The Belgian actor and master of laughter and physical comedy, Jos Houben, presents a hilarious and enlightening exploration of laughter; its causes and effects, and the role of the body in its creation.

A graduate of Paris's renowned Jacques Le Coq School, Jos Houben dissects the mechanics that trigger laughter: facial expressions, the idiosyncrasies of the body, the act of falling down, and the importance of timing. A delightful and amusing master class on one of life's greatest pleasures.

Jos Houben will next appear in the New York Premiere of Samuel Beckett's Fragments directed by Peter Brook at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in November.

"There are laws that seem to apply to any human being, of whatever race or culture, concerning the laughter of the body: the clumsiness, the mis-timing, counterpoints, surprises, accidents, all those things"—Jos Houben

"A veritable professor of mirth."—The Times (London)

The Art of Laughter, created by and with Jos Houben
Produced by Jos Houben and Compagnie Rima

In English

This event is part of Lecture/Performance, one of Crossing the Line 2011's three curatorial program perspectives.

Image: Jos Houben © Annika Johansson