Goofing: A Comedy Workshop in Clown, Solo Improv & the Art of Riffing
Dates & Times:
December 12 & 13
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM (includes a one-hour lunch break)
Ever wanted to walk onstage with nothing planned — and still make people laugh? Goofing is a punk-inspired approach to clown and solo improvisation that celebrates risk, failure, and authenticity over perfection. It’s about surrendering to the unknown, trusting your instincts, and finding comedy in real connection.
Rooted in the teachings of Philippe Gaulier, Jacques Lecoq, UCB improv, and Idiot Work, Goofing carries those influences forward with a raw, modern energy. It’s a space to strip away habits, rediscover play, and learn what truly makes you funny.
At its core, Goofing is about riffing live with an audience with nothing planned — reading the room, responding in real time, and building laughter from honesty and play.
And central to that process is the art of the flop. We fail — often, and publicly — but instead of retreating, we stay with it. We keep playing, adjusting, and searching for the truth of the moment until it becomes alive again. The laugh doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from the courage to keep going when things fall apart.
For actors, Goofing sharpens instincts and brings more freedom to your choices. It helps you respond truthfully, stay present, and bring boldness and play to scripted work.
For writers, it opens up new ways to generate material — discovering ideas, rhythms, and characters by improvising in the unknown rather than forcing them on the page.
For comedians, it’s a lab for taking risks, finding fresh premises, and deepening your connection with an audience.
And for newcomers, it’s a fun and welcoming way to get out of your head, take creative risks, and change your relationship with failure. You’ll learn to embrace rejection, stay playful in uncertainty, and let laughter come to you.
No script, no pressure — just you, your impulses, and the goal of giving the audience the best time possible. Through a mix of exercises, improvisations, and live coaching, we’ll build the foundations of presence, freedom, and creative trust.
You’ll explore tools that support both your performance and everyday life, including:
Staying grounded in the unknown
Listening and reacting truthfully
Reading an audience in real time
Turning fear into curiosity and play
Trusting your impulses
Finding freedom through laughter and vulnerability
Developing a comedic voice that sparks new ideas and material
Whether you’re an actor, comedian, improviser, writer, or complete beginner, this workshop offers a space to explore, take risks, and surprise yourself — all while laughing a lot along the way.
Pricing Options
Early Bird (first 5 spots) — $175 + HST = $197.75 total
Regular Rate — $200 + HST = $226.00 total
Scholarship / Low-Income Rate (2 spots available) — $125 + HST = $141.25 total
20% Discount — for past Goofing Intensive participants (drop-ins not included) or current college/university students: $160 + HST = $180.80 total
About Chase:
Chase Jeffels is an actor, comedian, and teacher whose work bridges clown, improv, and the art of playful failure. He is a graduate of École Jacques Lecoq and the Laboratoire d'Étude du Mouvement (Laboratory of Movement Study) in Paris, France, and trained under renowned clown master Philippe Gaulier (teacher of Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, and Emma Thompson). Gaulier once said of Chase’s work (imagine it in a thick French accent):
“I do not like very much Canada, but I like what you do.”
Chase has also studied with a host of notable teachers in clown, bouffon, and idiot work, including Aitor Basauri, John Gilkey, Chad Damiani, Kevin Krieger, Deanna Fleysher, Jaime Mears, Ken Hall, Isaac Kessler, and Gordon Neill. He is a graduate of the George Brown Theatre School classical conservatory program.
As a performer, Chase’s work spans film, television, and theatre. He is a member of the improv and sketch collective $20 Sandwich, where he performs UCB-style longform improv infused with his own clown sensibility — bringing a spirit of risk, play, and discovery to structured comedic form.
He is also one half of West 2 West, a duo known for their innovative blend of clown sketch and clown improv, merging physical comedy, audience connection, and absurd play.
In his solo work, Chase continues to push the boundaries of comedy through Goofing — a punk-inspired mix of clown, riffing, and improvisation that explores connection, risk, and laughter through failure. His work merges improv, sketch, and clown to create performances that are as vulnerable as they are hilarious, uniting mainstream comedy with the spirit of live play.