Performance/Business
About
Enjoy a serious dose
of comedy with Maggie Irving, teacher,
performance coach, comedian and speaker
Find humour in the everyday - and learn from it.
Laughter & Learning with Dr Maggie Irving – draws upon Maggie’s skills, passion and expertise to provide a unique learning experience.
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Performance
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| Photo credit: Funny Women & Maggie Irving |
Maggie
recently created an online clown performance for Funny Women and International
Women’s Day 2021, with Myth busting seductive clown character, Sedusa Medusa.
Women were invited
internationally to participate in some sassy & savvy clowning to re-vision
this art form for broader political using #FWATW and #IWD2021 as
part of the celebration of women.
Dr of clowning Maggie Irving chatted to Phonicfm about her work, inspirations and shared some interactive clowning across the airwaves.
Community Theatre Supported by@TNLComFund @DevonCC ElmgrantTrust @ExeterIAIS @HeritageFundUK @CMS
To Womb it May Concern Workshop and performance at Exeter Phonenix, in support of
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2020
Dr Maggie Irving delivers paper to TaPRA Popular Performance Working Group, Exeter University, 2019
Exmouth Festival 2019: Maggie Irving, compere, comedy workshop leader and ambulatory performance of Sedusa. (no picture available)
Maggie
performed in Burn the Curtain ambulatory performance at Powderham Castle
(2019). Here she is with 'Timothy the Tortoise'.
Port Eliot Festival Children’s Comedy Workshops and Performance 2018 & 2019 as well as Stratford Literature Festival 2018 and Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival (10th anniversary) 2018 - comedy writing workshop with Dr Maggie Irving.
Exmouth U3A talk on Baroness Elsa a Female Clowning - Feb 2018
Nelken Line
Community Dance Christmas 2018 line pic on Exmouth seafront.
Exmouth Market and Arts Launch 2016:
Maggie collaborated with Dagmar Schwitzgebel and Carole C. to create La La Lunas. The trio performed at The Bike Shed Theatre in January as part of the Festival From Devon with Love. January 2015
Their devised performance of A Craic in the Rock revised three myths - Baubo, Sisyphus and Medusa and played to a packed theatre. Craic in a Rock builds on the performance A Date with Sedusa by Maggie Irving, performed in Plymouth in 2012. The show looks at the mischievous and transformative power of laughter and clowning told through the re-vamped myths of Medusa, Baubo and Sisyphus.
The film Sedusa Medusa asks the audience to connect with strangers using playful and harmless seduction techniques. Sedusa, a snaky haired gorgon comes from a crack in a cave. Petrifaction alert! Seduction and stones come to life through Sedusa’s craic with the audience and her desire to be remembered as a face for transformation. Baubo, the crone trickster emerges as an embodiment of pleasure (performed by Rose Whine (Carol Crawford)). Bawdy Baubo is savvy, sassy and jolly naughty.
Meanwhile Miss Sisyphus (Dagmar Schwitzgebel) rocks up.
Craic in a Rock is a blend of film, audience interaction, character play, dance, clowning and gifting. Lives are not set in stone; whilst stone is dead, it is alive with durability. A gifted stone reminds the audience to re-vision myth and to remember that Medusa and Baubo’s laughter rocks.
Tate Modern Futurism Exhibition 2009 and Shortness Symposium Dinner Talk with Nicholas Parson, 2009
Maggie Irving's performance activities have taken her to a range of locations including, The Tate Modern,
Bringing Baroness Elsa back to life has been of major interest forMaggie. She believes that Baroness Elsa was a brave and fearless woman who matched her contemporaries in terms of radical practice, yet unlike Marcel Duchamp who gained celebrity status, she died alone and penniless.
