Commedia Masks


Arfur the Juggler

 Workshops
COMMEDIA dell'ARTE (comedy of the professional actor) originated in the sixteenth century in Italy. For the next two hundred and fifty years it was the most popular form of theatre in Europe. Because the performers wore leather masks, their style of theatre was larger than life - very much like a cartoon. The actors themselves were gifted in many aspects of performance i.e: music, acrobatics, circus skills, mime and poetry which they used to enhance their productions.

Originally performing in the streets and market places, they became so popular that they performed regularly in the Royal Courts of Europe. In fact, Louis XIV was one of their patrons. This style of performance is energetic, exciting and a lot of fun. Commedia dell'Arte is the best foundation for all forms of theatre. Their influences can be seen on Shakespeare and the Moliere through to the Marx Brothers and The Young Ones just to name a few.

CHRIS KELLY has been performing professionally for many years. He has a B.A. with majors in Drama and Classical Civilisations from Newcastle University having graduated in 1982. In 1983 he travelled to Northern California in the United States to undertake a year-long full-time intensive study of Commedia dell'Arte at the Commedia dell'Arte School of Mime, Comedy and Physical Performance. He toured Northern California in Moliere's "The Flying Doctor" in which he played the lead role. Since that time he has performed many hundreds of shows which are all heavily influenced by the Commedia dell'Arte style. This theatre style is his passion and forte and he enjoys nothing more than passing on his expertise in this field. His workshops never fall short of expectations whilst his enthusiasm and passion for the style permeates every participant.

DIVERSIFICATION IS KEY Chris' skills include being a multi-instrumentalist, being able to play sax, guitar, violin, banjo, harmonica and mandolin to name a few. As well he is a competent juggler of balls, clubs, cricket bats, fire torches and machetes. He can perform hat tricks, eat fire, ride 4 ft, 6 ft and 8 ft unicycles whilst juggling or playing music. He also performs tricks on a slack rope. He is the front man of his blues band as well as his Fat Elvis Big Band. On top of this he also hand-crafts commedia masks in the very traditional style in sets of six for sale.

CLOWNING is another of Chris' passions. There is a clown in all of us and Chris' techniques for it's discovery are limitless. It is another facet of his expertise which he unleashes regularly in his Clowning and Circus workshops.

Click the names to read testimonials from Take Control and Links to Learning youth workshops.

If you would like more information about Chris' workshops, please contact us.