Learning
Off-stage, our education programme has become a central plank of the company’s work, with every workshop an extension of our creative process. What that means is that we celebrate the unique skills that each participant brings and give them tools to create collaboratively . We overlay this with a form of the Lecoq pedagogy, giving participants a physical vocabulary that can be used to devise their own theatre.
Julian Spooner and Matt Wells, the company’s two co-Artistic Directors, are experienced teachers and have created bespoke performance, technique and devising workshops for numerous universities and professional training institutions. Here in the UK Rhum + Clay have delivered workshops for the National Theatre and the Old Vic. Internationally we have delivered workshops in Venezuela, Brazil, Canada, Kazakhstan and Australia.
All workshops can be adapted to suit the age and ability of participants
CLOWN LAB
“Incredible clown skills” THE STAGE on MISTERO BUFFO
Clown Lab is back! In partnership with fourth Monkey join us for 10 weeks of clowing stupidity, silliness and creativity. Invite peers and develop your professional network in the live performance finale weekend. All experience levels welcome. 18+
Upcoming Sessions
Dates: 27 May 2025 - 3 Aug 2025
Total of 13 sessions
SCHOOLS & COLLEGES
“Excellent – very engaging workshop, professional, structured expertly, and with tangible outcomes; probably the best visiting workshop we’ve had.”
Angela Timms, Teacher, Tiverton School
#1 Devising from Scratch
Explore and employ different stimuli as the inspiration for their own original pieces
Devise through improvisation
Create using core Lecoq principles of movement & collaboration
Cooperate effectively to produce work with their peers
“The workshops were meticulously planned and tailored absolutely to the needs of the students. This meant that the students were able to create drama, based on an excellent understanding of physical theatre techniques”
Dave Salter, Teacher, West Exe Technology College
#2 Making a Text Physical
From page to stage, we’ll explore how to bring scripts to life and enhance your students’ performance skills by creating a dynamic physical language. Students will learn how to:
Physicalise naturalistic text (eg. Arthur Miller, or a text of your choice)
Physicalise Greek tragic text as a large ensemble
Devise and improvise in response to a script
Cooperate effectively to perform work with their peers
About our Workshops in Caracas:
"Rhum + Clay left an important mark in Venezuela. For the first time, a group of young actors, eager for knowledge, had the opportunity to receive a workshop on Physical Theatre techniques, of which they didn't have much knowledge. The workshop developed by Julian and Matt exceeded the expectations of all the participants who had the opportunity to be part of this unique experience. Julian and Matt connected with them in an unimaginable way. They demonstrated not only teaching experience and skills, but also a deep sense of humanity, sensitivity, commitment, excellent communication skills and inspiration. We hope to have them back soon; definitely there is a ‘before’ and ‘after’ to their visit to Venezuela."
AURAMARINA LAZARDE, HEAD OF ARTS, BRITISH COUNCIL VENEZUELA
“At the heart of our training programme is an emphasis on allowing students to use their natural playfulness as a tool to work with others, create characters and engage with the larger themes within theatre”
JULIAN SPOONER, CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
FOR WORKSHOP ENQUIRIES, PLEASE EMAIL INFO@RHUMANDCLAY.COM
PLEASE DOWNLOAD OUR SCHOOLS WORKSHOP PACK