Where are the clowns?
Times are tumultuous. In order to keep safe we have to keep away from each other. We have to keep away from beautiful rooms where we can share the magic of live performance and art, keep from romping at cabarets and festivals, keep from throwing our arms around one another and expressing grand gestures of glee.
This is how we were feeling...
This is how we were feeling...
After spending some time with our sadness, we put our red-nosed heads together (metaphorically) and got to thinking. We wondered, "Since we can't travel around and meet other clowns, what if we do it online? What if we share it with everyone else too?" So we've done just that. Over the next couple months we will be sharing two digital shorts per week that have been commissioned from, and feature, clowns from all across Canada and Turtle Island. Sooo...
Willkommen! And bienvenue! Welcome!
Im cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret!
Leave your troubles outside
So life is disappointing, forget it!
In here life is beautiful
The girls are beautiful
Even the orchestra is beautiful...
Well ... not totally a cabaret... and EVERYONE is beautiful ... and we don't have an orchestra...
BUT we do have clowns!
Willkommen! And bienvenue! Welcome!
Im cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret!
Leave your troubles outside
So life is disappointing, forget it!
In here life is beautiful
The girls are beautiful
Even the orchestra is beautiful...
Well ... not totally a cabaret... and EVERYONE is beautiful ... and we don't have an orchestra...
BUT we do have clowns!
Drum Roll Please...
Now to the city where two rivers meet. The city where we performed Morro and Jasp Gone Wild on one of those rivers, and also first met this next performer. Although we met her long ago, we had not met her clown until recently. We are pleased to introduce you to her and her delightful ways of playing with form. Party people, welcome to the creative mind of Je'en Fransays (and GoGo Boots)...
Je'En Fransays (CHarlene Van Buekenhout)
- Treaty 1 Territoy or Winnipeg, MB
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Artist Bio
Charlene is a Métis / Belgian / Canadian theatre artist living and working on Treaty 1. She has been creating theatre for over 15 years, is a professional actor, and is the Artistic Producer of Echo Theatre. She creates engaging programming and stuff for Dalnavert Museum (a Victorian mansion in downtown Winnipeg), is married to a fellow actor, and is mom to Phoebe. She participated in the 2018 New England Puppet Intensive, has performed ghost stories with her Crankie box, is currently creating some theatre about her Métis self and has learned to jig. She has recently spent time with Je’en Fransays and Gogo Boots (some alter egos) and is excited to be working with them on some more projects coming up. She’s been in a lot of theatre in her homeland and most recently was part of the Winnipeg digital Fringe Festival with a show for kids called “The Imagination Situation” which you can watch on the Echo Theatre website. Charlene likes to challenge the way we consume theatre and has been working on various projects that play with audience proximity, unique and challenging spaces, and splitting apart plays and scattering the scenes for audiences to put together themselves. Je'en Fransays Je’en Fransays is new to this world and lives on Treaty 1 territory. He speaks French but not very well. He’s a pretty good dancer but often wears jackets that are too tight. He’s seriously interested in everything and has deep feelings about books from the Bibliotheque Verte. You will find him on Social Media just as soon as he gets around to editing his content. Gogo Boots Gogo Boots has been working for a while now and usually does gigs with DjBeekeeni in art galleries and chocolate shops. She loves dancing and really loses herself in the music often waking up the next morning not knowing where her other glove went. |
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What Does Clown Mean To You?
Clown is the way your soul looks on the outside. It is terrifying. When I found clowning I was very scared of it because I didn’t know how to be funny. But I like to do scary things so I went ahead and took a clown boot camp with the famous John Turner. In this camp I learned that all I had to do was be utterly vulnerable and let people see this shooting out of my eyes, nose, mouth and other areas. Clown is being scared of nothing and scared of everything. It’s a beautiful edge to teeter on. I think other people respond to clowns because they can let their guards down for one second and feel connected to another human as the weird little puddles we are. I use clown principles in all my creative experiments, in my theatre life and even in my daily life. It has made me a better actor for sure, and probably a better person.
