Red Nose Clowning

Red Nose ClowningA Three-Day Workshop by Ashwath BhattMonday to Wednesday, 23rd to 25th November, 10.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.Points to Note1.⁠ ⁠Your place in the workshop will be confirmed only after payment and final selection. If you are not selected, the fee will be refunded.2.⁠ ⁠⁠If you are selected and attend the entire workshop, the fee will be refunded.3.⁠ ⁠⁠If you are selected and there is a no-show, or if you attend only part of the workshop, there will be no refund.About the WorkshopThe clown often lands in a place where urgency prevails and dilemma takes over, pressure turns into perseverance and a never-say-die attitude emerges. The clown lives in the moment, in a theatre of the 'Here and Now'.Through the clown, participants will explore the world from a more positive viewpoint, free from moral and logical constraints. We all have a clown hiding within us. During the workshop, an inner clown character will be born through an organic process based on both eastern and western techniques. Starting with an outer neutral persona, we will work our way towards the ridiculous and then the grotesque.At the end of the workshop, participants will gain clarity about the rules and tools of clowning, so that they can embark on clown exploration with courage. The workshop will go beyond gags and look for the clown who connects to the heart of the spectators.About the FacilitatorAshwath BhattAshwath Bhatt is a Mumbai-based screen and stage artist, who has worked with acclaimed filmmakers and reputed theatre companies both in India and abroad. He has acted under the direction of various Indian and international theatre luminaries, and conducted workshops on various aspects of acting worldwide. He serves on the selection panel of LAMDA in India as well as for the Inlaks Theatre Awards, of which he is the co-creator. He teaches at various prestigious institutions in India and overseas. He is widely known for his work on the ‘Red Nose Clowning’ in India. In 2007, he established a nonprofit trust called the Theatre Garage Project. His work is guided by the idea of finding something in nothing. He recently directed the play Paladin based on the best-selling book When Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi.Applicants to NoteApplicants are required to fill in the form linked below to give us an understanding of their experience, interests and more.Workshop Application Form: Red Nose ClowningEligibilityAge: 21 and aboveExperience: Basic experience of theatrePhysical readiness: Basic fitnessAdvisory Clothing: Comfortable clothing. Any other detail will be shared with selected candidatesFood advisory in case there is movement: Will be shared with selected candidatesParticipants should carry a bottle of water.About the FestivalPLAYINTERPLAY is a theatre festival with a difference. It celebrates 50 years of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, bringing together its theatre awardees and scholars to show their work, share their experiences, skills and learnings, and converse on matters of common interest.PLAYINTERPLAY presents plays that are new to Bengaluru. What is different, however, is that it looks back as well as forward, featuring a work of theatre that has been specially revived for the festival and readings of plays that are still to become the finished article.PLAYINTERPLAY does more: it forges connections between its constituent parts — performances, workshops, conversations and experience sharing — emphasising the interplay between thought, learning and practice.See the plays! Apply for the workshops! Join the conversations! Soak in the magic of theatre.About the Artistic DirectorAnmol Vellani is the founder and former executive director of India Foundation for the Arts, the first independent philanthropic organisation in India devoted exclusively to supporting the arts. He is also the co-founder of Toto Funds the Arts, which nurtures, encourages and rewards new voices and emerging talent in the arts.Anmol did not, however, aspire to become a professional in the field of philanthropy. His early fascination was with the arts, especially theatre and music, and also philosophy, which he studied at the Universities of Poona, Oxford and Cambridge. He taught ethics, logic and the history of philosophy at Elphinstone College, Mumbai, in the 1970s.His writing and talks — on arts entrepreneurship, the creative economy, cultural policy, the role of grant-making foundations, culture and development, arts collaboration and the performing arts, for example — have reflected on the insights he has gleaned from his long engagement with the arts and philanthropy.Anmol has been associated with nearly 50 plays as a director, designer or actor. He has directed theatre productions in different languages and cities. His last two plays — Innocence (2024) and Apne Ghar Jaisa (2022) — have been lauded for their sharp and critical look at contemporary social and political realities in India.