Ira Mandela’s masterclass will guide you through the physical and psychological creation of an animal in human form, enabling you to play any animal with integrity and individuality.
Ira Mandela’s masterclass will guide you through the physical and psychological creation of an animal in human form, enabling you to play any animal with integrity and individuality.
Ira Mandela Siobhan is now sharing, for the first time ever, the method behind his acclaimed animal work.
With Ira Mandela’s practical, engaging masterclass you will have the chance to learn the process Ira uses to bring his celebrated animals to life.
You can use these specific techniques to bring any animal or character to life in the future.
Bring something unique to any rehearsal space
you enter or character you play.
Ira is renowned for bringing animals to life on stage. From embodying Nugget in Ned Bennet’s production of Equus in the West End to Mlima the elephant in Miranda Cromwell’s production of Mlima’s Tale at The Kiln Theatre, to creating the original Maugrim the wolf in Sally Cookson’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Ira had the incredible experience of working with Greta Gerwig on the Barbie movie when he played one of the Kens! He has also worked on Mission Impossible 7, London Road and The Crown. Movement direction credits include Addictive Beat (Boundless Theatre), Strike (Southwark Playhouse) and associate movement director on Mlima’s Tale.
Ira Mandela Siobhan is an actor, dancer and movement director who has spent almost 20 years working with companies such as DV8, Punchdrunk, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan Dance Company, The National Theatre and The Globe Theatre.
Ira is renowned for bringing animals to life on stage. From embodying Nugget in Ned Bennet’s production of Equus in the West End to Mlima the elephant in Miranda Cromwell’s production of Mlima’s Tale at The Kiln Theatre, to creating the original Maugrim the wolf in Sally Cookson’s The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
Ira had the incredible experience of working with Greta Gerwig on the Barbie movie when he played one of the Kens! He has also worked on Mission Impossible 7, London Road and The Crown. Movement direction credits include The Grapes of Wrath (National Theatre) Addictive Beat (Boundless Theatre), Strike (Southwark Playhouse) and associate movement director on Mlima’s Tale.
Hi I'm Ira,
Growing up in South Yorkshire in the 90s with severe dyslexia and being the only black kid in my community meant that as a child I had low self-esteem. Fortunately, dance brought me joy and gave me confidence.
I began my career as a dancer, training at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds. I was all set to become a Contemporary Dancer when a complete curve ball was sent my way and at just 20 years old I was invited to be a part of DV8 Physical Theatre. I had an intense and incredible time creating work with the company and touring the world with DV8 for several years, performing in To Be Straight With You and Can We Talk About This? It was working with DV8 that gave me my initial interest in theatre and acting. It wasn’t easy at all to make the transition, but being cast as a lead in Matthew Dunster’s Imogen at The Globe Theatre was a big turning point and a huge accomplishment.
I have gone on to carve out quite a niche, fusing my two worlds of Acting and Dance, bringing a unique quality and physicality to every role I play. It is this experience and skill set that I want to share with you now; enabling you to bring a unique physicality to every role you play.
Hi I'm Ira,
Growing up in South Yorkshire in the 90s with severe dyslexia and being the only black kid in my school meant that as a child my confidence was low. Fortunately, basketball and dance were two things in my life that brought me joy and gave me confidence. Luckily I had an incredible Mum who spotted this and championed me in every way as a dancer.
I began my career as a dancer, training at The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds. I was all set to become a Contemporary Dancer when a complete curve ball was sent my way and at just 20 years old I was invited to be a part of DV8 Physical Theatre. I had an intense and incredible time creating work with the company and touring the world with DV8 for several years, performing in To Be Straight With You and Can We Talk About This? It was working with DV8 that gave me my initial interest in theatre and acting. It wasn’t easy at all to make the transition, but being cast as a lead in Matthew Dunster’s Imogen at The Globe Theatre was a big turning point and a huge accomplishment.
From then on I have gone on to carve out quite a niche, fusing my two worlds of Acting and Dance, bringing a unique quality and physicality to every role I play. It is this experience and skill set that I want to share with you now; enabling you to bring a unique physicality to every role you play.
Would you like the techniques to portray any animal with integrity and individuality?
• Take part whenever and wherever suits you, going at your own pace. No need for a huge space to join the masterclass; it can be adjusted to fit the space you're in.
• Feel free to go back to the episodes whenever you want. With a year's access, watch them as many times as you'd like. This gives you the chance to thoroughly explore the art of embodying animals.
• Learn Ira Mandela's process in a playful, safe and creative space.
• By the end you will have the techniques to play any animal with depth and integrity, avoiding any caricature. Enabling you to bring something unique to any rehearsal space you enter or character you play.
Would you like the techniques to portray any animal with integrity and individuality?
• Take part whenever and wherever suits you, going at your own pace. No need for a huge space to join the masterclass; it can be adjusted to fit the space you're in.
• Feel free to go back to the episodes whenever you want. With a year's access, watch them as many times as you'd like. This gives you the chance to thoroughly explore the art of embodying animals.
• Learn Ira Mandela's process in a playful, safe and creative space.
• By the end you will have the techniques to play any animal with depth and integrity, avoiding any caricature. Enabling you to bring something unique to any rehearsal space you enter or character you play.
How does it work?
Four practical episodes
There are 4 practical, online episodes. Each episode is between 30-50 minutes, which means that you get to work in great depth and truly master the specific techniques that Ira Mandela will share.
Explore wherever and whenever you like
You can explore and play in the comfort of your own home, which means that you can really take risks and dare to be bold without any fear of judgement.
One year's access
You will have one year’s access to the course, which means that you can watch whenever suits you and revisit the course if you ever need to go over the process again.