Clown is the way your soul looks on the outside. It is terrifying. When I found clowning I was very scared of it because I didn’t know how to be funny. But I like to do scary things so I went ahead and took a clown boot camp with the famous John Turner. In this camp I learned that all I had to do was be utterly vulnerable and let people see this shooting out of my eyes, nose, mouth and other areas. Clown is being scared of nothing and scared of everything. It’s a beautiful edge to teeter on. I think other people respond to clowns because they can let their guards down for one second and feel connected to another human as the weird little puddles we are. I use clown principles in all my creative experiments, in my theatre life and even in my daily life. It has made me a better actor for sure, and probably a better person.
Back across the mountains to an Island on the Saint Lawrence River, where we feature one of our dear clown friends. She's the hostess with the mostest and made us feel so at home when we were in Montreal to play at the festival. She's your go to gal if you want to meet other players. She knows everyone (and probably everything), and is a great mover and shaker (and party maker). We so rarely get to see her perform because she is often busy producing, so we are excited to feature her in this capacity. May we present... Nessie!
Nessie (Vanessa Rigaux) - Montreal, QC
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Artist Bio
Vanessa started her clown journey in Paris when she studied with Philippe Gaulier in 2003. Since then, she discovered her love for Pochinko clown and trained with John Turner at the Clown Farm. Originally from Winnipeg, she now calls Montreal home, and is the Artistic Director of the Montreal Clown Festival and co-founder of the not for profit MTL Clowns. What Does Clown Mean To You? For me, clown means being part of a very special world. The history, the people, artists, and training paths that the clown opens up is a point of access - or a portal into another dimension - where the tender, sensitive and honest connection that a clown feels can be expressed and shared with the world. It can be provocative, absurd, or gentle but for me, the clown is a very important person in any society because of the allowance she has to question and poke fun at what we have deemed “normal”. |
Vanessa is Head Clown at le festival des Clowns de Montreal. Follow them! They keep up with all kinds of clown news and events.
mtlclownfest.com
Instagram: @mtlclownfest
Facebook: @mtlclownfest
Twitter: @veevatwit
mtlclownfest.com
Instagram: @mtlclownfest
Facebook: @mtlclownfest
Twitter: @veevatwit
In west British Columbia born and raised, on a playground that's where they spent most of their days... (ok, it doesn't work as well when it's not Philadelphia). Now that we have you singing, we'd like to introduce you to a couple of new friends from Vancouver. We were delighted to meet this playful duo from our call for applications and can't wait to see them perform live one day. These two clowns play lots of roles but today they are delving into the fine arts and and tickling all our senses. May we present, Julie and Sense-I...
Julie The art dealer and Sense-i the art (Nayana Fielkov and Raj Gill) -Vancouver, BC
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Artist Bios
Raj Gill is committed to and passionate about human interaction and creative community-building through theatrical interventions and play. He is driven to ease individual suffering by sharing the underlying primordial delight that surrounds our interwoven existence. His background in sound art and telematic happenings over long distance networks, physical theatre, movement/dance, clown, and design, have led to numerous multidisciplinary performances in various traditional and nontraditional settings. Nayana Fielkov is dedicated to the work of play. She is co creator of multi-award winning, RAGMOP Theatre, Habitats, and The Myrtle Sisters. She brings together the mediums of clown, dance, mask, and physical comedy. Along with her touring duo shows, she creates ensemble work, roving acts, hosting characters, variety acts, and is an active and founding member of Vancouver's cherished Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret. She teaches contact dance and clown internationally, and has facilitated youth in theatre creation for many events including The International Children's Festival. Nayana is also a maker of puppets, clothing, costumes, and is a proud mother of a ten year old boy. |
Instagram: nonnyp / wot.gallery
Facebook: raj gill / nayana fielkov Nayanafielkov.com Temporaryframes.space |
What Does Clown Mean To You?
The availability to play whatever the moment calls for in honesty with self and audience.
The availability to play whatever the moment calls for in honesty with self and audience.
Now for a clown who gets around in all the right ways. Not only has she performed her beautiful show, Blind Date, across the country and the globe, but she is also multi-talented, award winning, highly accomplished, and full of love. At the moment she is getting cozy and going to teach us some new ways to take care of ourselves during this pandemic. An inspiration, and a dear friend… Mimi.
