- Jacques Lecoq
Jacques Lecoq born (
December 15 ,1921 –January 19 ,1999 ) in Paris, was a Frenchactor , mime andacting instructor .He is most famous for his methods on
physical theatre , movement and mime that he taught at the school he founded in Paris,l'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq from 1956 until his death in 1999.Education
Lecoq arrived at his theater career through sport in particular through gymnastics, and the parallel bars. He attended a physical education college in 1941 where he met Jean Marie Conty whose interest in the link between sport and theater would eventually lead Lecoq to an interest in theater. Lecoq taught physical education for several years. He later found himself
acting and a member of the "Comediens de Grenoble". This company and his work withCommedia dell'arte inItaly (where he lived for eight years) introduced him to ideas surrounding mime,masks and the physicality ofperformance .Teaching Style
Lecoq aimed at training his actors in ways that encouraged them to investigate ways of performance that suited them best.
Acting style was aimed at a closer interaction with the audience, an extended use of general space and a focus on the physical rather than the emotional side of the character to impact on the audience by way of social or political comment.
In 1956, he returned to Paris to open his school,
L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq , where he spent most of his time until his death, filling in as international speaker andmaster class giver for theUnion of Theatres of Europe .Influence
Among his many students were:
Mummenschanz , a internationally known, Swiss theater company,Colin Gee, a New York based, non-traditional actor, director, dancer, mime, and formerCirque du Soleil Clown [http://colingee.com/] , andSteven Berkoff , writer of a well known adaption of 'Metamorphosis' byFranz Kafka .Educational Programs
* [http://www.naropa.edu/academics/graduate/lecoq Naropa University Master of Arts Lecoq Actor Based Theater]
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