(Workshop) Creative Play with Gordon Neill at The Auguste Roost

ABOUT CREATIVE PLAY

At the heart of clowning is play! A state of openness, curiosity, and discovery that allows everything else to unfold. In this workshop, Gordon Neill guides participants through games and exercises that unlock creativity, spontaneity, and joy. Whether you’re new to clown or deepening your practice, you’ll explore the essential foundations of the art form: finding freedom, connection, and laughter through play.

ABOUT GORD

In 2013 Gordon Neill was a NOBODY. Just a run-of-the-mill bond trader trying to get into the fast-paced world of pension portfolio management. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his personality was bad. Real bad. He learned this DURING AN INTERVIEW when he was told "We really like you, but your personality..." Anyone with a good personality would have NOT TAKEN THAT JOB, but not our man Gordon, he took it and ran with it. Until his first performance review where he was offered a choice: fix your personality or GET OUT OF DODGE. Unwavering in his own self worth in the face of the ultimate ultimatum, he decided to take an improv class which IMMEDIATELY FIXED HIS PERSONALITY.

With a new verve and informed confidence Gordon SOLVED IMPROV and took a walk down the road least travelled, CLOWN. Not only did he start learning the art, but he founded Sweet Action Theatre Company. Most people stop at the name "Theatre Company", but Gordon didn't know you could do that. So he BUILT A FULL ON CLOWN THEATRE replete with lights, cameras and SWEET CLOWN ACTION. The community flourished and there was much rejoicing. And the kicker: he built this theatre 14 months before a once-in-a-several-lifetime global pandemic. That's CLOWN BB!

The theatre survived. The theatre thrived. Out of the theatre has come several AWARD:Award WINNING:Winning shows, including, but not limited to, 1-MAN NO-SHOW, POEMS FOR GOD and WINNING:Winning. Gordon's 2024 Artists' Pick at the Edmonton Fringe award currently sits alongside his OSCAR, a framed 6"x9" of his 4-YES performance on Canada's Got Talent and his Managing Director of Funding and Liquidity business card atop his heavy mantle.