Mimi (Rebecca Northan) - Stratford, ON/Calgary, AB
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Artist Bio
Rebecca Northan has been making theatre professionally for over 25 years. She is an actor, director, producer, improviser, playwright...and sometimes clown. Her hit-show, "Blind Date", has been performed over 900 times, and has toured across Canada, the US, and has played in London's West End, off-Broadway, in Norway, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Rebecca was all set to premier her latest creation, "An Undiscovered Shakespeare", at the Stratford Festival of Canada when COVID hit. Her immediate 'pandemic pivot' included creating "Sidewalk Scenes", where patrons' front porches became "the new front row", as well as having co-produced and co-starred in a drive-in "Romeo & Juliet", in a parkade. Rebecca has also worked in film & TV, having Guest Hosted CBC's, "This Hour Has 22 Minutes", and starred in CTV's "Alice, I Think", as well as Showcase's "The Foundation". Rebecca can also be seen in the feature films, "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium", and "The Rocker". She is a Canadian Comedy Award winner, as well as a recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore Award, several Betty Mitchel Awards, and a Gemini nominee. Rebecca is an alumna of the Loose Moose Theatre, in Calgary. She also teaches improvisation. Mimi Mimi was born in Avignon, France. She loves vintage clothing, pin-up chique, and drinks champagne. She believes in love at first sight, and in speaking her mind. Mimi is terrified of other people's bare feet, and is convinced that, "water wants to kill you by filling all your holes." What Does Clown Mean To You? Clown is the most honest form of performance that I have ever participated in. It is full of heart, truth, and vulnerability. I didn't actually know how to truly LISTEN, until I started clowning. It has made me a better human being. |
Now to Quebec to practice our french. We met this next clown artist in Montreal (one of our favourite places), when we saw her performing at Le Festival des Clowns . We were hoping to be there this fall for the festival, but the universe had other plans for us all, like being at home and an enormous increase in screen time. If you don't know her already, it’s very exciting because this clown is a bit of a big deal. Understatement, she is totally FAMOUS. She has many personas who wanted to meet you and we couldn't decide so it’s our honour to present to you both Mme Zazou and Mme Linda...
Madame Zazou and miss Linda (Doloreze Leonard)
-Sutton, Qc
Artist Bio
For 40 years, legendary Quebecer Doloreze Leonard has shared her Artistic Talent all over the world.
She is a founding member of Cirque du Soleil and was part of their first American tour. She still works there, entertaining and organizing employee events for the past 13 years as Madame Zazou.
In Vermont, Doloreze collaborates with Bread and Puppet Theater. In Europe, she lived in a caravan and performed in the dinner show “Pomp Duck and Circumstance” as Mistress of Ceremony for 6 years. In Canada, she performs in the Just For Laughs Cabaret as Madama Zazou, a show of her own creation. For the past 12 years she has collaborated with the Teatro Zinzanni (USA) in “Love Dinner Chaos” as a director and performer. In Hawaii, Doloreze directed the HICCUP Circus at S.P.A.C.E. (Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education), worked as a volunteer there with the local community and co-created all of the extremely popular “Le Chic” Shows.
Dolorèze Léonard, légendaire Québécoise, roule sa basse d’artiste depuis 40 ans sur la planète.
Elle est membre fondatrice du « Cirque du Soleil », où elle participe à la tournée américaine. Elle collabore avec le « Bread and Puppet » du Vermont. Pendant 6 ans elle habite dans sa caravane en Europe, et tourne entre autres avec le dîner spectacle « Pomp Duck and Circumstance », en tant que maîtresse de cérémonie. Pendant 12 ans, elle joue aux États-Unis avec le « Teatro Zinzanni » dans « Love Dinner Chaos » et collabore à la mise en scène pour cette compagnie. Au Québec nous avons pu la voir au Cabaret « Juste Pour Rire » dans le rôle de Mme Zazou, spectacle dont elle a fait la conception, ainsi que le Dîner Farfelu au Casino de Montréal. Elle met en scène le cabaret Chic Show à Hawaï où elle travaille avec la population locale pendant 4 ans.
For 40 years, legendary Quebecer Doloreze Leonard has shared her Artistic Talent all over the world.
