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Neutral Mask
The Neutral Mask is a starting point, a tool for a specific physical
actor training. A blank page from which to begin. It is used to enhance
the actor’s presence on stage, and to achieve a sense of being
physically engaged in a performance. It encourages the actor to explore
the relationship between his/her body and the surrounding space and
strip away old habits, which are no longer of use.
In these early sessions we will explore and develop an understanding
of Neutral Mask through practical exploration and training. Practical
work with Neutral Mask is aimed at developing an understanding of
its function in actor training as well as developing some practical
performance skills.
Dynamic Masks
Dynamic Masks are abstract architectural structures. The shape and
dimensions of the mask itself can indicate how the body should move
in space. The direction of the light reflected from it and distribution
of weight in its structure can suggest how we might start to find
movement/rhythm which best brings the mask most effectively to life.
The wearer of a dynamic mask is forced to consider the mask as an
object first, and the technical demands it makes before character
can ever be found. The group will play with some Dynamic Masks, approaching
mask work from a purely technical physical starting point. The life
of the "character" must only arrive from finding a truth
in how the object itself moves in space.
Larval Masks
Larval Masks come from a very ancient carnival tradition of the
city of Basel, in Switzerland. They are big masks, with very simple
shapes, that suggest an expression (pointed, tall, narrow) while never
fully defining the features of a human face. They announce the lines
that will lead to a specific character, but they don't define it yet.
They are open and available to the space, and need big gestures to
make them come to life. In the world of larval masks, everything is
at the edge of beginning. Having discovered a physical life for the
mask, the group will begin through improvisation and play to put these
theatrical ‘creatures’ into different dramatic situations.
Character Masks
Character Masks are more defined and have a fixed expression. While
the expression is fixed the physical life of a character must extend
more deeply. The actors approach must venture beyond the obvious,
(i.e. simply "happy", "angry" etc.) The group
will explore the concept of Counter-Mask, finding a flip side to a
mask’s personality, a contrasting rhythm, in order to give it
more dimension and ‘truth’ in performance. Through improvisation
and play the group will begin to develop relationships and interact
with other masks..
Objects and mask making
Students are asked to bring a found object (with dynamic shapes),
which they are able to put on their head. This should be an object,
which is not normally placed on the head or worn as a mask and could
be anything from a cardboard box to a shopping bag.
Students will be asked to consider what makes a mask, and when a mask
becomes a mask. The group will experiment with normal everyday household
objects to see if the same principles of dynamic and space can be
applied to create character or theatrical ‘believability’.
Having explored a range of different masks, the group will now be
asked to construct their own for use in their final presentation.
This must be a full mask. Half masks enable the actor to speak and
to be able to benefit from the experience more fully; we need to avoid
the pieces becoming governed by a psychological performance or text.
Festival of Masks / Mask Surgery
In the first part of this session, students will present the masks
they will have completed over the previous week. The group will be
encouraged to give feed back on how each mask is most effectively
used, considering the principles of space and dynamics and character
explored earlier in the course. The group will test the masks and
explore their theatrical possibilities. The students new masks will
be introduced to each other and through interaction will divide themselves
into natural ‘families’. These sub groups will continue
to work together towards a practical piece.
Performance
Each student will take part in a simple small mask piece wearing a
mask, which they must have made themselves. Don’t panic! It
does not need to be a work of art you can hang on a wall.
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Adventures
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