What you'll learn

The Fool’s First Step: Clowning, Play and Presence

Learn clowning, embodied communication and improvisational performance techniques with our performing arts short courses in Sydney!

“The fool is the part of us that steps forward without certainty yet is open, responsive and willing to be seen.” — Alicia Gonzalez

Develop practical skills in embodied communication, responsiveness and improvisation through this immersive, movement-based workshop exploring clowning, interaction and presence. Working physically and in the moment, you will engage in a series of guided exercises designed to sharpen awareness, timing, responsiveness and connection with others.

Join this class to explore clowning as a practice of attention, timing and honest response. Through movement, improvisation and relational exercises, you will develop the ability to notice what is happening, respond without overthinking, and remain present in interaction. These techniques are widely used in theatre, facilitation, public speaking, collaborative practice and interpersonal communication.

This workshop introduces foundational techniques drawn from physical theatre, improvisation and clowning practice. Participants will engage in structured exercises designed to develop communication, responsiveness, audience awareness and embodied performance skills.

Across the day, you’ll move between individual and group exercises that build sensitivity to rhythm, deepen listening, and strengthen your capacity to act in the moment. The workshop uses experiential learning methods to develop practical communication, improvisation and performance skills through direct participation.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this clowning and embodied communication workshop, you should be able to:

apply foundational clowning and improvisation techniques in structured exercises
demonstrate improved responsiveness, timing and attention in group interaction
use embodied communication techniques to support presence and audience engagement
participate effectively in collaborative improvisational activities
analyse how physical awareness and response influence communication and performance

After finishing this course, you might like to enrol in a related acting, improvisation or public speaking course.

Course content

What will be covered in this clowning, play and presence workshop?

Session 1: Arriving in the body

grounding and awareness exercises to support presence
introduction to play through physical exploration
establishing group connection and shared attention

Session 2: The clown state

working with openness, vulnerability and responsiveness
noticing impulses and responding without pre-planning
developing sensitivity to rhythm, timing and audience awareness

Session 3: Improvisation and interaction

responding in real time through movement and gesture
simple improvisation structures focused on clarity and connection
listening and reacting to others with precision and awareness

Session 4: Expression and presence

developing embodied communication and stage presence
working with stillness, timing and focus
short solo and paired explorations with feedback

Session 5: Integration and reflection

consolidating key principles through practice
translating awareness, timing and responsiveness into communication contexts
closing exercises and group reflection

Intended audience

Who is this clowning and embodied communication workshop for?

This workshop is suitable for beginners and requires no prior acting or performance experience. It is ideal for:

adults interested in developing presence and awareness through practice
creatives seeking to deepen their engagement with play and improvisation
professionals wanting to strengthen communication through embodied skills
performers, facilitators, educators and presenters seeking to build responsiveness and audience awareness
anyone curious about working physically, interactively and in the moment

Course venue

ReadyMade Works Ultimo

Course materials

Learning resources

All materials and exercises will be provided during the workshop.

What to bring to class

comfortable clothing suitable for movement
water bottle
notebook (optional for reflection)

Additional information

Please note the following:

this is a highly interactive, movement-based workshop
the emphasis is on participation and experiential learning
exercises are designed to support communication, improvisation and performance skill development
no prior acting or performance experience is required

Developed in accordance with the Sydney Community College Course Description Style Guide.
Structured using the Steps to Course Creation framework.

Course tutors

Alicia Gonzalez

About Alicia Gonzalez Alicia Gonzalez is a Sydney-based performer, director and facilitator with a focus on clowning, physical theatre and creative expression. Trained at L’École Internationale de...

View Alicia Gonzalez's profile

Classes Online Courses

Clowning, Play and Presence

Sat 1 Aug 2026

1 session, 6 hours total

10am - 4pm (UTC+10:00)

ReadyMade

Alicia Gonzalez

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Sat 1 Aug 2026	10am - 4pm	Default - ReadyMade

Clowning, Play and Presence

Sat 14 Nov 2026

1 session, 6 hours total

10am - 4pm (UTC+11:00)

ReadyMade

Alicia Gonzalez

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Sat 14 Nov 2026	10am - 4pm	Default - ReadyMade

If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Clowning, Play and Presence