She is a founding member of Cirque du Soleil and was part of their first American tour. She still works there, entertaining and organizing employee events for the past 13 years as Madame Zazou.
In Vermont, Doloreze collaborates with Bread and Puppet Theater. In Europe, she lived in a caravan and performed in the dinner show “Pomp Duck and Circumstance” as Mistress of Ceremony for 6 years. In Canada, she performs in the Just For Laughs Cabaret as Madama Zazou, a show of her own creation. For the past 12 years she has collaborated with the Teatro Zinzanni (USA) in “Love Dinner Chaos” as a director and performer. In Hawaii, Doloreze directed the HICCUP Circus at S.P.A.C.E. (Seaview Performing Arts Center for Education), worked as a volunteer there with the local community and co-created all of the extremely popular “Le Chic” Shows.
Dolorèze Léonard, légendaire Québécoise, roule sa basse d’artiste depuis 40 ans sur la planète.
Elle est membre fondatrice du « Cirque du Soleil », où elle participe à la tournée américaine. Elle collabore avec le « Bread and Puppet » du Vermont. Pendant 6 ans elle habite dans sa caravane en Europe, et tourne entre autres avec le dîner spectacle « Pomp Duck and Circumstance », en tant que maîtresse de cérémonie. Pendant 12 ans, elle joue aux États-Unis avec le « Teatro Zinzanni » dans « Love Dinner Chaos » et collabore à la mise en scène pour cette compagnie. Au Québec nous avons pu la voir au Cabaret « Juste Pour Rire » dans le rôle de Mme Zazou, spectacle dont elle a fait la conception, ainsi que le Dîner Farfelu au Casino de Montréal. Elle met en scène le cabaret Chic Show à Hawaï où elle travaille avec la population locale pendant 4 ans.
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Madame Zazou
Madame Zazou est rentrée dans ma vie en 1992, en Allemagne, alors que j’avais été engage pour être maîtresse de cérémonie dans un lieu de spectacle qui se nommait le Salon Zazou. Tout comme son nom l’indique les zazous sont des personnages excentriques, extravagants et farfelus, ce qui lui va trrrrrès bien. Elle aime la vie à croquer, rigolotte, coquette et charmante, elle adore donner des conseils, et a toujours des solutions. Malgré ses apparences, sous des costumes au allure « vintage » c’est une main de fer dans un gant de velour, où la rigidité se complete bien, avec sa cousine Mlle Linda. /Madame Zazou came into my life in 1992, in Germany, when I had been hired to be mistress of ceremonies in a performance venue called the Salon Zazou. Just as the name suggests, zazous are eccentric, extravagant and wacky characters, which suits her very well. She loves life to the fullest – funny, flirtatious and charming, she loves to give advice, and always has solutions. Despite her appearances, under “vintage”-looking suits she is an iron fist in a velvet glove, where rigidity is complemented well by her cousin Miss Linda. Mlle Linda/Miss Linda Mlle Linda est apparue dans ma vie lors d’improvisations de différents personnages en 1983, et depuis ce temps nous sommes « colocataires » de corps et d’esprit. Mlle Linda est une gardienne de sécurité. Sécurité de quoi? De ce que vous voulez, du moment que c’est sécurité. Elle s’adapte à tout, malgré son air maussade, c’est un coeur d’or qui se cache dessous son costume brun et beige. Efficacité garantit, Mlle Linda garde un oeil ouvert sur vous et vos invites. C’est aussi la cousine de Madame Zazou ! /Miss Linda appeared in my life during improvisations of various characters in 1983, and since then we have been “roommates” in body and mind. Miss Linda is a security guard. Security of what? Anything you want, as long as it’s safe. She adapts to everything, despite her brooding demeanour, it’s a heart of gold that hides under her brown and tan suit. Efficiency guaranteed, Miss Linda keeps an eye on you and your guests. She is also Madame Zazou’s cousin! |
Facebook: facebook.com/doloreze.leonard Email: doloz@hotmail.com See more Madame Zazou on YouTube HERE |
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What Does Clown Mean To You?
