Interviews, documentaries, talks
A selection of video and audio where I talk about clowns and clowning.
Jon Davison is...
Jon Davison is a clown performer, teacher, director, producer, researcher and musician with over 40 years’ experience in theatre, street, circus and TV. He teaches, directs and mentors regularly in the UK and internationally.
He trained at the École Philippe Gaulier (London) and Fool Time Circus School (Bristol). He has toured festivals, theatres, tents, streets and bars throughout Europe from Sicily to the Arctic, and taught across the globe from South Africa to Quebec, Peru, Shanghai and New York. He has directed innumerable shows, from melodrama to clowning, for Camden Roundhouse, Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe.
As a co-founder of Companyia d’Idiotes, he was at the forefront of the new clown revival in Barcelona of the 1990s. He taught clown, improvisation and acting at the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona from 1996-2006, when he became a co-founder of the Escola de Clown de Barcelona, facilitating the collaboration of international teachers within a syllabus including historical and theoretical studies.
From 2007-2010 he was an AHRC-funded Creative Fellow investigating contemporary clown/actor training at Central School of Speech and Drama (London), where he obtained his PhD in Clown Performance Practice. This research led to the publication of his first book, ‘Clown Readings in Theatre Practice’ (2013), which was followed by ‘Clown Training, a practical guide’ (2015), and ‘The Clowning Workbook’ (2023). All three books have been influential internationally within the community of clown practitioners and students, on both practical and theoretical levels.
Pre-pandemic he was producer of the long-running monthly clown show ‘Friday Flop’ which brought experimental and new clowning forms to the general public, drawing on new developments in clown teaching and research.
Through the design and online delivery of the unique theoretical and historical course, Clown Studies (2020-2024), as a strong advocate of decolonising clowning, he lent critical rigour and allyship to the burgeoning global re-examination of historical and current clowning practices and philosophies in the light of BLM.
He is currently Lecturer in Clowning at London Metropolitan University and runs the London Clown School’s programme of year-round workshops and intensive practical studies. His current research focuses on collaborations with neurodivergent clown performers in revising notions of the non-normative in clowning.
He is preparing a new solo, ‘PooPoo the Clown’.
Jon Davison is a clown performer, teacher, director, producer, researcher and musician with over 40 years’ experience in theatre, street, circus and TV. He teaches, directs and mentors regularly in the UK and internationally.
He trained at the École Philippe Gaulier (London) and Fool Time Circus School (Bristol). He has toured festivals, theatres, tents, streets and bars throughout Europe from Sicily to the Arctic, and taught across the globe from South Africa to Quebec, Peru, Shanghai and New York. He has directed innumerable shows, from melodrama to clowning, for Camden Roundhouse, Edinburgh Fringe and Adelaide Fringe.
As a co-founder of Companyia d’Idiotes, he was at the forefront of the new clown revival in Barcelona of the 1990s. He taught clown, improvisation and acting at the Institut del Teatre de Barcelona from 1996-2006, when he became a co-founder of the Escola de Clown de Barcelona, facilitating the collaboration of international teachers within a syllabus including historical and theoretical studies.
From 2007-2010 he was an AHRC-funded Creative Fellow investigating contemporary clown/actor training at Central School of Speech and Drama (London), where he obtained his PhD in Clown Performance Practice. This research led to the publication of his first book, ‘Clown Readings in Theatre Practice’ (2013), which was followed by ‘Clown Training, a practical guide’ (2015), and ‘The Clowning Workbook’ (2023). All three books have been influential internationally within the community of clown practitioners and students, on both practical and theoretical levels.
Pre-pandemic he was producer of the long-running monthly clown show ‘Friday Flop’ which brought experimental and new clowning forms to the general public, drawing on new developments in clown teaching and research.
Through the design and online delivery of the unique theoretical and historical course, Clown Studies (2020-2024), as a strong advocate of decolonising clowning, he lent critical rigour and allyship to the burgeoning global re-examination of historical and current clowning practices and philosophies in the light of BLM.
He is currently Lecturer in Clowning at London Metropolitan University and runs the London Clown School’s programme of year-round workshops and intensive practical studies. His current research focuses on collaborations with neurodivergent clown performers in revising notions of the non-normative in clowning.
He is preparing a new solo, ‘PooPoo the Clown’.
How I've survived as a clown...
How to survive as a clown. This is what I've been doing all my adult life and I'm still doing it.
I have spent 40+ years exploring what clowning is, how it works, how to do it, how to learn it, what it means and what it is for.
I started performing by accident, and felt it had to be my vocation, without knowing why.
Then I started studying it, in order to understand how and the why what I was doing was clowning.
I started teaching it when I was a student, in order to try and work out how to do it better.
I started researching its history, in order to understand why many of the things I had been told about clowning were wrong, and didn’t work.
Today, I am still dedicated to exploring this paradoxical and ubiquitous artform which is so often denigrated as low yet so often has pretensions to wisdom. As one of my students recently suggested, clowns are anthropologists, we study humans.
My projects include:
Collaborate practical research with other clown performers and teachers worldwide
Large-scale performances aimed at the widest range of audiences
Solo clown acts
Directing, mentoring and tutoring clown artists
Teaching worldwide, in universities, drama schools, and all kinds of communities
Writing books about clowns and clowning, their history and variety across cultures
As I grew up and continue to live in a society and culture where everything is monetised, all this exploratory behaviour has come at a cost.
