About Commedia

Commedia –the theatre of Commoners and Kings – for the Commedia dell’Arte was just that – not that we are wholly antique – far from it. ‘Commedia’ is the most modern, most up-to-date technique and inspirational of recent moves in physical theatre. So welcome to the ancient and the modern!

‘Commedia’ is a way of performing inspired by the old Commedia dell'Arte but not necessarily using the traditional characters or scenarios. Although it may encompass historical re-creation, it also allows for innovation, experiment and application to other themes.

Its style is broad, non-naturalistic, the visual element being given equal, if not greater emphasis than the verbal. It includes the audience as part of the performance, and their presence is frequently acknowledged. It makes use of the multiple skills of the performer – the spoken word, mime, dance, acrobatics, and music to tell a story or create a dramatic situation. It may be improvised but employs memorized and rehearsed material to back up the spontaneous invention of the actual performance. Facemasks are often worn by some, or all of the characters.

Commedia has proved a fertile source of inspiration for all types of physical and stylised theatre and a useful training tool for performers in many fields.