When is a clown not a clown?   

When the joke doesn’t work? 
When the pause button has been pressed?
When there are no flippers, corsets, noses or face paint? More questions and answers please...

When is a person not a clown? When s/he/they are checking their look/behaviour and behaving within social ‘norms’? When they are failing to be/act foolish? Yes? No? Even more questions and answers please...

We all have the potential to be a clown, and/or to clown.

Let's not say clown, let's say clowning (as a verb) - we can all clown – act the fool; be ridiculous and behave outside the parameters of ‘norms’. It can be intentional or accidental.

I believe to experience clowning from a positive perspective can be highly empowering, either for performance or everyday life; because it is possible to comprehend that we often have to look and be a bit ridiculous in the process of learning new skills: walking, riding a bike, playing the piano etc.

When these skills are mastered we can then clown with them for comic effect – a silly walk (a tipsy gal or Charlie Chaplin); playing the piano well and badly for comic effect (thinking Les Dawson or Lee Evans or Victoria - THE GREAT), or a large man sitting on a bike that is too small, with his knees bent ear-wards (name that guy). On the other hand we can still clown without being experts. It's really not that simple.

My point is, you can create a lot of laughter for yourself and others; you can play with the fact that things don’t always go to plan and that improvisation and /or acknowledgement of a problem can reap rewards and laughs; you can play the fool for comic effect for social, and sometimes political gain (be careful!).

I could go on discussing how clowning can have a positive impact on your life as a performer, business owner, health professional, accountant – all types of people who previously came to my classes, and still do.

Would you like to try clowning? (See below and book direct through @exeterphoenix as limited spaces left).

I can’t promise to make you PM (phew) but you could develop your curiosity, questioning, improvising and acting skills and start practising flipping failure to laughter.
On another note I am running a quickfire comedy session for Exmouth Pride as part of LGBT+ history month. Laugh Out Proud: Humour for Health - is on Saturday 5 February at Exmouth's Bath House on the Esplanade - booking essential.

As usual, have a fab week and thanks from Maggie and the Comedy Matters team - cheers :)

Exeter Phoenix 

NEW! CONTEMPORARY CLOWNING WORKSHOP

this Saturday the 29 January 10 - 4pm - a CHANCE to put clown to the test and explore freely, safely - and have fun!