“You’ll practice letting go and rediscover spontaneity.”

(Workshop participant)

Clowning for Facilitators is a workshop for facilitators, trainers and educators who know there’s a difference between a good facilitator and a great one. Use movement and play to heighten your comfort within your own body, connection to the group and attunement to where the discussion needs to go.

The pedagogy of clown is a deep practice that allows theatre makers, educators and anyone who works with people the opportunity to be more present in their body and more connected to an audience. I’ve been practicing clown for over 15 years, learning from teachers such as Giovanni Fusetti, Kimberley Twiner and Deanna Fleysher. While I performed clown in my early days, I became more interested in the transformative nature of the practice for human relating.

This introduction to clowning is designed for group facilitators. Movement and play are the route to reading a room; devices like rhythm and timing a path to working with the energy in a group and the flow of a day.

Time to get comfortable with yourself (or notice when you are not comfortable), explore the tensions between doing and stillness, and practical performance skills that will help you to run engaging training sessions.

Who is this workshop for?  Facilitators, trainers, educators and people who work with people.

Who has participated in this workshop? Freelancers to organisations like Department of Water, Challenger TAFE, Powerhouse Museum and Department of Agriculture – have all come along to this workshop and expressed enjoyable, practical, professional learning.

“It was valuable to take myself out of traditional facilitator type training and try something new.”

“A great and valuable experience – you learn so much about yourself through small games and activities with other people.” (Janni, Meld Studios, Sydney)

“Most valuable for my professional life was widening the possibilities for leading facilitation, and finding links between theatre and work.” (Andrew Botros, Expressive Engineering, NSW)

“I will remember to say committed to my audience/client needs, listening deeply and engaging to find creative solutions.” (Kate, performer, NSW)

“Tell future participants they’ll find room to play and discover themselves in a supportive, open environment.” (Dominique, Meld Studios, Sydney) 

“I’ll be making room for stillness and allowing people to come to conclusions without telling them how to get there.” (Gemma, Facilitator at Scitech, WA)

“The most valuable thing for my professional life was watching the group form and doing things easily, not the hard way”.
(Beth, Disabilities Services Commission)

“A highlight was thinking more consciously about how it feels to be an audience member and how I can reflect on this experience as a facilitator.” (Jacqui, Challenger TAFE)

“In the future I’ll be more relaxed and self-aware…” (Diana, Life without Borders)

“I loved it.”
(Kate Raynes-Goldie, lecturer at Curtin University)