Theater Clown Training Course – Openclown 2026-2027

From 04 october 2026 to 16 june 2027

Treat yourself to a true immersion in the world of theatrical clowning with the Clown Training Workshop offered by Openclown in Beaumont-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe). Designed as a continuous laboratory for research, practice, and experimentation, this regular event allows participants to develop their creativity, stage presence, and freedom of expression in a supportive, stimulating, and safe environment.

Unlike a one-off workshop, this training is designed as a space for ongoing practice, where everyone can return regularly to deepen their work, consolidate their skills, and develop their clown character. Each session is independent yet part of an overall progression, allowing both beginners and experienced artists to enrich their practice throughout the year.

The workshop is based on the fundamentals of contemporary theatrical clowning: being present in the moment, listening to oneself and others, authenticity, audience engagement, physical commitment, the joy of performance, improvisation, and the pursuit of emotional sincerity. The exercises alternate between warm-ups, group games, individual and group improvisations, physical work, rhythm exploration, developing stage presence, and role-playing scenarios, allowing each participant to discover and enrich their own clowning language.

Each day is designed as a true artistic laboratory where participants can experiment without judgment, take risks, develop their imagination, and explore different facets of their personality through clowning. The emphasis is on individual progress, self-confidence, active listening, and the joy of play, all within a spirit of sharing and respect for each person's pace.

The workshop is led by Nicolas Béatrix, an artist and educator with a particularly rich background. Trained for four years at the Théâtre École du Samovar in Bagnolet, a leading institution for contemporary clowning in France, he also completed training at the Institut National des Arts du Music-Hall in Le Mans as part of a professional training contract with a traveling circus.

Throughout his career, Nicolas Béatrix has enriched his practice with many major figures in live performance. He trained in mime with Catherine Dubois, Yves Marc, Ivan Bacciocchi and Héléna Serra, in burlesque with Ami Hattab, in dance with Brigitte Asselineau, Yumi Fujitani and Maria-Clara Villa Lobo, in the physical performance of clowning with Julien Delime and Pierre-Yves Massip, in circus arts with Pascal Rousseau, as well as in musical work with Christian Têtard and Max Vandervorst.

His career also includes numerous training courses and artistic encounters with Michel Courtemanche, Michel Dallaire, Catherine Germain, Jos Houben, Tom Roos, Hélène Gustin, Charlie Degotte, Michael Égard, Pierre Pilatte, Angel Ramos Sanchez, Michel Cerda, Julien Cottereau, Jean-Michel Guy, Gilles Defacque, André Riot-Sarcey, Antoine Olivier, Alan Fairbairn, Franck Dinet, Cédric Paga, Gabriel Chamé, Alexandre Pavlata and Pavel Mansurov, all experiences which today nourish a particularly open and eclectic pedagogy.

His career has also led him to participate in international workshops in Slovenia with the Samovar Theatre, in Belgium with the European Federation of Circus Schools (FEDEC) and Espace Catastrophe during the UP Festival, as well as in Canada with Cirque du Soleil, focusing on issues of creation, casting and performance.

Stage artist Nicolas Béatrix is also the creator of numerous acts and shows such as Le Voyageur, Tango et Clash, Guitare Rouleau, Le Peintre, Les Los Pomelos Troupe, Les Tracas de Caracas, Thermostat 7 or Un Extraordinaire Fait Divers, currently on tour.

Alongside his artistic work, he has been involved for many years with professional clown schools, drama schools, circus schools, conservatories, colleges, community centers, healthcare facilities, and numerous cultural organizations. He also pursues ongoing training in pedagogy, safety, adapted sports, disability, creativity, mental preparation, laughter yoga, and artistic mediation, ensuring rigorous, compassionate, and constantly evolving guidance.

Training sessions take place in the Openclown tent, located at 285 rue du Léard – Le Champ du Cormier in Beaumont-sur-Sarthe. The site has parking, a covered dining area equipped with a kettle, refrigerator, and microwave. The tent is heated during the winter and cooled during the summer heat, providing comfortable working conditions year-round. Shops are about a ten-minute walk away.

Each day runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, totaling 6 hours of practice, with a deliberately limited number of participants to 12 to ensure personalized guidance and ample playing time for everyone. The price is €94 per day, including the FFEC license. A €20 annual membership to Openclown is required to participate.

Whether you wish to discover theatrical clowning, re-establish a regular practice, enrich your artistic journey, or simply explore new forms of expression, Openclown's Theatre Clown Training Workshop offers an excellent opportunity to progress in a friendly yet challenging environment. Through teaching grounded in experience, artistic research, and knowledge sharing, these workshops provide a unique space where play, listening, improvisation, and creativity become the driving forces behind a particularly enriching human and artistic adventure.

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