Commedia dell’Arte is the root of modern theatre—its influence can still be felt in contemporary plays, whether consciously or not. In this high-energy, hands-on workshop, we’ll dive into its core elements: masked performance, stock characters, dynamic physicality, improvisation techniques, and the all-important relationship with the audience. We’ll explore themes of power, play, and presence—drawing on both traditional mask work and modern clowning. And yes, if time allows, we’ll throw in a bit of history too.
Whether you’ve never studied Commedia or have only encountered it through an English lens, this workshop offers a fresh, authentic perspective—with plenty of sweat, laughter, and discovery along the way. You will leave this workshop with a more precise mask technique, a deeper understanding of archetypal characters, and strong improvisation tools.
Francesca Fatichenti is an Italian actress and mask-maker, trained extensively in Commedia dell’Arte, clowning, and Lecoq technique in Italy and France. She has learned and worked with renowned masters including Philippe Gaulier, Carlo Boso, and Maria Consagra, and has sculpted masks in leather and wood in the ateliers of Stefano Perocco and Andrea Cavarra. Her international performance credits in mask include Retrogusto Pop (Italy, 2025), The Green Bird (Edinburgh, 2023), Le Songe d’une Nuit d’Été (Italy–France, 2023), and La Folie d’Isabella (Avignon, 2022). She has also performed at the National Theatre of Italy, Tate Britain and Nations Theatre of Romania. Francesca is the Artistic Director of Psychonaut Theatre. Catch her this October and November at Riverside Studios in Anna Cappelli, a one-woman show.
