The Angry Mime Summer School with Tony Kishawi was my introduction to clown and Commedia. I found the whole three weeks the best theatre intensive I have done – and I have done a couple of others. Integral to that experience was Tony’s uniquely warm and supportive approach. His energy and outlook permeated the course and made all of us feel comfortable extending our comfort zones, discovering and expressing in new ways.
There was a uniquely playful, enthusiastic, light-hearted, non-judgemental atmosphere, that I believe is particularly essential for people who have not done clown, Commedia or much physical theatre. It made me want to come back the next year and do it again – which I did.
I have since found regular work as a clown, Commedia artist and actor and have co-formed a theatre company based around those theatre styles. Even as a playwright I found he Angry Mime valuable – by introducing my to ‘scriptless’ theatre I was able to imaging new possibilities when writing.
Tony’s approach to theatre is unique and valuable and it is largely due to his ongoing support and the Angry Mime Project that I have found my way in theatre.
