Creating CharactersINTRODUCTION TO CLOWN: LEVEL 1

In this 7-week intensive, the brains behind Toronto’s hit zombie clown Jean-Paul Mullet​ will guide you through games and exercises leading towards discovering your own hidden clown. Allan will draw from his 20 years of experience clowning, as well as improv, writing, and a knowledge of the history of clown and comedy theory. The clown makes fun and parodies, not to single out the differences between us but to reveal how we all are ridiculously alike.

As a participant, you will learn to:

- challenge ingrained inhibitions and play freely
- lose your fear of failure
- be in your body
- follow impulses
- perform with authenticity
- react to both your outer surroundings and inner life
- have fun!

No experience necessary! This introductory course is designed for people with or without performing experience as well as emerging artists of all disciplines looking to re-energize and have fun.

INTRODUCTION TO CLOWN: LEVEL 2

In this Level 2 7-week intensive, Allan continues to guide you on your journey to clown. There will be further explorations of play, status, and being open. New areas include persona, duo and group dynamics, and clown logic. Class culminates in a showcase when friends and family are invited to see you clown around!

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clown: Level 1 or equivalent experience

INTRODUCTION TO CLOWN: LEVEL 3

In this Level 3 7-week intensive, you'll learn how to create material ready for the stage. We'll tackle that dreaded question "Where do you get your ideas?" Over the first half of the course I'll teach you how to generate ideas, capture them, channel them, and give them structure. In the second half, you get me as your personal director and I'll guide you through creating and polishing a finished turn. I don't want to create Allan Turner-style clown performance. What you create is up to you. If there is to be any "Allan Turner" touch, it will just be tight structure, clear storytelling, and meaningful connection with your audience. We'll conclude with a soiree where you present your turns. You'll come away from this course with a piece you can perform in other shows and the tools to create new pieces on your own.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clown: Level 2 or equivalent experience

NEXT LEVEL CLOWN: MAKE IT FUNNY

You’ve taken clown courses, maybe even performed… what comes next? The Next Level program focuses on specific skill sets you'll need as a clown and creator. Made up of stand alone courses that don't need to be taken in sequence. You take what you need to get to the next level!

An audience laughs at a comedian, but they love the clown. They also laugh at the clown. In this 4-week intensive, Allan will guide you through new exercises building on what you’ve already learned about being in nose and creating turns to bring out the humour.

Topics covered include comedy theory (theorIES!) and structure, duo dynamics and comedy with others, comedy with objects, and comedy alone.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clown: Level 3 or related training and/or stage experience

NEXT LEVEL CLOWN: TELL A STORY

You’ve taken clown courses, maybe even performed… what comes next? The Next Level program focuses on specific skill sets you'll need as a clown and creator. Made up of stand alone courses that don't need to be taken in sequence. You take what you need to get to the next level!

What's a turn? It's what clowns call a short performance, a sketch. It reveals the clown, it can be funny, it should tell a story. In this course, Allan will guide you through new exercises building on what you’ve already learned about being in nose and creating turns, with a special focus on creating narrative with structure. Learn to create turns that have a beginning, middle, and end, and something to say!

Topics covered include different story styles and theories, writing and editing for clown, rehearsing for clown, and how to stay on script but keep it fresh.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clown: Level 3 or related training and/or stage experience

NEXT LEVEL CLOWN: FIND YOUR VOICE

You’ve taken clown courses, maybe even performed… what comes next? The Next Level program focuses on specific skill sets you'll need as a clown and creator. Made up of stand alone courses that don't need to be taken in sequence. You take what you need to get to the next level!

If there’s one thing people ask me about most, it’s talking. Talking in nose. I do it and I’m just one example. There’s a long history of talking clowns going back to Grock and earlier. Now in this new and unique 7-week intensive, we’ll get you talking too.

My curriculum is born out my experience as a performer. Originally, my alter ego Jean-Paul Mullet was a silent clown, barely distinguishable from movie zombies. But over the course of a few months of busking, and by necessity, Mullet organically learned to speak. I’ll recreate this experience for you. You’ll find your voice, vocabulary, and a style of delivery that’s all your own.

If you’ve never spoken in nose, or perhaps have already begun on your own, this course will help guide you with the same balance of free-wheeling play and structure that I’ve come to be known for.

Topics covered include vocal control and technique, gibberish, first words, speaking with written text, improvising, dynamic delivery, playing with others in nose with words!

Prerequisite: Introduction to Clown: Level 3 OR related training and/or stage experience

NEXT LEVEL IMPROV

Allan was voted Toronto's 'Best Male Improviser' in the 2015 Now Magazine Reader's Choice Poll. In this 8-week intensive, Allan will focus on what goes into improvising open scenes, drawing from his 20 years of experience as an improviser, clown, and writer for the stage, animation, and comics.

Improvised scenes are stories. Every offer you make and accept should propel the story forward. A strong understanding of what makes a story work will help to make your choices feel intuitive.

The more you practise, the less you have to think on your feet consciously, freeing you to be in the moment and react with feeling, energy, and charm.

Topics to be covered include:
- Story structure and elements
- How to identify and support the protagonist
- Forwarding the plot by making emotional choices
- Playing with rhythm and comfort in silence
- The pleasure of play

Prerequisite: Improv training and/or experience

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