There is only one week to go before the closing date for applications to join this year’s Nomadic Academy of Fools run by the infamous comedian and theatre practitioner Jonathan Kay. Jonathan has been performing around the UK and internationally for the last 36 years, bringing with him his unique style of theatre and comedy that infuses the old court jester style of close to the bone observation and innocent ‘truths’ with a lifetimes experience in mime and improvisation. His resulting work is eye wateringly funny and deeply revealing, as the audience plays the role of king and has its preconceived assumptions about themselves and the world at large stripped away in a generous and enlightening ways. For a world in flux, with given realities being brought into question and changing faster than ever before, Jonathan’s work is a much-needed breath of fresh air.

*Making them laugh at themselves to understand themselves. It is what a good fool is supposed to do.* - Guardian

*Brilliant. He leaves the audience dizzy.* - Independent

*Every show is different. Nothing is predictable and all of it is the production of a mischievous mind. Kay is one fool you’ll suffer gladly.* - Edmonton Journal, Canada

*The ultimate theatre of possibility!* - Time Out

Over the last two years Jonathan began to pass on his style of performance to other individuals who wish to be more than just passive audience and who feel driven in their lives to create. This has resulted in the forming of the Nomadic Academy of Fools, which is a year-long programme of inspiring development where the participants learn how to create a whole show using only interactions with the audience and their own imaginations. Not just for performers, this work is about being honest, open and relaxed, so has benefitted participants from many walks of life, including Barristers, Gardeners, Teachers, Mid-wives, Mental Health Nurses, Corporate Managers, Designers and many more, who have found that their lives have become creatively invigorated by learning to work openly with people and befriending their imaginations.

*Jonathan Kay is one of the most inspiring and free-thinking theatre practitioners I have ever met. He is a unique, genuine and natural communicator. A one off. As a teacher and a performer, he is funny, frustrating and challenging all at once. He cuts through pretension, contrivance, cliché’ and ego. There was no hiding place. I learnt a lot from him. I would urge anyone to sign-up to his courses and to see his shows. He is a philosopher, a fool and a much needed voice of sanity.*

Jeremy Stockwell, Tutor at RADA 1994-2004, Associate of National Theatre Education

We pass through Europe and the UK, running public workshops, performances and closed rehearsals for the Academy participants. Our tour will also include a full performance of William Shakespeare’s Richard II, which the participants have developed over the last year, foolishly learning all of the lines so they can play all of the parts in the play, with no two shows ever being exactly the same. Even more foolish is that many of the participants had never performed before the year began and most of them hated Shakespeare! But with fooling, anything is possible, and the resulting show is mesmerising.

*Stupid, silly, intriguing, delightful, strange and unsettling.* - Guy Dartnell, Performance Artist

*I’ve always recommended anyone to do this workshop…it will be an extraordinary journey.* - Toby Jones, Actor for the National & Harry Potter films

The Academy desires to include participants from all over the UK and Europe, especially from each community it visits over the course of the year and is currently driving to attract people for this year’s auditions. Run with a specifically ethical slant, all work to do with the Academy is done by donation, including the year-long programme. Donations can be financial or can be made through time and skills, so is inclusive of everyone, whatever their financial situation. It is a real adventure with the participants staying and working in a variety of places, from the high-brow world of the London theatre scene, to the avant-garde world of Berlin, camping in Norfolk, to living in a medieval farm house in the Pyrenees Mountains. For anyone who is interested in a career in the arts or is at a turning point in their lives and fancies trying something completely new, then this is a journey you will never forget!

The application deadline for this year’s Academy is the 30th August and application form is available on www.jonathankay.co.uk

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