Wild Play Lab: Unlock, Release, Relax

"One of the best things I’ve done this year. It’s a wonderful reminder to tap into the essence of your inner child and just LET GO" - F.

Unearth the uniqueness of YOU, the strange and wonderful puzzle that makes up who you are. Wild Play Lab invites you to stir the playful pot, find your edges and fully embrace your whole weird and wonderful self.

Using play as a tool for personal transformation, we'll explore techniques that can unlock creative blocks, release stored tension and create more space for our intuitive self to emerge.

This workshop uses clowning, creative meditation and improvisation to bring awareness to our unconscious behavioural patterns, and begin to consciously dismantle our limiting habits in a fun, accessible and safe environment. This is a deep and powerful practice of getting ‘out of our heads’, trusting the wisdom of our body to reveal to us the secrets hiding beneath the cracks of our bones waiting to be heard. Through creativity, voice and movement we learn how to truly listen & connect; both to ourselves and each other. A crisp awareness arises and we discover our unique rhythm that is distinct to us alone.

Taking inspiration from children and animals, we regress to the primal self. The one that crawls, climbs, and is innately curious about the world. The primal self is in tune with what is all around and within them, and it is our journey to rediscover those lost and forgotten parts and welcome them back home. Let’s dive deep into the marrow of our being and share our story. 

This workshop includes elements of the following:

• Improvisation
• Contact Improv
• Clowning
• Creative Writing & Storytelling
• Movement & Meditation
• Vocal Play

After the workshop come join for lunch after playing! 

Keywords: Curiosity, fluidity , fun, freedom, flow, play, silliness, embodiment, clownish, connection, embodied, freeing, liberated, discovery, unknown

About Your Facilitator: Dani Tonks

Dani is an accredited trauma informed Somatic Coach, trained actor, self taught dancer, pleasure activist and workshop facilitator. With over 12 years of practical experience within performance art, somatic and embodiment work she has developed a playful and sensitive approach, combining a range of disciplines including acting, contemporary dance, somatics, Alexander Technique, ritual, meditation and clowning.

Dani is the founder of Wild Play Lab, curating workshops, retreats and facilitating the unfolding of play as a tool for self transformation and wellbeing.

Wild Play Lab has formed collaborations across the UK with Mind Over Monkey, Soma Lab,The Psychedelic Society, Medicine Festival, Love Jam, The Collective, House of Togetherness, Noisily Festival, Antidote, Space 238, Poetry Cafe, Shine Charity, Beat Charity and Bootstrap Charity.

Dani has worked as an international performer, director and workshop facilitator for over 12 years. She has worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and TV, and has toured internationally with self devised shows.

Organisations she has worked with include:

The BBC, The British Youth Filming Academy, Contact Youth Actors Company at Contact Theatre (Manchester), The Royal Exchange Youth Company (Manchester), CYAC (Contact Young Actors Company) and Blue Eyed Soul Dance Company.

Dani is currently signed with acting agent ‘The Narrow Road Company.’

Education & Training:

The Somatic School -  (ICF Accredited Somatic Coach)

Trauma Informed Facilitation with Bryony Beynon

East 15 Acting School (BA Acting; Somatic & embodiment work, animal studies, archetypal work and Jungian Psychology, contemporary dance, clown, Meisner technique) 

Alexander Technique with Trish Baillie 1 yr (Manchester School Of Theatre)

Bootstrap Charity 6 month mentoring programme

Tough Cookie Mental Resilience Training 

The British Youth Filming Academy (2 Years; movement/embodiment & voice training and acting for screen)

Embodied Activism by Rae Johnson 

Jon Davis Clowning School

Teatr Pieśń Kozła / Song of the Goat Theatre (Poland, voice and prose,biomechanics, classical acting training)

15 years of professional training, teaching & performance within embodiment, movement & somatics

Testimonials:

"Absolutely incredible, life changing session. Dani is an amazing facilitator who really helps you to embrace your inner child, be silly and play. She transports you to another world and I will be implementing the things she taught us into my everyday life." Maggie.

“What a blessing to have discovered Dani’s work! I have done one wild play workshop before joining the 6 weeks course because I was totally immersed in the first experience. I signed up out of curiosity, not knowing what to expect, and now I am amazed by the after-glow effect it left on my life. I feel much safer in my body because it’s so much easier now to just be silly and intrigued by whatever arises. Everyone on the course holds space for you—you will find respect, appreciation, love, honesty, vulnerability with different beautiful beings. Whether you consider yourself a wallflower or a wild animal, this is an open environment for everyone! You show up as who you are and be reminded that there is your facilitator’s guidance but also your body’s, so just do whatever you feel. This course was my weekly joy-dose. Thank you, Dani. Much love. ” - Maram.

“It felt like a really natural way of being, of playing, allowing the child self that always sits inside the freedom to unfold without judgment. Dani's sensitivity to the whole, and the way she guided us and nudged us softly in different directions felt really natural and balanced." - Asher Sai B’Hahn

"Dani's facilitation was magical. I felt like I was softly guided into the world of play without even realising that she was taking me there, and then she held me there so gently and unobtrusively that a whole world could develop around me that was beautifully expansive, but also completely safe!" - Maddy Li

EVENT DETAILS

TICKET PRICES: £18-£28

DOORS OPEN: 11:25

NO ENTRY AFTER: 11:30

To avoid disruption to the event, latecomers may not be admitted.

ENQUIRIES: wildplaylab@gmail.com

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

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