Airborn babies, wine violins and an unusual linen basket – discover the world of Felicity Hesed’s Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto, which has its European premiere at VAULT Festival in February. Check out the production images, then book your tickets.
NEWS: Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto receives European premiere at VAULT Festival
Cara Vita: A Clown Concerto, which explores the joys, sorrows, and hilarity of contemporary adulthood through music, circus and magic, will be seen in Europe for the first time this February as part of VAULT Festival. Book your tickets now.
‘Clowns have a bad rep!’ Carly Jurman tells us about bringing her one-woman comic tale Unlovable to Camden Fringe
Why was clowning the perfect medium for the tale of almost-30 American girl desperately trying to find love? Performer Carly Jurman explains all about innocence, performing solo, Steven King and her Camden Fringe show Unlovable in our interview. Have a read then book your tickets!
CAMDEN FRINGE NEWS: Carly Jurman brings America’s sweetheart to the Etcetera Theatre in Unlovable
One-woman clowning tale of love, dating and feminism, Unlovable, a hit at Brighton Fringe earlier this year, comes to London’s Etcetera Theatre for the final week of the Camden Fringe. Book your tickets now!
CAMDEN FRINGE NEWS: Clowns rebuild the world in Fools of the Apocalypse
What would happen if the world ended and the only two people left to rebuild it were a pair of clowns? Scram Collective’s new Camden Fringe show Fools of the Apocalypse offers the answer. Time to book your tickets!
‘We participate, without feeling invaded’: CRY BLUEBERRY – Cockpit Theatre
The story is set in 1930’s America, where Blueberry the clown has just been left by his wife. He takes us on a journey of redemption, knitting his memories with an honest reflection of his present.
PALMYRA – #EdFringe
Two men glide around the floor on small wheeled platforms. Like children, belly down on skateboards, they relish the speed and inability to control their paths.
HAMLET FOOL – Lion & Unicorn Theatre
Anastasia Zinovieva is a motley clown who wants to reenact Hamlet, but it’s a big story to take on herself. She enlists seven people from the audience to fill the major roles and instructs them as they go – similar to Hamlet’s treatment of the players.
I HEAR YOU AND REJOICE – Tricycle Theatre
I Hear You And Rejoice is a tribute to the power of the single storyteller. Lighting, costume and staging are simple, revealing the power of the skilled actor. The result is a joyful play full of sentimentality that is also hugely funny.
COULROPHOBIA – Touring
Coulrophobia – Two Clowns Trapped In A Cardboard World is performed by Dik Downey (company director) and Adam Blake. The tragic twosome pull out a series of cardboard puppets as they frolic about a set full, but not quite full enough, of cardboard boxes.
JERAMEE, HARTLEBY AND OOGLEMORE – Touring
Hartleby, Ooglemore and Jeramee are at the beach. It’s a beautiful, sunny day and the three are having a grand time, even though they can only use three words. The beach is full of potential for adventures – some happy, same scary, some frustrating.
ONLY BONES – Soho Theatre
Short and sweet, classic and comical. Thomas Monckton performs a solo piece glued to his spot, centre stage beneath a low hanging lamp, which obscures his body from the shoulders up for at least half of the work. Only Bones is a classic example of body manipulation that playfully explores all the possibilities that a clown can find and make with only his body, one square metre of space, and one light.
CIRCUS DIARIES at #edfringe: Elixir by Head First Acrobats
Zombies, super-strength and test-tube potions are the order of the day in Elixir, from the Australian team of Head First Acrobats (HFA). Or, more correctly, the order of the night – the programming of this show into a 10pm slot is a great move to attract a new type of audience to the sort of universally entertaining circus-theatre show that (with the removal of a couple of choice expletives) could be equally accessible to a family crowd.
Why doesn’t Shakespeare get more coverage at #edfringe?
Whilst there’s plenty of Shakespeare at the fringe, it doesn’t get much coverage. It’s understandable – the Bard doesn’t count as a potential Next Big Thing, and he’s favoured by student and international groups that usually have short runs and are deemed less worthy of critical attention.
CIRCUS DIARIES: Opèra Pour Sèche-Cheveux, by Blizzard Concept
Blizzard Concept’s show Opéra pour Sèche-Cheveux (or ‘Hairdryer’s Opera’) begins with a riveting succession of foam balls that seem to float magically in midair. The two French performers are Antoine Terrieux – the magician – and Julien Mandier, the clown/juggler.
The Art of Clowning: Interview with Mick Barnfather
Mick Barnfather is a theatre director, actor and teacher with over 35 years of professional industry experience. Renowned for his exploratory clown workshops, Mick is well-versed in making people laugh. Here he explains more about this skilful, yet widely misconceived art form…
THE TIGER LILLIES: LOVE FOR SALE – Soho Theatre
Founded in 1989, dark cabaret act The Tiger Lillies are still going strong. For their current show, in conjunction with Opera North, two of the current members reinterpret Cole Porter songs in a distinctive, understated style.
CHAOS – Circus City Festival
The Lords Of Strut have hit Bristol in all their lycra legginged, high-top and headband wearing glory, on a mission to change people’s lives through the power of dance. And through deep, body-rocking laughter. In Chaos, the two brothers Famous Seamus and Seantastic (Cormac Mohally and Cian Kinsella) have decided to share with us their life-coaching wisdom in a motivational seminar that, as promised, gives us Everything.
FRED STRANGEBONE’S FREAKSHOW – London Horror Festival
I’m watching Ben Whitehead play a socially inept Victorian playing a half-walrus/half-man creature, indicated by the wearing of a hooded grey sleeping bag, blue swimming flippers on his hands, and paper tusks precariously attached to his face with a false moustache.