We run a wide range of education activities, ranging from individual workshops to longer term residencies. Our education program is available both as an accompaniment to touring productions and in a stand-alone way. Bookings are now being taken for 2003: stand-alone workshops will be available between January and May.

Commedia Unmasked
In November 2002, we are running a fortnight of workshops for students at Hammersmith and West London College, which will culminate in two public showcase performances at Riverside Studios on 27 and 29 November at 6.30pm (prior to the evening performances of Robin Hood in the venue). This Commedia Unmasked project is taking place with financial support from London Arts through the Regional Arts Lottery Programme. A dedicated area of our Web site will be appearing in due course as an online complement to the project.

If you are interested in finding out more about any aspect of our educational work please complete the contact form.

Our Education Credentials
Ophaboom has taught Commedia at the Guildford School of Acting, Hope Street Liverpool, Goldsmiths College, London, & The Rawlins Community College. This alongside many introductory workshops at schools and colleges and a residency at Kingswood School, Wigan, which ended in a showing. The company was also involved with a disabled theatre course at Jackson's Lane, London.

Workshops
We offer introductory workshops in Commedia dell' Arte / Masks and in Movement for participants from age 12 up. All workshops are approached through first developing a sense of spontaneity and play, and may include any of the elements listed below.

• An exploration of the Commedia characters, physical characterisation
• Uses of the mask, isolation of parts of the body
• Physical and verbal humour
• Improvised drama, and group work, theatre games
• Music/Singing/Voice work
• Dramatic structure and presentation. A showing if possible.

During the workshop a history of the 15th Century is also presented through the depiction of movement, anecdotes and stories. This provides a solid, but lively background to the work. Workshops include use of our collection of professionally made Commedia and character half masks.

We are happy to provide contact details for referees on request. We can offer particularly good rates when the workshop is linked to one of our tour performances.