Ira Mandela's Masterclass is excited to introduce:
Embodying Animals
With Ira Mandela Siobhan's expert guidance you will be supported to explore the physical and psychological creation of an animal in human form, enabling you to play any animal with integrity and individuality . With one year's access to four online practical sessions, you will delve deep into animal embodiment. Taking away the techniques, knowledge, and confidence to breathe life into any animal. The techniques can even be applied to non-animal roles, as Ira Mandela will teach you how to adapt the techniques for any character you play.
Ira Mandela's Masterclass is excited to introduce:
Embodying Animals
With Ira Mandela Siobhan's expert guidance you will be supported to explore the physical and psychological creation of an animal in human form, enabling you to play any animal with integrity and individuality . With one year's access to four online practical sessions, you will delve deep into animal embodiment. Taking away the techniques, knowledge, and confidence to breathe life into any animal. The techniques can even be applied to non-animal roles, as Ira Mandela will teach you how to adapt the techniques for any character you play.
Four practical episodes:
Episode 1
Isolating body parts
Prepare to energise with a dynamic warm-up! Then, we'll focus on isolating specific body parts as a foundation for creating your unique animal character. We will explore and play with various possibilities and a range of animals to find the one you want to work with during the course.
Episode 2
Breathing life and detail into your animal
We'll use the human body to represent animal qualities, in a way that ensures authenticity and connection between human and animal. Whilst also adding small details to bring your character to life. We will play about the size and depth of your animal's lungs, having fun exploring how various animals breath.
Episode 3
Psychology and life cycle
This is where the real fun begins as all the foundations that we've been building come together. Here we get to improvise and live as our animals from birth to death, building our imaginary surroundings and exploring our inner psyche in a guided, meditative style.
Episode 4
Morphing and using text
Morphing from human to animal, we'll employ various techniques to push the boundaries of what's possible, crafting a unique style and quality to your movement.
We will add in voice and text to really experiment with the possibilities of how to elevate your performance.
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One year's access: £97
“Ira’s workshops are detailed, playful and infused with his wealth of performance and movement experience. I left the session feeling inspired and energised and armed with a host of new tools to explore.”
— James Cousins
“ Witnessing his approach to animal study was an invaluable and inspiring experience. His exceptional physical technique combined with an actor’s curiosity and need to excavate beneath the surface ensured that his interpretation of Maugrim the Wolf was not only powerful but complex and nuanced. His unique performance choices make him compelling to watch on stage and his versatility enables him to appear terrifyingly dangerous one minute or heartbreakingly vulnerable the next. His instinct plays an important part in how he creates work and his ability to open up his senses and use them to guide him is mind blowingly impressive.”
— Sally Cookson
“The understanding of the animal’s essential characteristics and Ira’s ability to translate that physically into human expression is unique. In 'Milma’s Tale' he allowed the audience to view the humanity within the animal and in moments totally embody the animal - creating a mesmerising illusion. Plus it was absolutely beautiful!”
— Marianne Elliott
“The understanding of the animal’s essential characteristics and Ira’s ability to translate that physically into human expression is unique. In 'Milma’s Tale' he allowed the audience to view the humanity within the animal and in moments totally embody the animal - creating a mesmerising illusion. Plus it was absolutely beautiful!”
— Marianne Elliott
“Ira’s workshops are detailed, playful and infused with his wealth of performance and movement experience. I left the session feeling inspired and energised and armed with a host of new tools to explore.”
— James Cousins
“ Witnessing his approach to animal study was an invaluable and inspiring experience. His exceptional physical technique combined with an actor’s curiosity and need to excavate beneath the surface ensured that his interpretation of Maugrim the Wolf was not only powerful but complex and nuanced. His unique performance choices make him compelling to watch on stage and his versatility enables him to appear terrifyingly dangerous one minute or heartbreakingly vulnerable the next. His instinct plays an important part in how he creates work and his ability to open up his senses and use them to guide him is mind blowingly impressive.”
— Sally Cookson
We have exciting news...the first 10 people to sign up to Ira Mandela's Masterclass will receive...
A FREE 1:1 zoom session with Ira Mandela
the first 10 people to sign up will receive a free 20-minute zoom session with Ira...
You can cover anything, from discussing techniques in greater detail, to picking his brain on transitioning from dancer - actor, to industry tips...anything at all!
Contact Us: hello@iramandela.com
FAQs
How do I access the content?
As soon as you complete the checkout you will receive an email with all of your login credentials. Just follow the link to login and start your Ira Mandela Masterclass journey!
Can I pay in instalments?
We are unable to offer payment in instalments at this point I'm afraid.
Can I get feedback during the workshops?
Absolutely! Just share a video of your work on Instagram and tag Ira (iramsio or www.instagram.com/iramsio) and Ira will DM you personal feedback on your work. This will help you to progress and get the absolute most from the course.
Is this a subscription?
This is not a subscription, the payment is a one off charge (you will face no further charges after the initial payment) and you will have access to the course for a whole year.
Do you offer any discounts?
We are keen to make Ira's masterclass as accessible as possible. Therefore, we offer a 20% discount to current, full time students and those currently in receipt of Universal Credit. Just email us at hello@iramandela.com with proof of your current student/universal credit status and we will send you a 20% discount code.
Do I need lots of experience and space to participate?
Ira Mandela's Masterclass is suitable for all levels. We have had experienced choreographers, dancers and actors enjoy and benefit from Ira's workshops as well beginners. There is something in it for everyone. Likewise, the course is suitable for actors, dancers and physical theatre performers.
Ira has adapted the sessions so that you can still get the most from the course even if you have limited space. As you can watch it anywhere and anytime. Also, the content is completely adaptable depending on the space you have available.
Mlima's Tale photography by Michael Wharley
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contact: hello@iramandela.com