charlotte Biszewski
How Dark Clown works: Comedy craft can be employed to bring laughter to challenging subjects. Lily's Dark Clown work retains respect for the subject matter and creates intriguing and enriching experiences for performer and audience alike. Lily's unique approach makes widening the range of the clown's expression both safe and invigorating. Read more on the blog: www.petalily.com/clown-dark-clown-theatre-practice-blog

WATCH: ‘Peta Lily’s Dark Clown; Taking Laughter to the Limits' - Made by the remarkable photographer and documentary filmmaker Robert Golden, the film traces the steps of Peta Lily taking a group on the Clown & Dark Clown Course journey, extending the possibilities of Clown work beyond the Red Nose Clown style as taught by Philippe Gaulier and Jacques Lecoq. Through practical explorations over the last 30 years, she has built a unique approach to generating laughter from a darker context.  View it HERE. 
​

Dark Clown is Lily's unique body of work - she has founded an exciting new genre of Clown. Her paper The Comedy of Terrors – Dark Clown & Enforced Performance was delivered at the Bath Spa University and her Dark Clown work is cited in Jon Davison’s Clown (Readings in Theatre Practice) - Palgrave MacMillan 2013. You can also watch these short, sweet videos on Lily's Clown and Dark Clown work made by Nick Cowell.

Picture
Peta Lily works as a Director, Acting Coach, Creative Mentor in online 121's - use the contact form below to know more 
ONLINE CREATIVE 121’S 
'I left the session buzzing and feeling THIS IS POSSIBLE! Peta is an effervescent and supportive mine of wisdom, creativity and knowledge. Thoroughly recommended.’ - Lexi Strauss Artist and Performer


'My favourite call this quarantine. Hugely inspired and in-spirit-ed.' - Ian Sellars, Theatre Explorer (121 introduction to Clown)

I worked with Peta developing script fragments. She really knows how to build a piece, a theatre maker through and through!'
- Karola Gajda Writer and Theatre Maker

DIRECTING / DRAMATURGY / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR 
'I cannot recommend Peta Lily highly enough - a brilliant dramaturg and mentor. She is sensitive to existing practice whilst questioning old habits to provoke bolder choices and deeper connection. We worked with her for just five days on La Poule and it was amazing.' - Sarah-Louise Young won The Stage Edinburgh Award 2016 Edinburgh directed by Peta Lily in 'La Poule Plombée/Je Regret'
 
‘I found the work liberating, wonderful fun and insightful ... so much to learn from her.’ - Shelley O’Brien, Mad Alice Theatre

'Her knowledge, understanding and experience within her craft is unprecedented.' - Stumbletrip Theatre Company

CREATIVE MENTOR / SCRIPT DOCTOR / SHOW DEVELOPMENT 
‘In only two days, her advice, eye for details and sense of comedic timing took the work to a whole new level. Her experience and good spirit made it incredibly easy and intuitive to work together.’ - Sandrine Monin
​
‘Peta Lily is an incredible coach. I feel really privileged to have worked with her. Highly recommended.' - Fiona Coffey, Cabaret Artist 'A Touch of Mrs Robinson'

‘Thanks to Peta Lily for nipping and tucking the script and adding some absolutely hilarious moments.’ – Eva von Schnippisch, award-winning Cabaret Performer

ACTING COACHING / AUDITION COACHING 
‘Detailed, astute coaching – helpful and uplifting.’ – Cindy-Jane Armbruster, Actor

And - when the world is open again: Inhouse Workshops & Master Classes

'A unique and rewarding experience - lots of the exercises really resonated and connected with me. I found it all very inspiring and I'm grateful for what you've taught.' - Student

Groups and companies need special skills for different projects. You might need movement, mime or comedy skills, or ways to physicalise characters. Some companies request Dark Clown consulting to stretch performers and add edge to a new production. 

Courses can be designed specifically to suit groups - 
full information available - course themes include: Comedy Toolbox ● Emotional Zones and Character Creation ● Clown ● Clown & Dark Clown ● Mime ● You're On! - a course on turning your Life into Theatre (writing and performance) ● Comedy & Confidence  ● Embodied Voice ● Alchemy of Archetypes (with or without masks) ● Commedia dell'Arte

Experience plus a wide ranging background -
 
Lily has taught at many leading Drama schools and at Ecole Phillippe Gaulier in London. She regularly teaches at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and RADA. She has trained with Jacques Le Coq, Philippe Gaulier, Monika Pagneux, Theatre du Mouvement, Yoshi Oida, Carlo Boso (Commedia dell'Arte),  Sankai Juku (Butoh Dance), Alvin Ailey School, NY, Master Yeung Kim Wah (Cantonese Opera) and Mike Alfreds (Theatre Direction). She also brings processes and insights from the liberating and integrating work of Dina Glouberman and Arnold Mindell.

Inspirational – the work and your whole approach to it. - Tony Casement Assistant Creative Director, Mercury Theatre, Colchester

Remarkable work - creative, inspiring, challenging and satisfying. - Graeme du Fresne, Summer School Director

She speaks the language of devising, focusing on character, honesty and audience connection. We whole-heartedly recommend her.  - Amelia Bird Artistic Director, Gomito Productions

Versatile and skilful, bringing great character and movement out of the performers both individually and as an ensemble.  - Writer and Theatre Director Debbie Oates

Course participants report Lily's clown work teaching to be 'empowering' with 'the right amount of support and challenge':

Dark Clown has helped me develop a balanced rounded clown character that has real depth. I already feel it has helped me free up my emotional range as a performer! - Ella Golt, Artist 

Demystifying comedy and explaining all the rules – very empowering. - Stewart Pemberton Circus Performer and Tap Dancer

Under non-pandemic circumstances: Lily teaches workshops and master classes in-person 
‘a phenomenal teacher…skilled like you wouldn't believe…an exhilarating experience…’
Regular open courses include: Clown & Dark Clown; Dark Clown Level Two (available to graduates of the 2-day Clown & Dark Clown course); Take your Clown / Act / Idea Further; Comedy Toolbox and 
The Alchemy of Archetypes (working with half mask and 9 archetypes) and Commedia dell'Arte.
To hire a workshop leader (for the future) go here.

workshops & shows 


Join Peta Lily Theatre Workshops on Facebook

Like Peta Lily Shows on Facebook

Follow @peta_lily on Twitter

Follow @petalily on Instagram

Curious about Dark Clown? get your FREE ebooklet when you sign up to the mailing list - see the form to the right!

Something else? If you are looking for a director / creative mentor / workshop leader for a bespoke workshop for your company or organisation or any other matter - go here.

* By signing up to the mailing list you agree to receive mailings about workshops, shows, publications and very occasionally other news, usually only about a half dozen mailouts a year. You can always choose to unsubscribe at any time – there is an unsubscribe link to click on in each email I send. Your information will not be shared with any third party.

Picture

    JOIN THE MAILING LIST & GET YOUR FREE ebooklet - 2020 extended version

    * By signing up to the mailing list you agree to receive mailings about workshops, shows, publications and very occasionally other news. Your information will not be shared with any third party.
    iCloud email addresses don't always work with the mailing system - and, IMPORTANT -please double check you input your email address correctly - if there's a typo I cannot contact you.
    iCloud email addresses don't always work with the mailing system - and IMPORTANT please be sure not to make a typo when inputting your email address.
Submit