The Art of Fall
& Other Stupidities
Destabilizing
PHYSICAL COMEDY
SLAPSTICK
THE
The workshops are highly recommended for all those who have the ability to make fools.
That is to say facilities in the ridiculous and the desire to share it with others.
Most want to be accessible to everyone. Regular athletes or not and artists from all backgrounds.
All the techniques covered are adaptable to each one's physical capacity and playing style.
It's not about being the world's best burlesque stuntman!
Meanwhile, precise and small gestures, done with finesse will be our Holy Grail!
© Stage à Shanghai en Chine
© Stage au Samovar avec Michel Dallaire
© Stage à La Loly Circus
THE CATASTROPH’INITIATION
INITIATION TO SLAPSTICK
This workshop teaches the fondamental basics of « The Slapstick »,
imbalances, falls, relaxation, shocks, blows,
slips, failures and crashes.
In parallel with the techniques, I approach biomechanics, interpretation,
precision and movement control as well as other toys
to assimilate to be catastrophized!
Once the accident has been assimilated, it's time for play techniques and improvisation.
Through this, we will see the importance of working on sincerity, states,
emotions, reactions and reconstruction.
This workshop is intended for people who want to discover this discipline
without wanting to implement it professionally.
Accidents discussed are more like Stan Laurel's work
than from Buster Keaton, therefore, they are accessible
on all physical conditions.
DURATION : BETWEEN 1 AND 2 DAYS
© Stage à Shanghai en Chine
© Stage à La Loly Circus
© Stage au Circ Cric en Espagne
© Stage au Daki Ling
THE PHYSICAL COMEDY
ANATONOMY OF ACCIDENT
ANATOMY OF THE ACCIDENT GAG FOR A CREATIVE AUTONOMY
This workshop with a minimum duration of 5 days gives by definition more time
that the workshop « The Catastroph’Initiation » to explore the extent of awkwardness
and the resulting mess, but also and most importantly, it’s about playing and writing.
These are the essential keys to the success of this discipline!
Indeed, the success of an « accidental gag » does not only bring
on the technical execution of the action but also, and for many,
on the readability and the interpretation of the situation, of the trigger
and repercussions on the character and the initial situation.
Therefore, this internship gives pride of place to development
of his fantasy in the face of adversity and brings the essential notions
for creating a catastrophic routine.
​
This workshop is particularly intended for comic artists
who wish to incorporate an uneven sequence in their show.
DURATION : BETWEEN 5 AND 7 DAYS
© Stage au Daki Ling
© Stage au Circ Cric en Espagne
© Stage en Belgique
THE CATASTROPHIC WRITING
THEORY AND PRINCIPLES OF ACCIDENTAL WRITING
FROM THE GRIBOUILLIS TO THE MASTERPIECE!
This internship aims to provide the technical basics of the body
of « The Slapstick » and to assimilate the different concepts
and steps for building a disaster-based routine.
From theory to practice, he dissects the mechanics of laughter based
on physical gag and its specific writing principles.
Super-objective, objective, state, emotion, intention, reaction, reconstruction,
trigger and impact of the accident on the situation, ...
so many elements to raise awareness, write, improvise and interpret
to create a number that stands up unlike the character.
Very dense in terms of theoretical contributions and technical tools, it requires a strong
motivation and preferably a solid experience of the stage.
This internship is particularly intended for comic artists
during the creation of a routine or show.
DURATION : BETWEEN 5 AND 9 DAYS
© Stage à La Loly Circus
© Stage à La Base
© Stage à La Loly Circus
© Photo Yves Kerstlus - Kino Kabaret à Bruxelles en Belgique
WORKSHOPS CATASTROSPÉCIPHICS
LA MANIP' CATASTROPHIC
MANIPULATORY INCOMPETENCE
This internship offers to explore accidents specific to handling objects
and furniture. From incident to accident, ideally see chaos,
it offers a wide range of blunders and gives the keys to the associated game.
The references of this pedagogy are the blunders of everyday life.
Failures, catches, slips, tangles, overturns, snags, shocks,
blows, devastation, disorders are, among others, on the menu.
In short, material damage and physical damage in anticipation!
A wide choice of objects is available, but it is also possible to bring your own.
If you practice an artistic discipline based on manipulation like,
magic and juggling or if you have favorite accessories related to a show,
feel free to bring them. From a bar of soap to a card game,
including a costume, clubs, a pasta dish,
scotch tape or a pair of glasses, everything is possible!
This workshop is particularly intended for comic artists
who wish to integrate gestural awkwardness in their show.
​
DURATION : BETWEEN 2 AND 5 DAYS
© Stage au Samovar
© Stage au Samovar
© Stage à Shanghai en Chine
THE CREATION DAMAGED
THE FABRICATASTROPHE
This internship gives the possibility of coming to perfect or even achieve a number,
or a show sequence already written or under development.
