Posted by
Clown Workshop Fall Series 2025
Wednesday Evenings 6-9
- Session 1 Sept 10-Oct 15 (6 classes)
- Session 2 Nov 5-Dec 10 (6 classes)
We’ll explore presence, play, vulnerability, and the joyful chaos of not knowing. This series is open to both newcomers and seasoned performers — everyone meets the training where they are. Classes are typically a great mix of experience levels, which keeps the work fresh and surprising.
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
189 Yonge Street, Toronto
(Yonge and Queen)
$400 +hst for one session
$700 +hst for both sessions
20% discount for students, returning participants, union members.
To register pre-payment is required to secure your spot as space will be limited to 16 participants. Please send an email transfer to this address:
You can take either session on its own, or both for a great weekly fall practice.
Final gathering
Once again, we will be bringing students together from both sessions for the final class of session 2 (Dec 10). Both groups unite to play and show and have the benefit of a larger audience. There will be snacks and drinks after!
Cancelation Policy
Full refunds for cancellations one week prior to workshop. For cancellations after that point the workshop fee will be put toward any future workshop.
“With this work people have to find a way of being beautiful and surprising…and by beautiful I mean being in the grip of pleasure or freedom.” -Philippe Gaulier
John Beale is an actor and theatre professor based in Toronto Ontario. He is the master teacher of Clown and Bouffon for the Humber Theatre Arts Performance Program. He is a professor of acting, mask, clown, improv and scene study at Seneca College and Randolph College, Character Study at George Brown’s School of Media and Performing Arts, acting and scene study at the Toronto Film School and embodied presence at the Birmingham Conservatory, Stratford Festival. He has been teaching publicly offered performance workshops in Presence and Clown for 20 years. John is a graduate of the Philippe Gaulier International Theater School in Paris, France.
TESTIMONIALS
“Dear John, When you did study in my school in Paris I did recognize you as a great actor. When I saw your show I recognized a great writer, poet and actor. But I knew it already. Thanks for your show, your friend, Philippe Gaulier”
“Mr Beale is a highly regarded acting teacher known for guiding actors to be more present, open, grounded and resilient.”
Anna Mackay-Smith
Head of Acting
George Brown Media Studies
Past Participants:
“Your workshop knocked a lot of stuff loose for me in a good way. Very grateful.”
“John’s workshop and his delivery were brilliant. Being able to play spontaneously allowed me to be at my best creatively. It gave me the opportunity to be “present”, feel, let my ego go and unearth some amazing ideas.”
“John Beale is a skilled and engaging facilitator. His workshop gave me new confidence in myself. I was brought back to life and discovered a more creative me. I laughed often and harder than I have in a long time. It was a very rewarding experience.”
“Seemed as if whatever plug had fallen out inside my soul was reconnected.”
“Thanks for guiding me through one of the most terrifying and exhilarating moments in my adult life. I very much appreciated your guidance during the last two days, and have certainly found some new perspectives that I would want to pursue further.”
“What a stupendous weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed the work, managing to stay pretty loose (vulnerable) as we leapt from one challenging task to another. I do feel I made some real headway in discovering “who I am” i.e. my essence. I surprised myself! Again, thank you for a most exhilarating experience.
COST
$400 +hst $52 =$452 CAN
$700 +hst $91=$791 CAN
20% discount for students, returning participants, union members.
400-20%=320 + hst(41.60)=$361.60
700-20%=560 + hst(72,80)=$632.80