Commedia dell'Arte - Ryan Millar

Commedia dell’Arte

Yesterday was spent in an environment I haven’t been in a while: a theatre workshop. I was studying the classic Italian theatrical form of Commedia dell’Arte with Mitch Mitchelson a heavyset Londoner with a disarming ease about him, and a tendency to reference obscure film and theatre productions as verbal footnotes.

The workshop was supposed to be a full weekend, but after a train fire at Waterloo Station in London Mitch was only able to come out for Sunday. It was a full day of physical theatre trainng with references to the commedia form, and the roots of physical comedy were traced back to their origins, or conversely travelled forward in time to Marx Brothers, Charlie Chaplin, Monty Python, and so on.

For me it was an opportuinity to rediscover and share with others my dormant “actor/theatre guy” identity. It also hooked me into the very busy English Language theatre community here. In fact I’ve got some auditions coming up and what looks like ample opportunity to get involved.

The sour note was my exploratory overtures regarding improvisational theatre fell flat. I had hoped at least to muster some logistical and personnel support for some upcoming improv auditions I’m hoping to hold, and to suss out opportunities for me to teach improv. The ‘twain did not meet. However, I expect to be around the Warehouse Studio Theatre somewhat regularly in the weeks and months to come, and we’ll see what happens.

But for now, I can practice my lazzis and broad physical comedy as I start a full week of wearing my “Young Communications Professional” mask. For now it seems ill-fitting, but I’m sure will grow more comfortable with time. I can also continue dusting off my “Theatre Afficionado” mask.

By Liesbeth Smit|2017-09-14T08:44:23+00:00March 19 2007|

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Derek, Amsterdam,

“Ryan is the most enthusiastic, positive workshop leader I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I’ve been to several of his workshops and after each session I came away with a sense of achievement and feeling that I had learnt something new.”

Chris, London

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Serena, Amsterdam

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James, Brighton

“Ryan really made the most out of the workshop. No time-wasting. He gets to the point quickly, in a clear and effective way.”

Pedro, Lisbon

“Thank you so much for passing your writing knowledge onto me. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun too.”

Larissa, Amsterdam,

“Because of you my fear of speaking or presenting in front of an audience has lessened a great deal.”

Samora, Amsterdam

“Your Taking It Easy session helped me relax more into the truth of a scene and let it grow more organically instead of pushing too hard to make it funny or dramatic. I loved that you were really clear about what you wanted us to get and how the exercises played into the scene work we did later. I really got a lot from one short session.”

Andrew, Brighton

“Ryan is an incredible teacher. He took a straggling group of beginners and turned us into a viable company of improvisational actors who regularly perform together – in front of actual, paying, repeat customers.”

Carrie, Brussels

“Ryan’s improv workshop is incredibly fun but also ruthlessly effective. Participants are taught to drop their inhibitions, let their imagination flow and and embrace the positive attitude at the heart of improv. They are also treated to Ryan’s personal blend of enthusiasm, wit and generosity.”

Jeremy, Brussels

“Working with you was an absolute blast! I’ll take your writing advice with me wherever I go.”

Marton, Budapest

“I especially enjoyed the clarity in all of what you were doing – I always understood what it was that you were teaching. I never felt lost. That was really awesome.”

Martin, Tampere

“I LOVED the fucking GREAT and positive energies in the workshop. They so got me going. Perhaps the highest moment during this festival was laughing in the workshop (to the dances… :)).”

Ben, Tel Aviv

Commedia dell’Arte

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Commedia dell’Arte

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