Sometimes I get paid to do it (teaching, mostly, and sometimes performing). Sometimes I don’t (research, most writing, some performing). On rare occasions, I’ve been paid to think about clowns and clowning (a three-year research fellowship at Central School of Speech and Drama).
At other times, the research happens under cover of teaching, which for me is always exploratory and asking the question ‘how do we do this thing called clowning?’ and never ‘ok, this is how you do it’. Many times, the cover is blown and the institution prefers to employ someone who will do the latter. But sometimes, I get lucky.
There have been times when money is tight, but then there is always the street. And again the same question: ‘how to do this thing called clowning … in the street?’
Sometimes, people and places are so kind as to offer their resources at little cost. The first instinct when someone gives you something cheap is to offer them more in return. And then the collaborations and the explorations blossom even more. But sometimes, people think that artists are a good source of hire income, whilst simultaneously expecting them to offer their experience cheaply, in the name of accessibility.
Maybe we can’t instantly transform our monetised societies into kinder places where everyone can get on with doing what they are good at in peace and with the security of having their basic needs met. Maybe we can’t suddenly make clowning sacred instead of precarious. But we can keep looking for better ways.
https://jondavison.blogspot.com/2023/12/how-to-survive-as-clown.html
How to survive as a clown. This is what I've been doing all my adult life and I'm still doing it.
I have spent 40+ years exploring what clowning is, how it works, how to do it, how to learn it, what it means and what it is for.
I started performing by accident, and felt it had to be my vocation, without knowing why.
Then I started studying it, in order to understand how and the why what I was doing was clowning.
I started teaching it when I was a student, in order to try and work out how to do it better.
I started researching its history, in order to understand why many of the things I had been told about clowning were wrong, and didn’t work.
Today, I am still dedicated to exploring this paradoxical and ubiquitous artform which is so often denigrated as low yet so often has pretensions to wisdom. As one of my students recently suggested, clowns are anthropologists, we study humans.
My projects include:
Collaborate practical research with other clown performers and teachers worldwide
Large-scale performances aimed at the widest range of audiences
Solo clown acts
Directing, mentoring and tutoring clown artists
Teaching worldwide, in universities, drama schools, and all kinds of communities
Writing books about clowns and clowning, their history and variety across cultures
As I grew up and continue to live in a society and culture where everything is monetised, all this exploratory behaviour has come at a cost.
Sometimes I get paid to do it (teaching, mostly, and sometimes performing). Sometimes I don’t (research, most writing, some performing). On rare occasions, I’ve been paid to think about clowns and clowning (a three-year research fellowship at Central School of Speech and Drama).
At other times, the research happens under cover of teaching, which for me is always exploratory and asking the question ‘how do we do this thing called clowning?’ and never ‘ok, this is how you do it’. Many times, the cover is blown and the institution prefers to employ someone who will do the latter. But sometimes, I get lucky.
There have been times when money is tight, but then there is always the street. And again the same question: ‘how to do this thing called clowning … in the street?’
Sometimes, people and places are so kind as to offer their resources at little cost. The first instinct when someone gives you something cheap is to offer them more in return. And then the collaborations and the explorations blossom even more. But sometimes, people think that artists are a good source of hire income, whilst simultaneously expecting them to offer their experience cheaply, in the name of accessibility.
Maybe we can’t instantly transform our monetised societies into kinder places where everyone can get on with doing what they are good at in peace and with the security of having their basic needs met. Maybe we can’t suddenly make clowning sacred instead of precarious. But we can keep looking for better ways.
https://jondavison.blogspot.com/2023/12/how-to-survive-as-clown.html
What I've done (the CV):
Professional Training
Schools
1992-93 École Philippe Gaulier
1989 Foundation Course in Circus, Fool Time Circus School (Bristol)
Workshops
2024-5 – Parkour – West Coast Parkour Elders, Stratford
2019-20 Kalarippayattu Indian Martial Arts, London
2016 Yiddish song and improvisation – Polina Shepherd (Jewish Music Institute, London)
2015 Flatfoot Dance – Alice Cade (Chats Palace, London)
2014 Trampoline – Caroline Quist (Phoenix Fitness Centre, London)
2014 Parkour – Parkour Generations, London
2011-13 Comedy Script Writing – Guy Meredith (City Lit, London)
2010-15 Eccentric Dance – Barry Grantham
2010 Sword Dance (Rapper and Longsword) – Hawksword, London
2008/2009 Andrey Drozhnin Movement Technique – Natalia Fedorova (MXAT)
2008 Michael Chekhov Technique – Lenard Petit (Michael Chekhov Acting Studio)
2008 Meyerhold's Biomechanics and Chekhov's Psychological Gesture - Sergey Ostrenko
2007-15 Clog Dance – Camden Clog (EFDSS)
2006 Clown - Moshe Cohen
2003 Improvisation - Ruth Zaporah
1993 Clown - Théâtre de Complicité
1991 Fool - Jonathan Kay
1991 Tight Wire – Kate Verney
1990 Voice – Franki Armstrong
1989-91 Improvisation – Guy Dartnell
1989-90 Clown - Franki Anderson
1989-90 Voice - Guy Dartnell
1989 Clown - John Lee
1988-9 Tai Chi – Simon Biddlestone, Nottingham ICC
1988 Puppetry – Bob Wade
1987 Political Theatre History and Practice – Nottingham CAC
1983 Mime – Pete Holdway
1981-2 Karate – Nottingham University
Education
2012-2018 Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – PhD in Clown Performance
2006 University of Kent – M.A. Practice as Research (Drama)
1981-85 University of Nottingham – B.A. (Hons) in French Studies (2:1)
Languages
English (native), Spanish (fluent), French (fluent), Catalan (fluent).
