theatre masks

the inspiration of movement theatre through theatre masks

'Stang keeps focus throughout as performer and director, her dutifully restrained physicality signalling the nuances of Iris’s moods and changes.'

Nick Awde,

theatre masks and movement

Freya is a mask maker, mask player and leads others into and through this work through theatre mask workshops and directing mask theatre. In 2021 she was a finalist at the London's International OFFIE awards as director and actor in the solo mask theatre piece: THE ESCAPE OF IRIS DUPONT.

Masks project the emotional body in the space and bring focus to the voice - creating the character and play. Theatre masks are an invaluable tool for actors in movement theatre and can be used to express a wide variety of emotions with the body. The movement of a theatre mask is an expression of the archetypal movements that belong to the movement of the universe. By feeling, knowing, and recognising these movements, we can express them through theatre. The essence of human gesture, combined with the use of masks, can help to capture the emotion and energy of a scene. What is it that makes us move? What is it that moves us forward, backward, or sideways? What moves us emotionally?

By using theatre masks and movement, powerful feelings can be captured by the actors and help to bring the story to life.

Theatrical Expressive masks give more of a direction for character work. If the Expressive mask and mask play are both strong, sometimes the mask will appear to be moving through expressions.
Half masks have been used in theatre since the 16th century. The Commedia del Arte is an Italian theatre tradition that employs theatrical half-masks for comedic purposes. In a mask performance, the actor can explore the mask's range of emotion and movement, creating a unique connection between the mask and the actor. Playing the theatrical half mask requires a mastery of breath-to-body positioning, movement, voice and rhythm. A fascination with the half-mask play lies where the player's face meets with the mask’s, and the mask's voice comes from their shared lips. During a half-mask workshop, we can improvise using the articulation of movement, breath, and voice to feel, create and inhabit characters and explore the character’s needs and passions.