Pour moi une clowne, c’est une personne qui a la capacité de mettre de côté ses problèmes (minimum le temps de sa performance) et de se soucier de faire rire, ou du mois, faire apparaître un sourire sur le visage. Un clown n’a pas peur du ridicule, au contraire il en fait son allié. La capacité de penser aux autres, avant soi, mais surtout elle cherche l’amour des gens et elle est prête à tout pour recevoir un rire d’amour, d’appréciation… et c’est sa récompense. For me a clown is someone who has the ability to put their problems aside, (at least for the duration of their performance) and worry about making people laugh, or at least bringing a smile to their face. A clown is not afraid of ridicule, on the contrary he makes it his ally. The ability to think of others, before oneself, but above all, she seeks the love of people and she is desperate to receive a laugh of love, of appreciation and that is her reward. |
Through the fields and farms, all the way to the East Coast. Our next guest is another new friend who’s sweetness and charm we couldn’t resist. After a mini battle with technology we managed to get her video from her, because nothing can stop clowns! May we present to you the multitalented, FUAH...
Fuah (Vanessa Cardoso Whelan) - St. John's, NL
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Artist Bio
Vanessa Cardoso Whelan is a multidisciplinary artist, street performer and clown hailing from Brazil, with a passion for contemporary theatre and body movement awareness, especially related to Flamenco dancing. Graduating in Theatre Arts in 2004, she has performed with several artistic groups onstage and in street productions, as an actress, Flamenco dancer, puppeteer and fire flow dancer. Backstage activities include production assistant and stage manager. She also has given theatre and dance instruction to adults and kids. Vanessa has been actively engaged in the local arts scene since moving to Newfoundland in 2014, performing in theatre productions, dancing Flamenco, clowning, doing her Living Statue, participating in diverse artistic workshops and festivals. Vanessa likes to give her art back to the community, by doing volunteer performances for new Canadians/refugees and other Organizations. Instagram: @vanessaartstuff Facebook: facebook.com/MexerComTeatroComVanessaCardoso What Does Clown Mean To You? The magic of being a clown for me means to be able to surprise yourself every time time you’re in clown, and be able to laugh at yourself, specially on the hard days. |
Now to the prairies in Saskatoon, where we are excited to present a duo that we just recently met. A duo that breaks down boundaries of all kinds with their thought provoking and playful work. Although they are from Saskatchewan, right now they are stuck in Melbourne, Australia, because of the pandemic. Here’s their response to that...
THE CREEPY BOYS (SAM KRUGER & S.E. GRUMMETT) -SASKATOON, SK
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Artist Bio
After meeting on the Canadian Fringe circuit, Sam Kruger & S.E. Grummett have teamed up to create “Creepy Boys”: a creepy-queer fantasy: a show that mashes together clown, drag, puppetry, and showtunes. The show will premiere at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, streaming online from November 17-22. S.E. Grummett (they/them) is a trans performing artist and activist from Saskatoon/Treaty 6 Territory (the flat part of Canada). They are the co-writer and performer of "Pack Animals", and "SCUM: a manifesto". After graduating from acting school and becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of opportunities for queer and trans folx, Grumms began Scantily Glad Theatre, an LGBTQ+ theatre company that creates and tours original queer shows to festivals and stages around the world. They also work as a projection designer and puppeteer. Their solo show "Something in the Water" will be having its Australian premiere at the 2021 Adelaide Fringe Festival. Sam Kruger (he/him) is a performer and theatre maker originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota (the part of Canada that isn’t Canada). His solo shows Fool Muun Komming! and Bat Brains or (let’s explore mental illness with vampires) have toured throughout North America winning various awards (Pick of the Fringe - Edmonton Fringe, Just For Laughs: Best Comedy Award - Montreal Fringe, among others) and widespread critical acclaim. He holds a BA from the University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the École Philippe Gaulier in Étampes, France. |
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What Does Clown Mean To You?
We create original theatre rooted in Pochinko clown, Lecoq Pedagogy, vaudeville, and object theatre. We seek to advance our influences into the contemporary moment so that we may better forge new theatrical languages, investigate political ideas, and serve underrepresented voices, through humour and absurdity.