Performing – Clown/Theatre
2017-20 - Producer of Friday Flop, monthly event at Rosmeary Branch Theatre, London
2014-15 – Created and performed Not A Real Horse with Stupididity
2014 - Created and performed clown solo Can clown performance be made out of clown training? at RCSSD
2011-13 – Created/performed solo show 21st Century Clown at CSSD, London variety and cabaret venue2013-15 - Created and performed clown solo The Self-Deconstruction of Clowning at RCSSD.
2012 - Performer with Festive Road, devising/performing Brewing Up, touring SE England festivals.
2011-23 - Performed with Camden Clog, various folk festivals throughout Britain.
2011- Co-created and performed with Sophie Page-Hall The Mermaid, trapeze/clown show, various festivals in UK.
2010-13 - Created and toured The Spaghetti Horse, co-produced by Stratford Circus.
2010 – Devised/performed Clowning by Numbers at Battersea Arts Centre and various cabarets, London.
2008-9 – devised and performed Jontxu...to be and Clown Phenomena, at London venues (Chisenhale Dance, Boogaloo, Festival of Emergent Art) and Edinburgh Fringe Festival (with Sideshow)
1993-2006 - Co-founded, with Clara Cenoz, Companyia d’Idiotes, Barcelona. Shows to date: Mamiydaddy; Bebè Dolent; Ou Xou; Clown Impromptu; Macbez; Tzirk!; Home Sweet Home; Look Into My Eyes!!!; Don’t Play It Again, Sam; De Kartró; Jonny D.; Klezmer Clown. Touring Spain, U.K., France, Russia, Poland (Tàrrega; Festival Cos; Mercat de les Flors; Teatre Malic; El Canto de la Cabra; La Paloma; etc)
2000 - La Llave Perdida with Companyia Mousiké, Barcelona.
1998 - Variétés 98 with Jango Edwards, Teatre Goya, Barcelona.
1992 - Solo experimental clown show Ghosts, The Dance Centre, Bristol.
1991 - Solo impro clown show I Want To Be A Human Being, various venues, Bristol.
- Lunatic Agency, impro group with Franki Anderson, Guy Dartnell, Bristol.
1987-8 - Co-founded Cast of Thousands Theatre, 2-man clown company, writing and touring shows around U.K.: The Audition; Things Go Horribly Wrong; You’ll Never Walk Alone; The Story With The Missing Pages; Victorian Values.
1987 - Dom Juan in Dom Juan by Molière, The Third Eye Centre, Glasgow.
1986 - Bobby Trot in Luke the Labourer, dir. Simon Shepherd, Nottm., Loughborough, Manchester.
- Cabarets with City Stage at The Old Vic, Nottm.
- Agit-Prop Sketches from The Workers Theatre Movement and The Actress’s Franchise League, The P.A. Studio, Nottm.
- Sganarelle in Sganarelle by Molière, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Fear of Falling by Mark Aldridge, The Midland Group, Nottm.
- Music Hall Show, Yates’ and The Old Vic, Nottm.
1985 - Various roles in Blood Relations by Carol Churchill, with City Stage, Nottm.P.A. Studio.
- Other Experiments, with City Stage, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Show, The New Theatre, Nottm.
1984 - Greeneyes in Deathwatch by Jean Genet, Nottingham Playhouse.
- Matthew in The Threepenny Opera by Brecht, dir. Simon Shepherd, Yates’, Nottm.
- Revue Shows with QYT, touring England and Wales.
1983 - L’Idiote in Les Mouches by Sartre, The Performing Arts Studio, Nottm.
- Krapp’s Last Tape by Beckett, dir. Jem Carden, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Shows and Street Theatre with QYT, Nottm., Darlington, Coventry.
- Mime Artist with Le Théâtre Jeune de Narbonne, touring Languedoc.
1982 - Marquis de Sade in Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss, dir. Jem Carden, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Show, touring bars, Nottingham.
Cinema/TV/Commercials/Radio
2003 - Presenter in feature length documentary Asia en Casa, by Leo de Armas.
2003 - Chairman of the panel in comedy talent show series 4 i acció…, TVE2, Spain.
2001-5 - Principal roles in commercials for: Renault Kangoo; Turismo Canarias; Vivatours; TVE1; Agua de Veri; Karstadt; Nokia; Cerveza Damm; Michelob;Rianxeira; Helios; Vodafone; Williams;Polaris;Port Aventura.
2001 - Appeared as Clown in feature film El Zoo d’en Pitus.
1992 - Fool (principal role) in short film No Man’s Land by S. Dewey.
1984 - Wrote and presented series on UK pop, Radio Narbona, France.
