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Whether you work in acting, directing, scriptwriting, motion design, or education: how can you understand and master the practical mechanics of laughter in all its forms?
Set designer and costume designer,
Oria Puppo creates sets and costumes for theater directors.
A pianist, organist, and conductor, Benjamin Pras has built a rich and varied career that blends classical music, improvisation, and live performance.
Emily and Jos are theatre directors (often co-directing projects),
actors and teachers.
They share a passion for collaborative theatre that is intensely physical and visually captivating.
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Training
Fees
International participants French participants AFDAS
€1,500 €1,800 (including 20% VAT) €2,400
WORKSHOP
WORKSHOP
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29 MARCH
9 APRIL
Workshop Overview
What is Landscapes of Laughter?
It is an in-depth exploration of the core principles and driving mechanics behind different styles of comic theatrical writing—spanning clown, the absurd, slapstick, Commedia dell’arte, and Bouffon.
How do we learn and create?
We start with physical play and everyday movement, progress through guided improvisation, and develop original short scenes and comic sketches.
Which comic territories will we explore?
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Clown, Absurd & Nonsense: Naïveté, rule-breaking, misunderstanding, and structured chaos.
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Slapstick & Stunts: Precision timing, falls, gags, and accidental virtuosity.
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Commedia dell’arte & Bouffon: Masked performance, exaggeration, satire, and the tragicomic human condition.
What key skills will you take away?
You will learn how to decode what makes an audience laugh, master gag execution, exploit stylistic constraints, and define clear theatrical stakes before searching for a laugh.
What does a typical day look like?
Mornings focus on physical warm-ups, spatial awareness, and initial improvisations; afternoons are dedicated to technique, small-group sketch creation, and personalized group feedback.
Who leads the training?
You will train with internationally recognized theatre directors, actors, and long-time École Jacques Lecoq teachers (Jos Houben & Emily Wilson), alongside guest specialists in set/costume design (Oria Puppo) and live music performance (Benjamin Pras).