20 Lazzis In A Hat
Clint Bolster
Booking Details
Event details
20 LAZZIS IN A HAT
Step into the world of Commedia dell ‘Arte for a fast-paced, hilarious, and highly entertaining journey! Perfect for students eager to explore the origins and art of this iconic theatrical tradition.
What’s On Offer?
Duration: 50 min + 10 min Q&A
Suitability: Grades 7–12
Available Terms: 1–4
What’s the Show About?
Experience the improvised nature of Commedia dell’Arte with:
20 traditional Lazzi – Filled with pratfalls, acrobatics, and witty asides.
Masked Stock Characters – Hilarious and energetic performances that bring history to life.
Themes & Contexts
Political, social, and literary topics woven into comedy and satire.
What You’ll Learn:
- The Arts (Drama): Techniques in Commedia dell’Arte, improvisation, and physical comedy.
- Humanities (History): Explore Renaissance Italy through theatre.
- Languages (Italian): Understand the role of language and culture.
- English: Master language for interaction and audience engagement.
Key Skills Gained:
- Critical & Creative Thinking – Express ideas, evaluate motives, and provide feedback.
- Ethical Understanding – Build empathy, imagination, and reasoning.
- Personal & Social Capabilities – Boost confidence, resilience, and adaptability.
Performance Styles:
Commedia dell’Arte, mask, clowning, slapstick, melodrama, visual theatre, physical comedy, and more!
Workshop Focus
- A fast-paced, improvisational Commedia experience where students explore 20 classic Commedia lazzi (comic gags) drawn from a hat.
- Interactive, engaging students to step into physical comedy and spontaneous performance.
- Develops skills in improvisation, characterisation, and comedic timing.
- Explores how Commedia techniques are still relevant in modern theatre, television, and film.
What Teachers Are Saying:
“This performance is a whirlwind of energy and comedy! Students were captivated and inspired by the incredible skill and creativity on display.” Beaudesert State High School
Key learning outcomes
Years 7-8 Drama (ACARA)
- Develop skills in improvisation and spontaneous performance through Commedia conventions.
- Use dramatic elements such as tension, comedy and contrast to entertain an audience.
- Perform devised drama using various comedic techniques, including physical comedy and Lazzi.
Years 9-12 Drama (ACARA)
- Investigate the use of improvisation in Commedia dell’Arte and its applications in modern performance.
- Refine comedic timing and audience engagement through live performance.
- Analyse the impact of traditional theatre styles on contemporary performance.
General Capabilities
- Personal and Social Capability: Encouraging risk-taking and adaptability in a spontaneous performance setting.
- Critical and Creative Thinking: Developing quick thinking and comedic reflexes through interactive challenges.
ICT Capability: Potential for digital recording and analysis of student performances for reflection and development.
Additional Information
Setup & Venue Requirements
- Setup time: 60 minutes | Pack-down time: 30 minutes.
- There are no technical requirements.
- Requires an open space such as a classroom, drama room, or theatre.
Availability & Travel
- Travel is limited to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and surrounding areas.
Available only on Fridays.
Contact Clint Bolster for 20 Lazzis In A Hat
About the Artist
CLINT BOLSTER is a Clown, Physical Actor, Producer and Teaching Artist based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. With over 22 years of professional experience, Clint has dedicated his career to creating original theatrical works and training artists across multiple disciplines. His original creations —HIGH TEA with BOOFF, BOLSTER & LEE: The Knock Em Downs, The Lost Balloon, and The Bubble Canteen—alongside ensemble projects such as The Mask Family, Manoeuvre, and Homunculus Theatre, are programmed widely across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia. These works feature prominently at major arts festivals and in community, cultural, and educational settings, having reached a live global audience in the millions.
Clint has performed extensively throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan—including over 900 solo shows in Japanese at Universal Studios Japan, Osaka. He has toured over 500 primary and secondary schools across Australia. Most recently, he performed in the 2022/2023 Australian tour of Slava’s Snow Show and was accepted into the Cirque du Soleil database of Clowns.
As a dedicated Teaching Artist, Clint has delivered training and masterclasses for actor training institutions and universities worldwide, including the Queensland University of Technology (QLD), Griffith University (QLD), Drama Australia (AUS), Pontio University Wales (UK), and Shakespeare4All (Hong Kong), to name a few.
A proud Queensland member and mentor for the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Clint also serves as a Board Member for Indel-Ability Arts. His extensive touring and producing credits include collaborations with Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival, Cairns Festival, Cluster Arts Global, and Live Nation, among many others.
For a complete list of credits, visit – https://www.clintbolster.com/performance-credits
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