1982 - John (principal role) in short film The House by Simon Brown.
Video Art
2003-5 - Made feature length documentary on clown training, Play and Play Portraits. Barcelona.
Director
2023 – Clown Coach for Michelle Matlock in The Mammy Project, Tacoma, USA
2023 – Quiplash, The Pit, Barbican, London
2022 – Krista Komodor, The Woman by Philippe Gaulier, New York
2022 – Lauren LoGiudice, stand-up live show
2021 – D.O.C., by Safety Catch Theatre, 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space, Newbury.
2021 – We All Wobble, by Acá Theatre, Worthing.
2020-1 - Krista Komondor, Twitch
2019 – Clowning director for Mathilda and the Orange Balloon, DH Ensemble, London
2017-20 - Friday Flop with Citizens of Nowhere
2014-15 – Not A Real Horse with Stupididity
2010-13 – The Spaghetti Horse with Sclowns.
2005 - Uncle Vanya by Chekhov, Institut del Teatre de Barcelona.
2004 - Belle-ile-en-mer, by clown company Compañía In Serius, at Can Felipa, Barcelona.
2003 - Mossegades, by Companyia Mousiké, at L’Atelier, Barcelona.
2001 - Molt Trist, by clown company Companyia Sense P, at Teatre Malic, Barcelona.
2001 - The Duchess of Malfi by Webster, at Col.legi del Teatre, Barcelona.
1999-2000 - Play, experimental improvisation, at La Caldera, Barcelona.
1993-2006 - With Clara Cenoz, all of Companyia d’Idiotes’ productions, Barcelona.
1993 - Pétards Mouillés, clown company, London.
1991 - Jo de Waal, experimental singer, Bristol.
1990 - Town In The Dumps, mask show by Nothing Personal Theatre Company, Bristol.
1985-6 - All of Cast of Thousands Theatre’s productions, Nottm.
1982-4 - Various revues, sketches, etc.
1982 - Les mouches by Sartre, P.A. Studio, Nottm.
1982-2006 - Numerous short pieces and individual numbers by various performers.
Stage Manager
1992 - 3D Collaborative Theatre, circus-dance company, Bristol.
1991 - Tented show by Fool Time Circus School, Bristol.
Assistant Casting Director
2002- Assistant to Itziar Hernandez, Barcelona.
-Assistant to Carol Piera, Barcelona.
Musician
Instruments: accordion, piano, child’s piano, banjo, violin, clarinet.
Styles: Klezmer, Folk (British, Irish, American, Romanian, Bulgarian), Classical, Ragtime/Early Jazz.
Sight reading: high level.
2019-21 – Co-founder and accordionist with Rhythm of the Floor, Scottish/Canadian folk duo, London
2017-18 - Accordionist and co-founder of Popurri klezmer band, London.
1986-2015 – Busker playing accordion and child’s piano, UK and Europe.
2004-2006 - Co-founded Hop!, Clown-Klezmer band, Barcelona.
2004 - Arranged and performed, with Ciuri-Ciuri, music for the show Una Gitana en Barcelona, by Maria Stoyanova, at La Nave J.
1997-2003 - Co-founded Orkestina, Jewish/Gypsy band, Barcelona, releasing 3 CD’s: Soul of Europe; Jewish Gypsy; Transilvania Express.
1990 - Member of Mere Mortals, devising and performing music for Fen by Carol Churchill, Hope Centre, Bristol.
1987-93 - Accordionist with Wholesome Fish, Celtic-Cajun band, Nottm., touring U.K., Ireland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania.
Teaching
2014-25 - Founder of London Clown School
2024 - Clown workshops, Shanghai, China
2024-5 – Critical Theory for Performance, Art and Film, BA Theatre and Performance Practice, London Metropolitan University
2023 - Clown workshop, NYC, USA
2023 – Clown workshop, The Family Theater, Olympia, USA
2023 – Clown workshop, Thymele Studios, Los Angeles
2023 – Clown workshop, Bold Elephant, London
2023 – Clown workshop, Desperate Men Studios, Bristol
2018-25 – Clowning Module, BA Theatre and Performance Practice, London Metropolitan University
2022 - Clown workshop, The Acting Studio, Nottingham
2022 - Clown workshop, Limehouse Town Hall, London
2022 - Clown workshop, Vancouver, Canada
2022 - Clown workshop, Clown Gym, NYC
2022 - Clown workshop, Front Porch, Savannah, GA
2022 - Clown workshop, The Story Parlor, Asheville, NC
2022 - Clown workshop, The Open Space, Brussels
2022 - Clown workshop, Remise/Werkstatt für Clownforschung, Potsdam, Germany
2022 - Clown workshop, Limehouse Town Hall, London
2022 - Clown workshop, Remise/Werkstatt für Clownforschung, Potsdam, Germany
2022 – Clown Lab, Athens, with Hilary Ramsden and Robyn Hambrook
2021 – Clown workshop, Universitatea Națională de Arte "George Enescu" Iași, Romania
2021 – Clown workshop, The Bureau of Silly Ideas, Brixton, London
2020 – Online Clown workshop facilitator, National Youth Theatre (UK)
2020 – Clown workshop facilitator, Cirkobalkana, Belgrade, Serbia
2019 – Clown workshop facilitator, Calgary Clown Festival, Canada
2018-20 – Clown workshop facilitator, The Open Space, Brussels, Belgium
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, Montreal Clown Festival, Montreal
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, New York Clown Theatre Festival, NYC
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, V&A Museum, London
2018-19 – Visiting Lecturer in Clowning at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) (BA modules in Physical and Applied Theatre)
2018 - Taught clown workshops in Johannesburg (African Film and Drama Academy), Soweto (Ngizwe Youth Theatre) and Cape Town (Clowns Without Borders, Magnet Theatre) (South Africa)
2017-18 - PhD Co-Supervisor and Lecturer, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
2016-18 - Taught clown internationally: Peru, South Africa, Belgium
2006-13 - Co-Director of Studies, Escola de Clown de Barcelona.