Clown Baroness Elsa appeared at The Futurism Exhibition, 2009, The Tate Modern, London, and engaged with a random act of anarchy at Manchester Art Gallery as part of ‘The Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism’ exhibition.Walking performances of Clown Baroness Elsa, on The Royal Mile at The Edinburgh Festival generated improvised interactions with members of the public, including photographer Michael James, who was also dressed in costume. He said ‘Having got perhaps a little too used to people asking me where my “show” was on due to my appearance, I was already starting to answer that was the show of course….So it was a welcome bucket of cold water in the face to meet the real deal’ Photo
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| Photo: Michael James |
Maggie performed at ‘Curating Knowledge’, The OpenSpace, Axis Arts Centre, Crewe Campus, where she introduced students and members of the public to moon howling (a monthly event when people are encouraged to go outside, preferably in pairs, and howl at the full moon).CLOWN SEDUSA MEDUSA
A film of Sedusa Medusa, made in collaboration with filmmaker Siobhan McKeown, appeared on The BBC’s ‘Big Screen’ in Moxie Maggie continues to clown and develop clown performances for public spaces, theatres, meetings, festivals and events.
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FUNNY BUSINESS
Emotional intelligence in the workplace is increasingly recognised as a key factor of wellbeing and productivity. My innovative workshops use the principles of Improvisation, Clowning and Mindfulness to make a tangible difference to Team Leaders and Team Members.
For individuals and organisations searching for something that is different, clowning lessons can open doors for growth and change. All that is required is a willingness to say “yes”.
Clowning techniques help dispel the common fear of appearing foolish. Fear is often the biggest block to public speaking and can stifle creativity, innovation and growth. Clowning encourages us to be curious, to stay focused and step into unknown territory - to expect the unexpected. It boosts confidence and ownership of decision making.
Improvisation is not only fun but hones skills in action, reaction and honesty; charisma, presence and emotional resilience – all valuable personal assets in the business environment. Improvisation gives us space to be the best we can; it helps us focus our attention on others. Truly listening and responding to one another bolsters our problem solving faculties.
Mindfulness is a practical tool for reducing anxiety and stress levels. Clowning and improvisation teach us to listen and react to what is happening in the moment. Laughter might arise through a humorous response to improvised situations and is often a result of play. The true intention of playing is to communicate and create bonds with other people.
Humour has an impact upon our health. It can help reduce anxiety and stress levels and equip us to deal with anger, sadness, and fear. The workshops focus on using laughter to build emotional resilience.
The workshops are designed to:
Build confidence, creativity and autonomy.
We begin by creating a trusting, supportive, collaborative and non-judgemental environment. Our goal is to break down negative mindsets, tap into our hidden talents and foster openness and communication.
The Business Benefits
We need to laugh – and research suggests that people who have fun get more done. Stress-related absenteeism accounted for 12.5 million lost working days in 2016/17.
People are more likely to form both personal and business connections with a person who can make us smile. Thus, play and humour are potent forces for creative thinking and productivity.
Provide space to relax and re-energize
Create trust, morale and collaboration in teams
Enhance listening and empathetic skills
Develop speaking and presentation skills
Increase dynamism, innovation and decision making
Reduce stress and tension
THE FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING: CONFIDENCE THROUGH COMEDY
Tap into your unique experiences and viewpoints to create comic material, written well and spoken with confidence.
We will work together to explore how we can find inspiration and humour in the everyday. We will see how using common experiences – with your own unique spin - enables you to connect to any audience.
We will also develop your public speaking skills, ensuring that you deliver your material with verve, confidence and style.
These daytime workshops are delivered in a supportive peer group environment. The option of 1:1 tuition is also available.
BUSINESS & EVENT SPEAKING
Book Dr Maggie Irving for an event to remember.
Actor, Comedian, Performance Artist, Clown, Teacher, Director.
Her performances have taken her to a range of locations including the Tate Modern, The Manchester Art Gallery and the Edinburgh Festival, business lunches and gatherings.
Maggie’s mission is to help individuals and businesses inject humour and laughter into their everyday lives.
A skilled and creative communicator, Maggie will work with you to write and perform the messages you want to deliver in a uniquely entertaining and engaging manner.
TALK TO EXMOUTH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - 15TH MAY 2018
