27 March,2011 07:51 AM IST | | Sowmya Rajaram
Red nose clowning is not circus acrobatics," says Ashwath Bhatt, who started and teaches at the Theatre Garage Project Residency held in a forest at Ramgarh, Nainital, for the past six years.
"The city is too distracting and has too much concrete. This place is close to nature and convenient for creative learning," he feels.
A graduate from the National School of Drama, Bhatt started the residencies after a travelling sojourn with the Flying Fish Theatre Company in Germany some years ago. "I saw the spirit of learning and travelling together as a theatre troupe, and decided to start the same in India," he explains.
Called so because "an actor is required to bring his greatest vehicleu00a0-- his bodyu00a0-- into this garage", Theatre Garage this year will focus on Red Nose Clowning and Acting and the Alexander Technique of voice and body awareness.
"I came across Red Nose Clowning when I was studying at Lamda, London, and thought it would fit perfectly into the Indian context. The concept is of a fool, who helps you shed cultural inhibitions and liberates you. Red Nose Clowning doesn't have any costumes, and doesn't always make you laugh. It's character-based and teaches you what conventional acting classes can't deliveru00a0-- how to open up the imagination."
The 7th Theatre Garage Project Residency will be held from April 15 to 30, 2011. Registrations are open to both amateurs and professionals, but limited to 10 members.
For details, visit the Theatre Garage Project page on Facebook. Mail Ashwath Bhatt on ashwathbhatt@yahoo.co.in or call on 9819678577/ Vivek on 08010004096.