2007-19 - Visiting Lecturer in Clown, CSSD, University of London. Taught clown on undergraduate and (BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education, BA Theatre Practice, BA Acting) postgraduate courses (MA Classical Acting, MA Acting for Screen, MA Actor Training and Coaching, MA Applied Theatre, MA Theatre Studies, MA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media).
2007-10 - Creative Research Fellow at CSSD, University of London.
1996-2006 - Taught Clown, Improvisation, Play and Actor Training at Institut del Teatre de
Barcelona.
2000-2 - Taught Acting with ITDansa, postgraduate dance company, Institut del Teatre.
1997 - Co-taught Clown with Jango Edwards at El Mercat de les Flors, Barcelona; and Festival of Fools, Loèche-les-Bains, Switzerland.
1995-2005 - Clown, Play and Impro workshops and full year courses at numerous drama schools, Barcelona (Col.legi del Teatre, El Timbal, Co&Co, etc.)
1992 - Founded The Experimental Clown Group, Bristol, dedicated to clown and play research.
1987-8 - With Cast of Thousands Theatre, numerous workshops in universities, schools, community and youth centres, including residencies at Long Eaton School and Ollerton Dukeries.
1987 - Theatre in Education anti-racism projects with Strange Fruit Theatre, Nottm.
1984-6 - Workshops on Clown, Brecht and Shakespeare, with City Stage, Nottm.
1984-5 - Theatre workshops at community centres, Derry.
1983 - Mime workshops, Languedoc, France.
Publishing
Publications
2023 Clowning Workbook (Bloomsbury Methuen)
2015 Clown Training (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)
2013 Clown: Readings in Theatre Practice (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)
2009 “Clown Prosthetics and Amputations” in Performance Research Vol. 14, No.4 'Transplantations'
Conference Papers
2018 ‘Thinkers for our time – Charlie Chaplin’, British Academy, London
2018 ‘A Brief History of Clown Fashion: Using Material Evidence of Costume for Research‘, Circus and Beyond - Rethinking the History of Popular Entertainment, University of Sheffield
2017 ‘Successful Failure’, TEDx RCSSD.
2017 ‘Clown Politics’, Clowns and Power Symposium, London International Mime Festival, Jacksons Lane
2015 “Documenting Clown Training”, Comedy Symposium, University of Salford/BBC
2015 “What Is The Value Of Clown Training?” Intersections Performance Research, RCSSD
2014 “Clown History Today”, TaPRA Royal Holloway University
2014 “The Staging of Spontaneity”, Colloquium of Performance Research, RCSSD
2013 “How To Be A Clown”, TaPRA,University og Glasgow
2013 “Historicising Contemporary Clown”, Colloquium of Performance Research, CSSD
2010 “Clown Training Today”, TaPRA, University of Glamorgan
2010 “Clown Training”, Documenting Practices, CSSD
2009 “An Encyclopaedia of Clown”, Festival Of, CSSD
2009 “The Dramaturgy of Clown”, Festival Of, CSSD
2008 “The Practice of Failure”, Festival of Emergent Arts, CSSD
2008 “The Phenomenology of Clown”, Festival of Emergent Arts, CSSD.
Sport
2023 – Tag Rugby GB Men's 50s, Tag Rugby World Cup, Limerick, Ireland
2023 – Master Rugby League, Brixton Bulls, London
2023-25 - Touch Rugby (various teams), London
2023-25 - Tag Rugby (various teams), London
2022-23 – Walking Rugby with Richmond Rugby, RAG, London
2022-24 - Canicross - "Muddy Mutleys"
1980-81 - 1st XV Rugby Union, Hampton Grammar
Professional Training
Schools
1992-93 École Philippe Gaulier
1989 Foundation Course in Circus, Fool Time Circus School (Bristol)
Workshops
2024-5 – Parkour – West Coast Parkour Elders, Stratford
2019-20 Kalarippayattu Indian Martial Arts, London
2016 Yiddish song and improvisation – Polina Shepherd (Jewish Music Institute, London)
2015 Flatfoot Dance – Alice Cade (Chats Palace, London)
2014 Trampoline – Caroline Quist (Phoenix Fitness Centre, London)
2014 Parkour – Parkour Generations, London
2011-13 Comedy Script Writing – Guy Meredith (City Lit, London)
2010-15 Eccentric Dance – Barry Grantham
2010 Sword Dance (Rapper and Longsword) – Hawksword, London
2008/2009 Andrey Drozhnin Movement Technique – Natalia Fedorova (MXAT)
2008 Michael Chekhov Technique – Lenard Petit (Michael Chekhov Acting Studio)
2008 Meyerhold's Biomechanics and Chekhov's Psychological Gesture - Sergey Ostrenko
2007-15 Clog Dance – Camden Clog (EFDSS)
2006 Clown - Moshe Cohen
2003 Improvisation - Ruth Zaporah
1993 Clown - Théâtre de Complicité
1991 Fool - Jonathan Kay
1991 Tight Wire – Kate Verney
1990 Voice – Franki Armstrong
1989-91 Improvisation – Guy Dartnell
1989-90 Clown - Franki Anderson
1989-90 Voice - Guy Dartnell
1989 Clown - John Lee
1988-9 Tai Chi – Simon Biddlestone, Nottingham ICC
1988 Puppetry – Bob Wade
1987 Political Theatre History and Practice – Nottingham CAC
1983 Mime – Pete Holdway
1981-2 Karate – Nottingham University
Education
2012-2018 Royal Central School of Speech and Drama – PhD in Clown Performance
2006 University of Kent – M.A. Practice as Research (Drama)
1981-85 University of Nottingham – B.A. (Hons) in French Studies (2:1)
Languages
English (native), Spanish (fluent), French (fluent), Catalan (fluent).
