From Laughter to Life Skills: Commedia in the Drama Classroom. I never cease to be amazed by the power of the mask as an enabler. I firmly believe that masks are amongst the most effective tools for unlocking creativity and confidence. Time and time again, I see a shy, quiet student dare to don a mask and, before our eyes, transform into a bold, brash captain…

“I had been looking at the role of the comic servant in Commedia. In Flaminio Scala’s collection of scenarios from the 16th Century that role befell Pedrolino. He was featured more often than Arlecchino and was always at the centre of intrigues, such as lovers seeking help…”

This week’s objective: the sharpening of key mask skills. Focus - holding it, passing it - isolations, complicité, actor-audience dynamic. Precision and reining in the mask’s natural tendency to steal the limelight!

Here’s a lockdown craft activity you can do at home or in the classroom - cardboard-make-your-own-commedia-dell-arte-masks!

Since Covid-19 everyone is rightly nervous about putting something on their face that could potentially carry infection, so if ever there was a right time for cardboard-make-your-own-masks, it’s now!

We’re not sure when we will be able to get back into schools to lead workshops so we’re putting what we can online as a resource for teachers, students and others who may be interested. Obviously it is never quite as effective as being in the same room but we can try our best!

The shed has become our second home, and something of a haven from the stresses of the outside world; a place where absurdity and hilarity are unleashed, and for the past few months it has been a hive of activity as we have been devising, honing and refining our new commedia dell’arte show, The Breath of Love……

Our kids are pushed to succeed in core subjects so that they are successful in life and, of course, these are important, but we all know that it takes more than maths and English qualifications to be successful….