5-day Fools School

***NEW DATES ADDED FOR MAY (25-29) AND JUNE (22-26) 2026***

What is Fooling?

Fooling is a form of solo improvisation where you get to meet and play with the cast of characters who normally live inside you. You may find yourself tapping into the freedom of your inner child. Your inner critic may have some things to say about this. Your inner guide or coach may show up to help you manage the situation and so might your inner anarchist, your inner artist or even your inner hermit…

As you embody each part, you’ll discover that some like to talk, some express themselves through dance or song and some might just want to sit quietly and be. This 5-day course equips a small group of participants with the tools to walk onto an empty stage with no script, no plan and no ideas and to find the courage to play with whatever is ready to be seen. 

Although Fooling is a solo form, this workshop is very much a group journey. Working with honesty and integrity, the group will support each other to find an audaciously authentic quality of play. 

Each day there are mindfulness meditations, check ins, physical warm ups, group games and exercises to enable participants to explore different methods of accessing and embodying their own personal cast of inner characters. There are also lots of opportunities to play solo for each other in a safe and supportive environment.

Hang on, is this theatre or therapy? 

Well, it can be either or both. It depends on what you're looking for. Holly is a trained and registered Dramatherapist (MA) with further training in Internal Family Systems (IFS Level 1 +  2, Somatic IFS Step 1 + 2) - which means she has all the skills to take people to very deep places if that's where they want to go. But it's not an expectation for this course. It's possible to splash around on the surface of your experience if that's where you need to be - but please bear in mind that other people may well be diving deep.

Having run this course for over 10 years, Holly has seen how it's possible for everyone in the group to have very different experiences to each other - the aim is not to homogenise, but to follow your own path through the week, whilst respecting that everyone else will be following theirs!

You can use the week to:

• Get to know the parts that live inside of you

• Explore blocks to creativity and connection

• Dialogue and dance with your doubts and fears

• Learn tools to safely bring your vulnerability and authentic feelings out to play

• Develop a more sensitive, connected, alive and wild performance style

• Generate raw material which can be used as the basis of creating devised theatre or to take into other art forms

• Discover a structure for creating instant performance anywhere

The Nitty Gritty 

There are two separate 5-day courses currently available to apply for, one in May and one in June 2026! 

Dates: 25-29 May 2026 Or 22-26 June 2026 

Venue: Clifton, Bristol (more details on booking) 

Times: 10-6 each day (final day finishes at 6.30) 

Cost: £650 (standard) / £600 (low income) / £550 (supported) 

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 forms: Scroll down to the bottom of this page  

Application deadline: Monday 6th April

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for adults aged 18+

It is for both performers and people who want to learn more about themselves. 

It’s for a very small group of 8 participants, so that everyone gets a good amount of supported stage-time.

Priority will be given to people who have worked with Holly before, as this week can go super deep and Holly needs to know you'll be a good fit for the work. It may be possible to get a place without having trained with Holly before. If this is you - make sure you take time over the application and Holly may invite you for a Zoom call to make sure you're a good fit.

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. She will create a brave space where you can bring yourself and your needs. 

This course is not appropriate for anyone who is currently experiencing psychosis. 

Holly welcomes people with disabilities. There are three steps to go up to access the main training space. The venue has 3 toilets - one is accessible, at the same level as the training space, with a sink inside the cubicle. The venue has stairs leading between the training space and the kitchen, which will unfortunately make it not possible for wheelchair users to access the kitchen. We will find a way to make it possible for wheelchair users to attend this course. 

Please let us know about any access requirements on the application form.

Covid / cancellation policy below

What do other people say about this course?

For a transcript of this video and a few photos, check out this blog.

Where does this work come from?

Fooling has formed the foundation for most of Holly’s performing / directing work since she began her training with Master Fool, Franki Anderson, 25 years ago. Over the years, Holly has woven in many strands of her professional training and experience, including Dramatherapy (MA), meditation, dance/movement, playful voice work, compassionate communication skills training (Nonviolent Communication, Compassionate Inquiry, Open Space, Action Learning, Clearness Committee, Insight Dialogue, Thinking Environment), creative writing, clowning and sacred clown and Internal Family Systems and Somatic Internal Family Systems, to develop her own version of the form.

To find out more about Holly's training and experience go here.

Holly is artistic director of a public performance company of fools called Beyond The Ridiculous. 

To find out a bit more about what happens during this workshop, have a look at What Actually Happens During These Fooling Workshops.

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.

“Deep, funny, touching, playful”

“Whenever people ask me how it was, the same thing happens: 'Boof' I say, while flinging my hands away from my head and body.”

“Holly, thanks for making the space so safe and inviting us to be so brave. I hide it, but I find it so difficult in groups and this showed me it doesn't always have to be! Fooling was a really special experience for me that I will cherish always!”