Performing – Clown/Theatre
2017-20 - Producer of Friday Flop, monthly event at Rosmeary Branch Theatre, London
2014-15 – Created and performed Not A Real Horse with Stupididity
2014 - Created and performed clown solo Can clown performance be made out of clown training? at RCSSD
2011-13 – Created/performed solo show 21st Century Clown at CSSD, London variety and cabaret venue2013-15 - Created and performed clown solo The Self-Deconstruction of Clowning at RCSSD.
2012 - Performer with Festive Road, devising/performing Brewing Up, touring SE England festivals.
2011-23 - Performed with Camden Clog, various folk festivals throughout Britain.
2011- Co-created and performed with Sophie Page-Hall The Mermaid, trapeze/clown show, various festivals in UK.
2010-13 - Created and toured The Spaghetti Horse, co-produced by Stratford Circus.
2010 – Devised/performed Clowning by Numbers at Battersea Arts Centre and various cabarets, London.
2008-9 – devised and performed Jontxu...to be and Clown Phenomena, at London venues (Chisenhale Dance, Boogaloo, Festival of Emergent Art) and Edinburgh Fringe Festival (with Sideshow)
1993-2006 - Co-founded, with Clara Cenoz, Companyia d’Idiotes, Barcelona. Shows to date: Mamiydaddy; Bebè Dolent; Ou Xou; Clown Impromptu; Macbez; Tzirk!; Home Sweet Home; Look Into My Eyes!!!; Don’t Play It Again, Sam; De Kartró; Jonny D.; Klezmer Clown. Touring Spain, U.K., France, Russia, Poland (Tàrrega; Festival Cos; Mercat de les Flors; Teatre Malic; El Canto de la Cabra; La Paloma; etc)
2000 - La Llave Perdida with Companyia Mousiké, Barcelona.
1998 - Variétés 98 with Jango Edwards, Teatre Goya, Barcelona.
1992 - Solo experimental clown show Ghosts, The Dance Centre, Bristol.
1991 - Solo impro clown show I Want To Be A Human Being, various venues, Bristol.
- Lunatic Agency, impro group with Franki Anderson, Guy Dartnell, Bristol.
1987-8 - Co-founded Cast of Thousands Theatre, 2-man clown company, writing and touring shows around U.K.: The Audition; Things Go Horribly Wrong; You’ll Never Walk Alone; The Story With The Missing Pages; Victorian Values.
1987 - Dom Juan in Dom Juan by Molière, The Third Eye Centre, Glasgow.
1986 - Bobby Trot in Luke the Labourer, dir. Simon Shepherd, Nottm., Loughborough, Manchester.
- Cabarets with City Stage at The Old Vic, Nottm.
- Agit-Prop Sketches from The Workers Theatre Movement and The Actress’s Franchise League, The P.A. Studio, Nottm.
- Sganarelle in Sganarelle by Molière, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Fear of Falling by Mark Aldridge, The Midland Group, Nottm.
- Music Hall Show, Yates’ and The Old Vic, Nottm.
1985 - Various roles in Blood Relations by Carol Churchill, with City Stage, Nottm.P.A. Studio.
- Other Experiments, with City Stage, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Show, The New Theatre, Nottm.
1984 - Greeneyes in Deathwatch by Jean Genet, Nottingham Playhouse.
- Matthew in The Threepenny Opera by Brecht, dir. Simon Shepherd, Yates’, Nottm.
- Revue Shows with QYT, touring England and Wales.
1983 - L’Idiote in Les Mouches by Sartre, The Performing Arts Studio, Nottm.
- Krapp’s Last Tape by Beckett, dir. Jem Carden, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Shows and Street Theatre with QYT, Nottm., Darlington, Coventry.
- Mime Artist with Le Théâtre Jeune de Narbonne, touring Languedoc.
1982 - Marquis de Sade in Marat/Sade by Peter Weiss, dir. Jem Carden, The New Theatre, Nottm.