Through self-creation, we are able to explore genres and styles that were often overlooked in our BFA training and tell stories we believe need to be seen on Canadian stages. We feel frustrated with the limited possibilities for trans folks within the rigid gender binaries of our traditional theatre practices, particularly in more conservative environments like Saskatchewan. For us, self-creation was, and continues to be, a way out of this.
In our work, we aim to present intellectual and political ideas to an audience from a loving, empowering and, often silly place. We believe laughter is the best way to educate and create change. Aesthetically, we are drawn to physical theatre techniques, particularly clown, puppetry and mask. It is through these disciplines, we can move beyond the physical body and the assumed gender of its attributes.
Instagram: @thecreepyboys
Facebook: facebook.com/thecreepyboys
Twitter: @thecreepyboys
We create original theatre rooted in Pochinko clown, Lecoq Pedagogy, vaudeville, and object theatre. We seek to advance our influences into the contemporary moment so that we may better forge new theatrical languages, investigate political ideas, and serve underrepresented voices, through humour and absurdity.
Through self-creation, we are able to explore genres and styles that were often overlooked in our BFA training and tell stories we believe need to be seen on Canadian stages. We feel frustrated with the limited possibilities for trans folks within the rigid gender binaries of our traditional theatre practices, particularly in more conservative environments like Saskatchewan. For us, self-creation was, and continues to be, a way out of this.
In our work, we aim to present intellectual and political ideas to an audience from a loving, empowering and, often silly place. We believe laughter is the best way to educate and create change. Aesthetically, we are drawn to physical theatre techniques, particularly clown, puppetry and mask. It is through these disciplines, we can move beyond the physical body and the assumed gender of its attributes.
Instagram: @thecreepyboys
Facebook: facebook.com/thecreepyboys
Twitter: @thecreepyboys
It’s especially important to enjoy the little things in life right now, and no one does that better than our first featured clown. A lover of fine foods and music (including the music that he wrote for this short), we’re starting out with a clown who is also based here in the T-dot. We are honoured to present our dear friend, Biscuit...
Biscuit (Derek Kwan) - Toronto, ON
Biscuit Biscuit is a guy from around who does things. Lately there haven’t been many things to do, so he’s been surviving on KD and banked up hope. But as long as there are things like puppies and decent scones, he’ll be alright. |
Artist Bio
Derek Kwan is an actor, singer, and theatre creator working at the intersection of theatre, music and movement in a number of forms including opera, clown, and puppetry. As a Therapeutic Clown, he has serving paediatrics and elders in Taiwan and Canada, and is the incoming CEO of Red Nose Remedy, a Therapeutic Clown troupe based in Toronto. His performing career has taken him across Canada and the globe, from London, England, to performances in Czech Republic, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, and China. Derek received a Toronto Theatre Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical as well as a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for Outstanding Male Performer, Musical Division for his portrayal of Boursicot in Mr. Shi and His Lover. Performance highlights include: a Deaf/hearing integrated production of The Tempest (Citadel Theatre); an apocalyptic animal cabaret The Cave (LUMINATO/Toronto); a Mandarin-language adaptation of the children’s classic The Blue Bird (Theatre de la Sardine, Taipei); Blood Weddings (Modern Times/Aluna, Toronto); the first male-identified performer of I, Claudia (Theatre Ignite, Taipei); an outdoor winter promenade show Tails From the City (Common Boots Theatre, Toronto); a celebration of Toronto’s first multi-cultural neighbourhood in The Ward Cabaret; an immersive Sweeney Todd in London, England (Talk is Free Theatre). What Does Clown Mean To You? For me clown goes way beyond being funny. I feel that I am the unfunniest clown. Instead, I try to go to the heart of a situation, what is human about it, what is poetic or full of wonder. As a therapeutic clown, I learned that our job isn't only to make people laugh, it's to allow people to feel and to let their sense of wonder and humanity unfurl (of which laughing and humour is one part). |
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Wanna Play?
If you are a clown and are interested in playing we are currently seeking funding to extend the project. Click here to find out how you can be involved in our next round of shorts. |
Wanna See More?
If you like what you see and want to support this project click here to find out how you can donate to help commission more artists to create new work. |
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This project is generously made possible by the CCA Digital Strategy Fund. Thank you Canada Coucil for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada for supporting us to continue to make art and community throughout these pandemic times. |