Bouffons
Bouffon (English originally from French: "farceur", "comique", “Donovan”,"jester") is a modern French theater term that was re-coined in the early 1960s by Jacques Lecoq at his L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris to describe a specific style of performance work that has a main focus in the art of mockery.[1] The word gave rise to the English word buffoon.
Etymology and early historyThe word bouffon comes from a Latin verb: buffare, to puff (i.e., to fill the cheeks with air); the word "Buffo" was used in the Roman theatre by those who appeared on the stage with their cheeks blown up; when they received blows that they would make a great noise causing the audience to laugh.[2] The usage of the word bouffon comes from French and has entered English theatrical language through the work of Jacques Lecoq and his pedagogic inquiry into performance approaches of comedy, leading him to create dynamic classroom exercises that explored elements of burlesque, commedia dell'arte, farce, gallows humor, parody, satire, slapstick, etc. that collectively influenced the development of modern bouffon performance work.
This section uses Creative Commons Licensed excerpt(s) from Wikipedia.
Etymology and early historyThe word bouffon comes from a Latin verb: buffare, to puff (i.e., to fill the cheeks with air); the word "Buffo" was used in the Roman theatre by those who appeared on the stage with their cheeks blown up; when they received blows that they would make a great noise causing the audience to laugh.[2] The usage of the word bouffon comes from French and has entered English theatrical language through the work of Jacques Lecoq and his pedagogic inquiry into performance approaches of comedy, leading him to create dynamic classroom exercises that explored elements of burlesque, commedia dell'arte, farce, gallows humor, parody, satire, slapstick, etc. that collectively influenced the development of modern bouffon performance work.
This section uses Creative Commons Licensed excerpt(s) from Wikipedia.
RESOURCES:
BOOKS:
Lecoq, J.(2002) The Moving Body: Teaching Creative Theatre, Routledge, London
Lecoq,J.(2006) Theatre of Movement and Gesture, Routledge, London
Murray, S.(2003) Jacques Lecoq, Routledge, London
Murray,S.( 2015) Physical Theatres: A Critical Introduction, Routledge, London
Wright, J. (2002)‘ The Masks of Jacques Lecoq’ , in Franc Chamberlain and Ralph Yarrow (Eds) Jacques Lecoq and the British Theatre, Routledge, London and New York:, 71–84.
Wright, J. (2007) Why is that so Funny: A Practical Exploration of Physical Comedy, Limelight Editions, NY
Websites
Lecoq - This website's Lecoq page
Gaulier_ This website's Gaulier page
BOOKS:
Lecoq, J.(2002) The Moving Body: Teaching Creative Theatre, Routledge, London
Lecoq,J.(2006) Theatre of Movement and Gesture, Routledge, London
Murray, S.(2003) Jacques Lecoq, Routledge, London
Murray,S.( 2015) Physical Theatres: A Critical Introduction, Routledge, London
Wright, J. (2002)‘ The Masks of Jacques Lecoq’ , in Franc Chamberlain and Ralph Yarrow (Eds) Jacques Lecoq and the British Theatre, Routledge, London and New York:, 71–84.
Wright, J. (2007) Why is that so Funny: A Practical Exploration of Physical Comedy, Limelight Editions, NY
Websites
Lecoq - This website's Lecoq page
Gaulier_ This website's Gaulier page