The Neutral Mask | 7-9 March, 2025

7-9 March, 2025

Friday 5:00pm - 9pm

Saturday and Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm

Register here: https://forms.gle/j4MToWBWgz8rmQ5F9

There  are three masks: the one we think we are, the one we really  are, and  the one we have in common. - Jacques Lecoq (1921 - 1999)

What happens when you put on a mask that is “neutral”, that has no character at all?

A  neutral mask is never neutral when it sits on the face of the  player.  Since it does not contain a dramatic facial expression, it acts  like a  magnifying glass for the inherent dramatic expression that is  present in  your own body. By enabling you to identify your own unique  movement  characteristics, it invites you to quiet the “noise” in your  body and  clarify your gestures in time and space. Enter the silence of  the  neutral mask.

In  this workshop we will use neutral masks as a pedagogical tool for   becoming aware of movement habits and blocks in the drive towards more   clarity of movement and presence on stage.

We will be using hand-crafted, leather masks developed by three generations of the Sartori family in Padova, Italy.

This 3 day neutral mask workshop will focus on:

● Creating a world on stage

● Projecting space

● Making clear, powerful gestures

● Creating silence

● Becoming aware of our own habits of movement

Peter Sweet’s pedagogy combines the madness of play with the rigor of technique. He teaches the most effective tools that he has used in his 20+ years of performing and directing clown, physical theatre, and circus. His unique approach has been further enriched by his experience as a teacher of the Alexander Technique, Wutao breath-work, and a wide range of somatic and martial arts.

Professionally, Peter's solo and duo shows: Meet Pete Sweet (Clown developed with Avner "The Eccentric" Eisenberg), Swinging High (directed by Giovanni Fusetti), BOOM! (directed by Matteo Destro) and Foolish Doom (directed by Matteo Destro) have toured in over 20 countries.

Peter served as the director of performance in the circus department at Die Etage Berlin for 4 years. He is a thesis advisor and coach at Fonty’s Netherlands masters program in choreography and has been a guest teacher at the Stockholm University of Dance and Circus, Zurich University of the Arts and the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding in Munich.

Peter  studied physical theatre at the Helikos International School  of Theatre  Creation in Florence, contemporary and classical dance at  the Salzburg  Experimental Academy of Dance in Salzburg and circus at  Ecole du Cirque  Zofy in Sion (CH). He is a certified teacher of both  the Alexander  Technique and Wutao, a French movement art based on  breath and  undulation.

Peter is currently based in Berlin (DE), where he directs professional companies, teaches workshops and creates new works of inspired madness. In his free time he reads, drums, flies kites, and watches Muppet show re-runs.

This workshop is open to all levels. No prior experience needed.

This workshop uses a donation sliding scale system between 135€- 250€

Register here: https://forms.gle/j4MToWBWgz8rmQ5F9

If you have questions please send an email to Peter Sweet: info@petersweet.com

This event is organised in cooperation with Coraggio - Die kulturanstifter e.V.

For more info about workshops, visit https://www.coraggio.de/projekt/coraggio-lab/