THE NEUTRAL MASK: a workshop with Emmanuelle Delpech in NYC

The Neutral Mask, the mask of calm and balance, is a pedagogical tool that challenges the actor to use their entire body to discover presence through experiencing and understanding the “neutral state”, a state without personal stories, where there is no past nor future.

Through emphasizing presence, the actor works toward an economy of movement, and thus, uncovers their unique, personal rhythms and habits. By letting go of those habits, the actor can create a blank slate from which characters can be built and acting can begin. 

Neutral Mask training helps to create the character actor, one who is able to completely transform. 

Neutral Mask training is vital for actors wanting to gain presence, develop greater control and awareness of their bodies and thus become a better performer and artist.

About Emmanuelle Delpech

Emmanuelle Delpech is a master teacher, performer/creator, and director.  Born in France, she studied physical theater at l’Ecole Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq and completed the 3rd pedagogical year, making her a certified Lecoq teacher.  She also earned an MFA from Temple University in Directing. 

Emmanuelle was a member of The Pig Iron Theatre Company for 8 years as a performer-creator, co-creating acclaimed works such as Gentlemen Volunteers and Hell Meets Henry Halfway. As an independent artist, Emmanuelle directs new creations for other artists, she also creates and performs in her own pieces or directs for regional theaters.  At the Arden Theater in Philadelphia, she has directed La Bete, The Legend of Georgia McBride and Touchtones, a new musical by Michael Holinger.

Emmanuelle has taught at Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr College and University of the Arts, Temple University, Williams College, and others. She has also taught workshops for the Volcano Institute in Toronto and the Movement Theater Studio in NYC (where she is a regular on the Director’s track). Emmanuelle was a regular faculty member of the Headlong Performance Institute and is a core faculty member at the Pig Iron School.