Therapeutic Clowns: Laughter in Health Workshop

VENUE: 107 Redfern

Join professional Therapeutic Clowns, Ali Gordon and Alicia Gonzalez to explore the basics of therapeutic clowning.

What is a Therapeutic Clown?
The profession of Therapeutic Clowning is an arts‐based practice typically in healthcare settings with children, adults, or elders. It is designed to reduce stress, restore a sense of control and dignity, and celebrate the personhood of each individual regardless of their physical or cognitive limitations. In a healthcare context, this is the basis of person centred care, but for a clown, it is life!

While Therapeutic Clowns have a different purpose from clowns who perform in circuses and theatres, they still have much in common, particularly the way in which curiousity, presence and playfulness are central to their work.

How can this benefit me?
In this workshop, you will learn an array of practical skills and exercises that will allow you to introduce laughter into your work, whatever that may be. Over the weekend, we will take a deep and practical dive into and the potential application of clowning techniques in health, wellbeing and person centred care.

Who is this workshop for?
Performers who want to learn more about therapeutic clowning
Non performers who are curious
Anyone who is seeking to introduce more laughter and connection into their work

Together in two days, we will:
-Guide you through simple theatre exercises that will engage your playful self
-Role-play and simulate sensitive interactive room-to-room entertainment to adults, children, elders, staff, families, and carers
-Explore the power of the clown archetype in offering lightness, release, play, connection, and a completely different way of viewing the world.
-Learn the techniques of empathy through various clowning observation games
-Play with costumes and objects of trade

Full price - $325 per person Early bird discount - $275 per person (until 20 October). Limited places.