- Revue Show, touring bars, Nottingham.
Cinema/TV/Commercials/Radio
2003 - Presenter in feature length documentary Asia en Casa, by Leo de Armas.
2003 - Chairman of the panel in comedy talent show series 4 i acció…, TVE2, Spain.
2001-5 - Principal roles in commercials for: Renault Kangoo; Turismo Canarias; Vivatours; TVE1; Agua de Veri; Karstadt; Nokia; Cerveza Damm; Michelob;Rianxeira; Helios; Vodafone; Williams;Polaris;Port Aventura.
2001 - Appeared as Clown in feature film El Zoo d’en Pitus.
1992 - Fool (principal role) in short film No Man’s Land by S. Dewey.
1984 - Wrote and presented series on UK pop, Radio Narbona, France.
1982 - John (principal role) in short film The House by Simon Brown.
Video Art
2003-5 - Made feature length documentary on clown training, Play and Play Portraits. Barcelona.
Director
2023 – Clown Coach for Michelle Matlock in The Mammy Project, Tacoma, USA
2023 – Quiplash, The Pit, Barbican, London
2022 – Krista Komodor, The Woman by Philippe Gaulier, New York
2022 – Lauren LoGiudice, stand-up live show
2021 – D.O.C., by Safety Catch Theatre, 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space, Newbury.
2021 – We All Wobble, by Acá Theatre, Worthing.
2020-1 - Krista Komondor, Twitch
2019 – Clowning director for Mathilda and the Orange Balloon, DH Ensemble, London
2017-20 - Friday Flop with Citizens of Nowhere
2014-15 – Not A Real Horse with Stupididity
2010-13 – The Spaghetti Horse with Sclowns.
2005 - Uncle Vanya by Chekhov, Institut del Teatre de Barcelona.
2004 - Belle-ile-en-mer, by clown company Compañía In Serius, at Can Felipa, Barcelona.
2003 - Mossegades, by Companyia Mousiké, at L’Atelier, Barcelona.
2001 - Molt Trist, by clown company Companyia Sense P, at Teatre Malic, Barcelona.
2001 - The Duchess of Malfi by Webster, at Col.legi del Teatre, Barcelona.
1999-2000 - Play, experimental improvisation, at La Caldera, Barcelona.
1993-2006 - With Clara Cenoz, all of Companyia d’Idiotes’ productions, Barcelona.
1993 - Pétards Mouillés, clown company, London.
1991 - Jo de Waal, experimental singer, Bristol.
1990 - Town In The Dumps, mask show by Nothing Personal Theatre Company, Bristol.
1985-6 - All of Cast of Thousands Theatre’s productions, Nottm.
1982-4 - Various revues, sketches, etc.
1982 - Les mouches by Sartre, P.A. Studio, Nottm.
1982-2006 - Numerous short pieces and individual numbers by various performers.
Stage Manager
1992 - 3D Collaborative Theatre, circus-dance company, Bristol.
1991 - Tented show by Fool Time Circus School, Bristol.
Assistant Casting Director
2002- Assistant to Itziar Hernandez, Barcelona.
-Assistant to Carol Piera, Barcelona.
Musician
Instruments: accordion, piano, child’s piano, banjo, violin, clarinet.
Styles: Klezmer, Folk (British, Irish, American, Romanian, Bulgarian), Classical, Ragtime/Early Jazz.
Sight reading: high level.
2019-21 – Co-founder and accordionist with Rhythm of the Floor, Scottish/Canadian folk duo, London
2017-18 - Accordionist and co-founder of Popurri klezmer band, London.
1986-2015 – Busker playing accordion and child’s piano, UK and Europe.
2004-2006 - Co-founded Hop!, Clown-Klezmer band, Barcelona.
2004 - Arranged and performed, with Ciuri-Ciuri, music for the show Una Gitana en Barcelona, by Maria Stoyanova, at La Nave J.
1997-2003 - Co-founded Orkestina, Jewish/Gypsy band, Barcelona, releasing 3 CD’s: Soul of Europe; Jewish Gypsy; Transilvania Express.
1990 - Member of Mere Mortals, devising and performing music for Fen by Carol Churchill, Hope Centre, Bristol.
1987-93 - Accordionist with Wholesome Fish, Celtic-Cajun band, Nottm., touring U.K., Ireland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania.
