Mask Tools | English Cie. Theatre Transformations

Tools

These tools were created as part of our Erasmus+ Small Scale Partnership: "Art of the Mask, Tool from Our Past" project.

Pedagogical Guide 1:
A guide for visitors to Lišov Múzeum

The main purpose of this guide is to serve as a "Focus On" document that enhances the museum visitor experience. It is designed to provide a deeper context and understanding of the specific strengths of the Lišov Múzeum's collection of more than 400 masks, going beyond simple artifact labels to offer personal and interpretative narratives.

The guide revolves around an introduction by Jakub Dvorsky, which frames the museum's collection. This is followed by a series of personal stories written by project participants, each focusing on a mask they chose after collaborative workshops held at the museum in November 2024. These sections capture the intimate and artistic spirit of the project; for example, Helene describes the Songye mask as a being "between the sun and the moon," while Tracey connects Papua New Guinea's woven mask to her professional expertise as a "knitting specialist" by detailing history, The shape and personal resonance of these and other masks, such as Eastern European fabric masks, the guide functions as a tangible result of intercultural exchange at the heart of the project.

Guide in Slovak

Guide in French

Guide in English

Educational Guide 2:
Documentation for the mask kit

This guide serves as a comprehensive educational tool designed to accompany a physical mask kit. Its role is to enable users not only to explore the rich history and cultural significance of various masks but also to learn hands-on crafting and performance techniques. It acts as a bridge between theory and practice, empowering users to engage with the art form creatively.

The guide's key sections are summarised below:

Introduction

Positions the Mask Kit as a key educational outcome of the Erasmus+ project 'Art of the Mask: A Tool from our Past,' born from international residencies in Slovakia and France.

What is the Mask? / History of the Mask

Defines the mask's multifaceted functions (protection, resource, mirror, liberation) and offers a concise history of its use in global civilisations, from African rituals to Greek theatre.

About Carnival

Explains the cultural origins of carnival, highlighting its etymology from the Latin carne (meat) and vale (farewell), and its role as a period of celebration and symbolic social inversion before Lent.

Our Masks

Details the full range of traditional and contemporary masks included in the kit: the traditional Kallikantzaros, Kukeri, and Mamuthones; two traditional fabric character masks; three contemporary "baby" masks; and three contemporary Commedia-inspired masks.

Mask-Making Techniques

Provides practical, step-by-step instructions for creating masks using three distinct methods: fabric, papier-mâché, and dried gourds, including guidance on materials and tools.

Mask Exploration Techniques

Presents a pedagogical framework for performance, outlining a methodical progression from a Warm-up (body, voice, intellect) to Meeting the mask and culminating in Free and Structured Improvisation exercises.

Documentation in Slovak

Documentation in French

Documentation in English