Short Courses / Acting
The Clown Within - Clown Intensive
Week-long / 10.00 - 5.00pm
Step into the world of play, creativity, and self-discovery in this immersive week-long workshop designed to help you uncover your Inner Clown.
Overview
Whether you're a performer, artist, or someone simply looking to reconnect with your playful side, this workshop invites you to explore the transformative art of clown.
Influenced by the methodology of Jacques Lecoq and the disciplines of Theatre of Clown, Neutral Mask and Gestural Language, this physical and creative approach draws on the imagination and offers a place to explore and be challenged.
Through a series of fun, dynamic exercises, you'll learn to tap into your authentic, unfiltered self — the part of you that is spontaneous, joyful, and free. The focus will be on embracing vulnerability, celebrating imperfections, and discovering the unique comedic persona that resides within you.
Over the course of the week, you’ll:
- Engage in exercises that release inhibitions and awaken your sense of humour.
- Explore physical comedy, improv, and clown techniques that help you express yourself without fear of judgment.
- Learn to connect deeply with others through laughter, trust, and presence.
- Discover the joy and healing power of embracing your own quirks and flaws.
This workshop is for anyone looking to step into a space of joy, laughter, and self-exploration. No prior experience in theatre of clown is necessary — just bring your curiosity, willingness to play, and an open heart.
You’ll walk away with a newfound connection to your Inner Clown, ready to bring more play and authenticity into your life, on stage or off.
About the Tutor
Ruth Lehane is an award winning actress, writer and theatre maker. She trained at Ecole Jacques Lecoq, Paris and the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College, Dublin. Having worked for two years with Jacques Lecoq where she discovered the European approach to clown, she later studied Clown Through Mask, a Native American approach, developed by Richard Pochinko with Sue Morrison in Toronto. She is the founder of Fourth Leaf Theatre Co. Ruth’s company, makes theatre that provokes, challenges and delights an audience.
Her vast range of experience as an actor and theatre maker has seen her work with makers of original work and practitioners of innovative practises. She has worked with a diverse range of companies both nationally and internationally some of which include; The Abbey, Dublin; The Lyric, Belfast; Barabbas; Blue Raincoat; The Ark; Big telly; The Belgrade Theatre; Cahoots NI; Tinderbox and Fabulous Beast. She has toured with her work internationally to London, Edinburg, Glasgow, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Bulgaria, Romania and new York.
Ruth is a highly skilled facilitator. Influenced by the methodology of Jacques Lecoq and the disciplines of Theatre of Clown, Neutral Mask, Gestural Language and The Architecture of the Space, her unique range of experience make her workshops exciting, inspirational and fun. This physical and creative approach draws on the imagination and offers a place to explore and be challenged.