For this workshop we will use clown skills because:
The clown is a state where urgency prevails, living in the moment, in the 'Here and Now'. Through the clown, explore the world from a more positive viewpoint, free from moral and logical constraints. Discover your true sense of pleasure and joy in play as we delve into the world of the clown. Together we will ranging from the ridiculous to the grotesque to the innocent. Comedy often makes us laugh but doesn't manage to touch our hearts. When we work from a place of personal truth and with the vulnerability of the clown, our comedy reaches a much deeper place. This class will explore that place where you go beyond gags and finding your clown who can touch the hearts in a way that makes our comedy more universal and makes us laugh from the gut.

Student feedback:
"The workshop with Ashwath was simply a unique experience. It was the 2nd time I attended it and I will definitely do it again. You get a different perspective on clowning and are challenged to your limits and sometimes beyond. You do things you wouldn't think you would ever do in front of an audience, but all in a protected setting. Enlightening, relieving, uplifting, unique. Again and again..."

About Ashwath Bhatt:
Born in Kashmir, Ashwath has been working in Performing Arts for the last 25 years. After his graduation from prestigious National School of Drama- New Delhi, did his Masters in classical acting and acting instruction with specialzation in Clowning from LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) London. He is a visiting faculty to Ernst Busch-Berlin, University of Heidelberg, Clown Schule Munich and other institutions in Europe and India ; and worked with reputed theatre companies like Oxfordshire touring theatre Company- Oxford, Flying Fish Theatre-Berlin, Clowns without Borders Germany and USA. He has done plays for BBC and collaborated with National Theatre, Mannheim. He is also a well known actor in Bollywood but teaching is his first love and thats why he conducted workshops on various aspects of physical theatre and acting in England, Germany, France, Croatia, Hungary,Slovakia, Czech Republic, Nepal, Pakistan and India.
He also established Theatre Garage Project (Not for profit company) which spreads Joy & Laughter to Cancer kids and people in difficult regions. The slogan of his work is 'Finding something in Nothing'

Special: on Saturday night we will have time for social sharing and Ashwath talks about his diverse artistic and social projects and (clown)work placements in India.

About Ashwath work - videolink