Research

Over the years, Angela de Castro has developed her in-depth, serious investigation into the ‘state of clowning’, which she calls ‘The Clown’s Intelligence’. This research has been developed with four major universities:RSAMD – Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, Scotland, UK and Ernst Busch Schauspieler Hochschule, Berlin Folkwang Hochschule, Essen and Bochum Hochschule, Bochum in Germany These universities have given the opportunity, time, peers support and space for de Castro to develop a new pedagogy and improve her methodology in training for actors, introducing clowning as an integral and important part of the actor’s work. This is now continuing with research into Clown and Serious Theatre with Professor Louise Peacock at Hull University.

This is serious research into the process and effect of the state of clowning on creativity and effectiveness for people in theatre, the arts, business, education and many other walks of life. Angela de Castro’s work as a thinker and researcher into the state of clowning has led to profoundly transformative work within theatre, business and education.

The diversity of clowning is a complicated matter that offers to the performer, to the actor and to the theatre practitioner a complete new spectrum of possibilities that can’t be found in any other art form. Clowning is not a technique but a state, a state of imagination, a state of freedom. This state allows performers not to fear exposing their ridiculous side, their weaknesses, naivety, fragility and failures. Through their failures they can reveal their profoundly human nature, which moves the audience and makes the audience laugh or cry, or both at the same time.

This work has been recognised and supported by Nesta (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts), the Arts Foundation, The Arts Council England and on-going relationships with a number of academic institutions. In 2008 A de Castro has been awarded with an International Fellowship In Clown by the RSAMD – Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

Directing & Clown Consultancy

In addition to directing and producing work originally in Brazil and, for almost a quarter of a century, in Britain, de Castro works as director and clown consultant for individuals and companies in the UK, Australia and Brazil. Colleagues in the past include: The National Theatre Studio, Circus Oz (Australia), No Fit State Circus, Gifford Circus, Rock & Roll Circus, Jimmy Voo Theatre Company, Theatre Sans Frontiére, Jack Drum, Standing Waves Performance Company, CAMAD, Swamp Circus Co-op, Skin & Blisters Theatre Company, Momo Theatre, Splott Brothers and Lynn Carrol & Co.

She directed the shows of No Fit State Circus in Wales for four years, Gifford Circus,, Circus Oz and many other theatre, circus and clown’s companies.

Speaking

de Castro is a charismatic and respected speaker, appearing regularly for discussion panels in Britain (Total Theatre circus conference panellist, London International Mime Festival panellist) and Australia (Australia International Workshop Festival, Chaos and Synergy: Circus and Physical Theatre Conference).