Formerly known as ‘Site Responsive Fooling,’ this is an advanced Fools training for people who have completed Holly’s 5-day Fooling workshop.
What happens when we meet the world through the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and body of the Fool?
What masks are waiting to be discovered?
What stories are waiting to be told?
What’s going to happen in this 5-day workshop?
We’ll get to know each other through play and discussion, creating bonds of trust and safety to hold us as we dive deeper into the Fools work together.
We’ll revisit the basics of Fooling, inviting our bodies, voices, hearts and imaginations to gently unfurl.
We’ll explore through our senses, both indoors and outdoors, meeting the world in fresh new ways.
We’ll take what we find into our bodies, finding masks inspired by objects, architecture, plants and animals.
We’ll explore the building blocks of storytelling, and play with telling both fictional and autobiographical stories, inspired by the site.
We’ll explore non-verbal Fooling, allowing the body to connect with the site and express without words.
This is a workshop for 10 Fools.
Holly will have an assistant.
There will be a mix of solo, pairs and group activities, guided meditations, check ins, physical and vocal warm ups, personal reflections, plenty of “stage” time and structured feedback.
The Nitty Gritty
Venue: Central Bristol (more details on booking)
Dates: 13-17 April 2026
Times: 10-6 each day
Cost: £650 (standard) / £550 (low income) / £450 (supported)
Who it's for: People who have already completed Holly's 5-day Fools School
Application process: There is an application process to make sure you're a good fit for the course. After the application deadline, Holly will select a balanced group based on age, gender, experience and reasons for joining the course. In our experience these courses benefit hugely from having a good mix of people in the room.
Application form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfG8ANIylgC0bLkJ_MkGinjo76BhQKjIbEGjJDicEsFiHw8PQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103730736792827996974
Application deadline: Friday 6th March
THIS WORKSHOP AIMS TO SUPPORT YOU TO:
Spend more time with the voices in your head!
Connect more deeply with the Fools community.
Continue to explore how to safely bring your authentic feelings into your performance / interactions with fellow humans.
Discover ways of gaining personal insight through creative interactions with objects, architecture, plants, animals and people.
Continue to develop your knowledge and skills in solo improvised performance.
Open to the potential of creating site-responsive / site-specific performance.
Generate raw material to use as the basis for creating devised theatre or as inspiration for another artform.
ABOUT THIS COURSE
This course was first unleashed in 2022 under the title 'Site Responsive Fooling', as the world was opening up, post-pandemic. It was designed as an opportunity for Fools to gather again, meeting each other and the world with fresh eyes and open hearts. It was the last course Holly ran before she took a year out to live at a meditation retreat centre.
Over these last four years, Holly has deepened into her meditation practice, trained as an IFS and Somatic IFS therapist and spent a lot of time doing site-responsive Fooling, in various co-created labs.
Holly is delighted to discover how all this experience will weave into her ‘Fool Meets The World’ 5-day training.
How previous participants described this course:
“Fooling from the place you're in - that includes 'the state you're in' emotionally / psychologically and where you are geographically / location-wise. Maybe it's 'Fooling From Where You're At.'”
“A collective journey into the uniqueness of who we are. Seeing and being seen, met and held, all of it so exquisitely enough. In the enoughness, an unravelling and softening into pure presence and interconnection with all Life, within which we play.”
“Somewhere between performance, play and a safe therapeutic space.”
ABOUT FOOLING
Fooling is a form of solo improvisation where the performer embodies their inner voices live on stage. Fooling has formed the foundation for most of Holly’s performing / directing work since she began her training with master Fool, Franki Anderson, over 20 years ago.
Over the years, Holly has woven in many strands of her professional training and experience, including meditation, dramatherapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), dance-movement, playful voice work, compassionate communication skills training, creative writing, clown and sacred clown, to develop her own version of the form.
Holly is artistic director of a public performance company of fools called Beyond The Ridiculous.
ABOUT YOU
This course is open to anyone who has completed Holly’s 5-day Fooling course.
More info about upcoming 5-day Fooling courses here:
https://www.hollystoppit.com/workshops/fooling-5-day-intensive
ACCESS
Holly is a trained and registered dramatherapist and delights in holding space for people with mild to moderate mental health issues. She is highly experienced in working with neurodivergent and LGBTQI+ people. Holly creates a brave space where you can bring yourself and your needs.
The venue has 3 toilets - all easily accessible from the main training space - one has a sink inside the cubicle. The venue has stairs leading between the training space and the playground, but there is an alternative entrance which is more accessible. There will be an assistant and we will find a way to support anyone who needs help with access. Please tell us your access needs on the application form so we can get prepared for you.
COVID CARE
>There are still people who are vulnerable to covid and Holly wants everyone to feel as safe as possible in the space.
>We can't guarantee a Covid-free environment, but we can do our best to minimise the risks for people with compromised immunity and/or those who are connected with immune-compromised people.
>If you have any covid-like symptoms, please take a lat-flow test and please don't come if you have tested positive.
>All exercises can work with social distancing, if that is what you need. Please make sure that physical proximity is consensual.
>You are welcome to wear a mask if that makes you feel safer. Holly will not be asking people to wear masks.
>We will be working with windows open for ventilation, so please bring extra warm layers.
>We will have an open discussion and make a group agreement on the first day to make sure everyone feels safe and comfortable enough.
CANCELLATION POLICY
> If you need to cancel your place before the course begins, full refunds can only be given up until one month before the course starts.
> Should you need to cancel your place after this date, 50% of your payment will be retained, unless your place can be suitably filled.
> For drop-outs within one week of the start of the course, your full fee will be retained.
> If Holly needs to cancel this course for any reason, you will be offered alternative dates. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled dates, then we will offer a refund.
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