Masterclass de Commedia dell’Arte avec Enrico Bonavera
Conference
28 June 2025
After the Middle Ages, in the 16th century, the commedia dell'Arte profoundly transformed professional theatre in Europe.
This theatrical style, based on masked performance, improvisation, and the virtuosity of actors in disciplines such as dance, singing, acrobatics, and mime, enjoyed immense success for nearly two centuries. During the 20th century, the myth of the commedia dell'Arte inspired numerous theatrical experiments and influenced major artists in Russia, France, and Italy—including Meyerhold, Copeau, Dullin, Strehler, Besson, and Mnouchkine. It also profoundly influenced the teaching of actor training.
This masterclass offers an immersion in the art of playing the Servants, emblematic characters and driving forces of the world of the Commedia.
Masterclass program:
- Introduction to the commedia dell'Arte: history, language, character typologies.
- Bodywork: expressive segments, levels of physical tension, study of animals as a source of movement. - Study of traditional characters: Zanni, Arlecchino, Brighella, Servetta — their postures, gaits, psychological traits, and social dynamics.
- Technical exercises related to masked acting.