Creating a Healthy Ensemble in the Classroom (Tony Kishawi)
In this 10-minute talk, Tony Kishawi explores how his understanding of Commedia dell’Arte evolved by studying the work of the great “gurus” who revived the art form in the 20th century: Jacques Lecoq, Antonio Fava, Carlo Mazzone-Clementi, Carlo Boso, and the extraordinary mask-maker Donato Sartori.
Tony traces how Commedia was originally created—not by directors—but by ensembles of actors who travelled and performed together, generating their own material, improvising with audiences, refining lazzi, and passing them on through performance rather than documentation.
He explains how the modern revival of Commedia began in the 1950s when Lecoq rediscovered the Sartori workshop and commissioned a new series of handmade leather masks. From there, the revivalists carried the work around the world, teaching at international acting schools and creating a global network of newly trained Commedia performers.
But as Tony explains, each generation taught only what they remembered. This results in a distilled, sometimes thinned-out version of Commedia spreading internationally. And yet—Tony stresses—there is no single correct or incorrect method. Because Commedia is a living art form, every performer and every teacher reshapes it.
The real question becomes: What should teachers pass on in a high-school classroom today?
Tony identifies the core essentials:
Stock characters and physical archetypes
Mask work and techniques based on balance
Walks, stances, and physical vocabulary
Improvisation and audience repartee
Origins, context, and Commedia history
But he argues that teaching Commedia as a single unit is insufficient. Instead, it should be woven into ongoing actor training: stretching, physical exercises, viewpoints, Laban, balance, complicité, and ensemble-building practices.
Tony proposes a simple but powerful shift:
Create a ritual of behaviour when students enter the drama room. This includes preparing the space, forming a stretching circle, inviting students to lead exercises, and encouraging peer accountability. Late students apologise to the ensemble, not the teacher—shifting responsibility from authority to teamwork.
Throughout the video, Tony invites teachers to reflect on their own classrooms and consider whether this approach could strengthen ensemble culture. He also hints at an upcoming online course designed to support drama teachers in implementing these practices over an entire school year.
RESOURCES
📖 Tony Kishawi’s Book
Teaching Commedia dell’Arte in Schools
➡️ https://commediaunmasked.com/shop/
🎭 Professional Commedia Masks (Australian-Made)
Durable, classroom-ready masks by Steve Novac
➡️ https://commediaunmasked.com/shop/
🌐 Website
📧 Contact Tony Kishawi
Workshops, school incursions & PD for teachers:
