Physical Theatre Workshops

Explore the freedom of narrative expressive movement in our physical theatre workshops…

Delve into the worlds of clowning, mime and ensemble work, with the expert guidance of industry professionals, and express your creativity in a physically spectacular way!

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Physical Foundations: Physical Theatre Intensive

Physical Foundations is a three-day physical theatre intensive workshop designed to help actors expand their physical awareness and strengthen their creative toolkit. Through techniques drawn from clowning, mime, ensemble work and physical storytelling, participants will explore how movement, rhythm, and space can inform their performance and unlock new approaches to character and narrative.

The workshop focuses on training, collaboration, and creation, culminating in a filmed showcase of original devised work.

DAY ONE Training & Exploration

Day one focuses on learning and experimentation. Through exercises inspired by clowning, mime, ensemble training, biomechanics and movement improvisation, participants will develop body awareness, presence, and responsiveness. Actors will explore physical storytelling, play, rhythm, and group connection, building the foundations for the creative work to follow.

DAY TWO Devising

On day two, participants will devise an original piece of physical theatre using the techniques explored on day one. Working as an ensemble, the group will generate movement-based material, experiment with storytelling through the body, and shape their ideas into a structured performance.

DAY THREE Showcase

The final day focuses on refining and performing the devised piece. The workshop concludes with a showcase performance, which will be filmed, giving participants a record of the work they have created together.

Mime and Physical Theatre Workshop

A two day, physically intense and creative workshop experience, covering the essentials of ensemble movement and mime technique. Participants will be put through their paces to generate a piece of high quality physical theatre that incorporates all the techniques learned over the two days.

WORKSHOP DAY 1

Learning mime technique and how to approach movement as an individual.
How to generate ensemble movement and how to make complex choreography fast!
Experimenting with narrative, stringing silly ideas together and creating a ‘cohesive’ storyline from devised physical creations.

WORKSHOP DAY 2

How to push the quality of your work, and developing physical theatre for narratives.
Bringing everything together: Crafting a short physical theatre piece from day one and two, and getting it ‘audience-ready’ and filmed for your own usage.

Warning: Fun guaranteed… and a small bit of panic.

Introduction to Clowning Workshop

Open to all performers, this two full-day workshop extravaganza will explore the world of clowning, taking inspiration from music, objects, games, and each other. We will dive into clown physicality and behaviour, play with the rules of comedy and most importantly, how we connect with our audience and with the wonderful world around us!

We all have a clown waiting to burst out into the world, it’s the child inside you filled with curiosity, mischief, and a craving for discovery and adventure… let us help you find the key to that door (you might even open it… you might even let your clown take a peak at the world… you might realise they want to roam free forever more!)

Bring lots of energy and laughter to share, wear your curiosity hat with pride and lets clown around together!

‘I was feeling uncreative and drained, and this has been energising.’ Workshop attendee 2023

‘There’s rarely been a time I felt so present. Extremely thoughtful, creative and impassioned leadership.’ Workshop attendee 2023

Workshop Directors

Susie CouttsActor, Classical & Physical Theatre Specialist

Since her last workshop with Fleur de lis, Susie has toured with Project Lockout in BUSTER, collaborated with Dendê Collective on mask disciplines, and recently wrapped her first feature film. An award-winning actress, she received honours at the Ealing 48hour Film Festival for her physical role in Dead Air and was named "Best Actress in a Shakespeare Play". She has also appeared twice at the Petersfield Shakespeare Festival. Beyond the stage, Susie is an experienced educator, teaching physical theatre and naturalism at schools and conservatoires nationwide. She is also one half of the coaching duo Ruddell Coutts Coaching. Her diverse performance credits span London and New York, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Holland Park Opera Festival and various Arts Council England tours. Susie trained at East 15 Acting School and the Russian Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) in Moscow, specializing in Biomechanics and Stanislavski technique. Her work is deeply informed by her background in movement disciplines such as Capoeira, Parkour, and Butoh dance, which she integrates into her physical theatre and clowning productions.

Physical Theatre & Mime Specialist - Michael Lynch

Michael LynchActor, Physical Theatre & Mime Specialist

Mike graduated from the BA Physical Theatre course at East15 Acting School in 2019 and has gone on to found his own theatre company, Project Lockout, which specialises in movement, free-writing and cinematic mime. He is also an award winning film-maker for Gym Jam Theatre and Justice in Motion and is an associate filmmaker at Frantic Assembly. He has also worked as a mime and physical theatre artist in various commercials and theatre, such as a Wrigley’s Extra campaign and On Edge, a Justice in Motion production.

Lauren MaxwellActor, Physical Theatre & Clowning Specialist

Lauren Maxwell (Loz) is a professional clown, who's spent over 6 years touring with the Flying Seagull Project*, produced a new comedy for Ed Fringe 2023, and in the past year has been coaching actors into the world of clowning. Loz is known for her fast-paced physical approach to clowning and, knowing herself the vulnerability it takes to find your clown, always works in a welcoming, safe and positive environment. *The Flying Seagull Project are a charity dedicated to sharing joy worldwide through music, art, and circus. Working with vulnerable, displaced, and poorly people, they run creative sessions to help build confidence, aid childhood development, strengthen communication and spread joy. If you'd like to know more and/or make a donation to their valuable work, please visit: www.theflyingseagullproject.com

Ellie BegleyActor, Physical Theatre & Dance Specialist

Ellie Begley is a northern, working class, female physical artist. She loves to play with gender neutrality and creates theatre without stereotypes, gender norms or judgement. She graduated the BA Acting and Physical Theatre course at East 15 Acting School in 2022. Ellie infuses her love of dance theatre, puppetry choreography and mime, which evolved into drag and all its beauty. Since graduating Ellie is an associate artist at Project Lockout, a UK based physical theatre and mime company. She has also been working with Frantic Assembly, GymJam Theatre, TipTray, Autin Dance and David Glass on other projects.