Teaching
2014-25 - Founder of London Clown School
2024 - Clown workshops, Shanghai, China
2024-5 – Critical Theory for Performance, Art and Film, BA Theatre and Performance Practice, London Metropolitan University
2023 - Clown workshop, NYC, USA
2023 – Clown workshop, The Family Theater, Olympia, USA
2023 – Clown workshop, Thymele Studios, Los Angeles
2023 – Clown workshop, Bold Elephant, London
2023 – Clown workshop, Desperate Men Studios, Bristol
2018-25 – Clowning Module, BA Theatre and Performance Practice, London Metropolitan University
2022 - Clown workshop, The Acting Studio, Nottingham
2022 - Clown workshop, Limehouse Town Hall, London
2022 - Clown workshop, Vancouver, Canada
2022 - Clown workshop, Clown Gym, NYC
2022 - Clown workshop, Front Porch, Savannah, GA
2022 - Clown workshop, The Story Parlor, Asheville, NC
2022 - Clown workshop, The Open Space, Brussels
2022 - Clown workshop, Remise/Werkstatt für Clownforschung, Potsdam, Germany
2022 - Clown workshop, Limehouse Town Hall, London
2022 - Clown workshop, Remise/Werkstatt für Clownforschung, Potsdam, Germany
2022 – Clown Lab, Athens, with Hilary Ramsden and Robyn Hambrook
2021 – Clown workshop, Universitatea Națională de Arte "George Enescu" Iași, Romania
2021 – Clown workshop, The Bureau of Silly Ideas, Brixton, London
2020 – Online Clown workshop facilitator, National Youth Theatre (UK)
2020 – Clown workshop facilitator, Cirkobalkana, Belgrade, Serbia
2019 – Clown workshop facilitator, Calgary Clown Festival, Canada
2018-20 – Clown workshop facilitator, The Open Space, Brussels, Belgium
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, Montreal Clown Festival, Montreal
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, New York Clown Theatre Festival, NYC
2018 – Clown workshop facilitator, V&A Museum, London
2018-19 – Visiting Lecturer in Clowning at Stellenbosch University (South Africa) (BA modules in Physical and Applied Theatre)
2018 - Taught clown workshops in Johannesburg (African Film and Drama Academy), Soweto (Ngizwe Youth Theatre) and Cape Town (Clowns Without Borders, Magnet Theatre) (South Africa)
2017-18 - PhD Co-Supervisor and Lecturer, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
2016-18 - Taught clown internationally: Peru, South Africa, Belgium
2006-13 - Co-Director of Studies, Escola de Clown de Barcelona.
2007-19 - Visiting Lecturer in Clown, CSSD, University of London. Taught clown on undergraduate and (BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Education, BA Theatre Practice, BA Acting) postgraduate courses (MA Classical Acting, MA Acting for Screen, MA Actor Training and Coaching, MA Applied Theatre, MA Theatre Studies, MA Writing for Stage and Broadcast Media).
2007-10 - Creative Research Fellow at CSSD, University of London.
1996-2006 - Taught Clown, Improvisation, Play and Actor Training at Institut del Teatre de
Barcelona.
2000-2 - Taught Acting with ITDansa, postgraduate dance company, Institut del Teatre.
1997 - Co-taught Clown with Jango Edwards at El Mercat de les Flors, Barcelona; and Festival of Fools, Loèche-les-Bains, Switzerland.
1995-2005 - Clown, Play and Impro workshops and full year courses at numerous drama schools, Barcelona (Col.legi del Teatre, El Timbal, Co&Co, etc.)
1992 - Founded The Experimental Clown Group, Bristol, dedicated to clown and play research.
1987-8 - With Cast of Thousands Theatre, numerous workshops in universities, schools, community and youth centres, including residencies at Long Eaton School and Ollerton Dukeries.
1987 - Theatre in Education anti-racism projects with Strange Fruit Theatre, Nottm.
1984-6 - Workshops on Clown, Brecht and Shakespeare, with City Stage, Nottm.
1984-5 - Theatre workshops at community centres, Derry.
1983 - Mime workshops, Languedoc, France.
Publishing
Publications
2023 Clowning Workbook (Bloomsbury Methuen)
2015 Clown Training (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)
2013 Clown: Readings in Theatre Practice (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan)
2009 “Clown Prosthetics and Amputations” in Performance Research Vol. 14, No.4 'Transplantations'
Conference Papers
2018 ‘Thinkers for our time – Charlie Chaplin’, British Academy, London
2018 ‘A Brief History of Clown Fashion: Using Material Evidence of Costume for Research‘, Circus and Beyond - Rethinking the History of Popular Entertainment, University of Sheffield
2017 ‘Successful Failure’, TEDx RCSSD.
2017 ‘Clown Politics’, Clowns and Power Symposium, London International Mime Festival, Jacksons Lane
2015 “Documenting Clown Training”, Comedy Symposium, University of Salford/BBC
2015 “What Is The Value Of Clown Training?” Intersections Performance Research, RCSSD
2014 “Clown History Today”, TaPRA Royal Holloway University
2014 “The Staging of Spontaneity”, Colloquium of Performance Research, RCSSD
2013 “How To Be A Clown”, TaPRA,University og Glasgow
2013 “Historicising Contemporary Clown”, Colloquium of Performance Research, CSSD
2010 “Clown Training Today”, TaPRA, University of Glamorgan
2010 “Clown Training”, Documenting Practices, CSSD
2009 “An Encyclopaedia of Clown”, Festival Of, CSSD
2009 “The Dramaturgy of Clown”, Festival Of, CSSD
2008 “The Practice of Failure”, Festival of Emergent Arts, CSSD
2008 “The Phenomenology of Clown”, Festival of Emergent Arts, CSSD.
Sport
2023 – Tag Rugby GB Men's 50s, Tag Rugby World Cup, Limerick, Ireland
2023 – Master Rugby League, Brixton Bulls, London
2023-25 - Touch Rugby (various teams), London
2023-25 - Tag Rugby (various teams), London
2022-23 – Walking Rugby with Richmond Rugby, RAG, London
2022-24 - Canicross - "Muddy Mutleys"
1980-81 - 1st XV Rugby Union, Hampton Grammar