Future Dreams Brainstorming
Sep 17 2018
It's that time of year again, the time when I quietly haul up and reflect on my past year and dream about my year to come. As someone who needs to be constantly learning, challenged, stretched and inspired, my career has taken many unusual twists and turns. Many of which have been intentional!
I have a regular reflection practice which I'd like to share with you below. I've refined it a bit since I last described it Read more >
Holly on radio 2!
Sep 11 2018
Yesterday, I got a call from one of Chris Evan's researchers. Earlier, during his breakfast show on radio 2, Chris had been pondering the origins of the gesture where you put your thumb to your nose and wiggle your fingers. "Well", thought the researcher, "who better to ask than a clown teacher?"
So here I am appearing as Chris Evans' mystery guest talkin... Read more >
fools explore the human condition
Aug 21 2018
This is the only picture I have of the last two weeks at Fools School. Strawberries and Borage, from the final banquet of the second of two week-long fooling courses I've just run back to back in Bristol. One of the fools pointed out that strawberries are the only fruit to carry their seeds on the outside. Another fool told us that borage traditionally represents courage. I think this beautifully describes what's been happening at fools school for the... Read more >
10 Top Tips For Creative Process
Jul 20 2018
Today is my last day of writing retreat. For the last two weeks, I've put myself in beautiful places to work on my book. For the first week, I rented an apartment on my own in the lovely seaside town of Ilfracombe in Devon and for the second week, I shared a cottage in rural Crean in Cornwall with an actual real writer and a musician.
Writing retreat was a blissful, nightmarish, straightforward, impossible, inevitable, wonderful rollercoaster and... Read more >
The Fine Line between Comedy and Trauma
Jul 10 2018
Have you seen Hannah Gadsby's 'Nanette' on Netflix yet? If you haven't, what are you waiting for? Cancel your plans and set up your telly-box right now! If you haven't got Netflix, get it or hassle a friend who has. I know, it's hot and you've got things to do, but this is one of the bravest, most powerful comedy shows you'll see. Take it from me, I've seen a few!
At the top of her hour-long... Read more >
The Inner Teacher
Jun 18 2018
Last week, feeling the desire to experience a bit of what I teach, I attended a week-long residential clowning and clearing retreat, entitled “The Inner Teacher.” Two incredibly experienced facilitators wove their practices together to offer a phenominal group journey which posed the question; “How do I bring the playfulness and lightness of the clown into my own life and work as a leader, teacher, human being?”
Read more >
8th June Summer School Deadline
Jun 07 2018
Idiot on a mountain, doing it her way, says:
"Holly Stoppit's August Summer School deadline is Midnight 8th June 2018."
Info and application forms here.
Look forwards to playing with you.
xxx
Drone Pilot / Video Editor: Joe Rosser
Idiot: Holly Stoppit
Location: Brecon Beacon
Read more >
Writer's Block
Apr 25 2018
Inner Academic: When am I going to get time to write? When am I going to get time to write? When am I going to get time to write?
Inner Facilitator: How about now? Here's a whole, clear week I've put aside for you in the diary.
Inner Academic: Ah, but I'm really tired right now.
Inner Facilitator: OK, I see that, why don't you have a little rest and come back to i... Read more >
Empathy as a conduit to Connection
Mar 23 2018
This week, in preparation for next Tuesday's final Mindful Play Session, I've been reconnecting with my Work In Progress research from last year. My third and final show explored the theme of 'connection' which is also the theme for next week's Mindful Play.
The theme that keeps coming up is... Read more >
The Big Cosmic Jester In The Sky (ha ha ha ha)
Feb 27 2018
In thinking about the week leading up to the flow themed Mindful Play Session, I had visions of sitting at my laptop, at a lovely, clear desk, listening to classical music, wearing long dresses, with my hair down, tapping away in joyful flow, my book flying from my fingertips with ease and grace.
“Ha,” said the Big Cosmic Jester In The Sky, “I have other plans!”
Big Cosm... Read more >
