THE LUCID BODY
WITH ROB MAXWELL
“I want to thank you for helping me find Patsey’s heart.” –
- Lupita Nyong’o, (Oscar Winner, 12 Years a Slave), on working with Fay Simpson, creater of The Lucid Body.
The Lucid Body: A Holistic Approach to Character Embodiment
The Lucid Body is a dynamic psycho-physical acting technique that gives actors a tangible process for transforming into character. Rooted in the integration of body and psyche, it begins with a deep dive into the complexities of the self, allowing actors to recognize and release habitual patterns and uncover new layers of physical and emotional truth.
By working with energy centers (chakras), archetypes, Carl Jung’s concepts of Persona and Shadow, and drawing from yoga, modern dance, neuroscience, and other somatic practices, the Lucid Body oIers a comprehensive framework for actors to inhabit given circumstances with authenticity and depth. It’s a process designed for the actor who wants to build character from the inside out – uncovering impulses, history, and emotional architecture that already live in the body, rather than putting on a character as something separate from self.
This two-part workshop series introduces the core principles of the Lucid Body process, beginning with the actor’s own habitual body as the starting point for transformation.
MASTERCLASS BREAKDOWN
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Weekend One invites actors to recognise and honour their habitual psychophysical patterns – the survival body we've each developed in response to our lived experience. By bringing awareness to these patterns and mapping the Persona, we begin to understand how our bodies express and reinforce our psychology. From this foundation, we make space to explore unfamiliar aspects of self – layering these different parts to build complex, multidimensional characters. We also begin working with archetypes as a creative tool, tapping into universal energies to enrich our character choices and expand our expressive range.
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Weekend Two continues the journey inward, as we begin to uncover the unmet needs of the inner child and investigate our shadow selves – those aspects we hide, deny, or repress. This deeper exploration of self opens up powerful tools for character work rooted in emotional truth. We’ll also examine relationships in scene work, focusing on the active space between two people and the push–pull dynamics of human conflict: attraction, resistance, vulnerability, and power.
ROB MAXWELL
Rob Maxwell is a voice, movement, and acting teacher based in Sydney. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Voice from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and is a graduate of the Atlantic Acting School in New York City. Rob has taught at leading conservatoires around the world, including Yale School of Drama and Carnegie Mellon University. In Australia, he has worked with institutions such as NIDA, 16th Street Actors Studio, Actors Centre Australia, Sydney Actors School, JMC Academy, and Australian Theatre for Young People.
Rob is the only certified Lucid Body instructor based in Australia. He is passionate about guiding actors towards a deeper psycho-physical understanding of self and character. His approach draws on a rich blend of techniques that encourage a holistic integration of movement, psychology, voice, and imagination.
“Rob Maxwell is a dynamic and charismatic Lucid Body teacher who guides actors into deep psycho-physical exploration, while ensuring they remain grounded and supported throughout the process. His work is both courageous and attentive, creating space for transformation with clarity and care.”
— Fay Simpson, Founder of the Lucid Body
FAY SIMPSON
Fay Simpson has been the Artistic Director and co-founder of Impact Theatre since its creation in 1990. Informed by her work in the rehearsal room, the teaching studio and onstage over the last 20 years, Fay has developed a unique physical training method for the actor called The Lucid Body. She taught at The Yale School of Drama, the New School’s Eugene Lang, Michael Howard Studios, The Studio/NY, Marymount Manhattan College, and at the Actor’s Center. She currently teaches this technique at Tisch School of the Arts, NYU’s Graduate Acting Program, and privately at the Lucid Body House. Fay wrote The Lucid Body: A Guide for the Physical Actor, published in 2008 by Allworth Press. She has a two-year Lucid Body Teacher Training program now in place.
MASTERCLASS DETAILS
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Weekend one: 4th & 5th Sept; 10am - 5pm
Weekend two: 11th & 12th Sept; 10am - 5pm
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$630 (inc GST)
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Cancellation Policy
By enrolling in and or/attending a Program or a course, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions:
Cancellation policy:
Once a course has commenced no refund or credit note is possible.
If you miss a class, a credit or refund is not applicable, nor is attending a replacement class.
If 16th Street needs to cancel a program or course, a full refund, credit or transfer to another course will be offered. We accept no liability for any other costs inclusive of travel.
Cancellations received up to and including 21 days before the commencement of the masterclass will be eligible for a full refund or credit note.
If you need to withdraw from a program within 21 days of the commencement of the course you must notify 16th Street in writing. We cannot guarantee a refund, but we will do everything we can with that shorter notice.
Special circumstances may be considered at the discretion of 16th Street Actors Studio Artistic Director. -