The days are divided in two. The mornings are dedicated to advice
and technical tools and the afternoons are devoted to rehearsal
and feedback on the game. At the end of the day, the sequences are presented
to the group in order to be regularly confronted with an audience but also
to see the progress of each person's work and possibly have a good time!
At the end of each passage, an individual return and a debrief
for the next day's work is done.
This internship is particularly intended for comic artists during the creation
of a show and who wish to integrate awkwardness in their writing.
It is imperative to have already followed another internship
with the basics and ideally « Catastrophic Writing » because little time
is spent assimilating the techniques.
​
DURATION : BETWEEN 5 AND 9 DAYS
© Stage à La Loly Circus
© Stage à Shanghai en Chine
© Stage à Bruxelles en Belgique
© Stage à Shanghai en Chine
THE CATASTROPHIC PARTNER
ACCOMPANYING AN AMBULANT DISASTER
Being accompanied by an awkward partner or being two traveling disasters,
this course proposes to reveal characters conducive to awkwardness
like the famous duo « Laurel and Hardy ».
The success of the rugged duo game is intimately linked to the relationships that
the two fools. That is why, it is better to have already tasted pleasure
to be accompanied. If not, solid experience is required
solo work.
From « bidesque » acrobatics to more everyday gestures, including slaps,
unions and other bickering, each situation will lead to wanting to decide
continually from a separation with his sidekick without recess never
really power!
This workshop is particularly intended for comic artists
having one or more game partners and who wish to integrate
clumsiness and false combat in their show.
​
DURATION : BETWEEN 2 AND 3 DAYS
© Stage en Belgique
© Stage au Samovar avec Michel Dallaire
© Stage au Samovar avec Michel Dallaire
THE BURLESQUE WATERFALL
LA CATASTROBATIC
Unlike other internships, this one requires good physical condition
and basic acrobatics are welcome. If it's not the case,
strong motivation for taking physical risk
will be required knowing the possible bruises and aches that this work can generate.
The techniques discussed are more like the works of Buster Keaton
than those of Laurel and Hardy, they therefore demand qualities
commitment, awareness and body control. Without forgetting a taste
pronounced to fuck in the water and wet his shirt!
Spectacular falls, violent shocks and blows, false fights, blunders
acrobatics, accidents with furniture, walls and doors are, among others, offered.
Depending on the duration of the internship, the number of accidental gags tackled,
deepening the game and providing tools on the fundamentals of writing
are more or less developed.
​
This workshop is particularly intended for comic artists practicing
a circus discipline or one that is related and who wish to integrate
an uneven sequence in their show.
​
DURATION : BETWEEN 2 AND 5 DAYS
© Photo Yves Kerstlus - Kino Kabaret à Bruxelles en Belgique
© Stage à l'EDT 91
IN STREET
TRAINING & CATASTROPHIC PARKOUR
This workshop proposes to confront the accident in an urban environment.
Sidewalks, walls, benches, barriers, trees, bushes, stairs, posts, panels,
playgrounds, fountains, bus shelters, garbage cans, …
The city and its parks are land great game for a lousy and unlucky pedestrian!
The specific atmosphere of a public space, the coatings, the materials,
pedestrian and car traffic, the weather but also the political context
today require adaptability, listening skills,
a particular concentration and more body control than indoor work.
This is why, it is necessary that I already know you and to have assimilated
technical bases on another internship. Besides, most of the time,
this internship proposal comes from former interns.
Mornings are devoted to training, exploration and briefing
situations that will be played in the afternoon street.
Note that it is possible to come and test a sequence of your show because,
outside of technique, the other advantage of this internship is to confront
a «real» audience. Depending on the hospitality of the bar owners of the city
where the internship takes place, a «false server(s) and false client(s)» situation
is set up on the last day.
​
This workshop is particularly intended for comic artists
who play street shows and who want to integrate
an uneven sequence in their show.
​
DURATION : BETWEEN 2 AND 3 DAYS
© Stage au Samovar
THE CATASTROPHIC COACHING
PERSONALIZED SUPPORT
You want to integrate a sequence in your show, in a film?
Have you just begun or have you already started working?
You've been experiencing difficulty in writing, the execution and interpretation?
Writing a rough routine or a false fight requires reflection,
adjustment and technical precision. By putting me at the service of your character
and your scenario, I propose to accompany you in the process
of creation starting from improvisation to arrive at a writing
who stands up unlike the character.
By taking into account your desires, your doubts, your physical possibilities
and techniques, I would try to bring you to be able to reproduce
and play the same «rugged choreography», independently,
for a tour, a shoot where preparation, recovery
and endurance can sometimes be put to the test.
​
DURATION: FOLLOWING THE PROJECT
© Charlie Chaplin
THE CATACONF'
BURLESQUE CONFERENCE
Accompanied by a projection of extracts of the largest film
and stage works, this lecture traces the history of burlesque
from its origins to today.
This conference can echo the educational program
of a school (or other structure) and can also be decored
with the history on the «Art of Clown» if you wish.