I have always dreamt of running away with the circus...
Image by Stefania Rota
climbing the silks, flying through the air on the trapeze, big tops, caravans and circus folk around a fire at the end of a long day, playing gypsy music and dancing barefoot…. and of course, the clowns. Having been given a golden ticket to Europe by representing Clowns Without Borders South Africa (CWBSA) on an info tour in Sweden, I took my moment to explore opportunities for artistic development in Europe. I came across Circus Xanti in Norway who had an open call for performances, workshops and creative ideas. I wrote an email to the director, Sverre Waage who responded immediately. So, two months later I am here in the circus village in Sarpsborg with a brand spanking new solo clown and storytelling show called ‘Banana’.
Putting together a solo show was putting myself in the metaphorical stretch zone. I felt the fear and did it anyway! Having a few days in Stockholm at the end of the Swedish tour, I took my props, ideas and video camera to a rehearsal space to play. As the clown does not exist without an audience it was hard to tell whether I was creating something funny or just being crazy. Nevertheless, I kept in mind Goethe’s famous words, “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it now. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”.
I arrived at the Circus Village five days ago now; made up of three tents of different sizes, set in a beautiful park, full of tall Fir trees. There is a 22m tent (big), a 16m (medium), a 6m (tiny), and one tent for the bohemian-style eco café, The Green Elephant. The atmosphere was so relaxed when I arrived, everyone busy with training, rigging, making or baking, that I felt at home very quickly. Things got even better when I discovered my accommodation for the week is the cab of a huge truck/trailer where there is a bed behind the seats. A clown in the driving seat of the circus… I love this adventure!
I jumped straight in and so far I have run a Play by Heart workshop for children and an interactive seminar sharing the work of CWBSA, which included some clowning, some games and songs, a video, slideshow and some talking! And ‘Banana’ is playing in the 6m children’s tent on Tues 12, Weds 13, Fri 15 and Sat 16 June. Click here to check out the website for more info…
Putting together a solo show was putting myself in the metaphorical stretch zone. I felt the fear and did it anyway! Having a few days in Stockholm at the end of the Swedish tour, I took my props, ideas and video camera to a rehearsal space to play. As the clown does not exist without an audience it was hard to tell whether I was creating something funny or just being crazy. Nevertheless, I kept in mind Goethe’s famous words, “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it now. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it”.
I arrived at the Circus Village five days ago now; made up of three tents of different sizes, set in a beautiful park, full of tall Fir trees. There is a 22m tent (big), a 16m (medium), a 6m (tiny), and one tent for the bohemian-style eco café, The Green Elephant. The atmosphere was so relaxed when I arrived, everyone busy with training, rigging, making or baking, that I felt at home very quickly. Things got even better when I discovered my accommodation for the week is the cab of a huge truck/trailer where there is a bed behind the seats. A clown in the driving seat of the circus… I love this adventure!
I jumped straight in and so far I have run a Play by Heart workshop for children and an interactive seminar sharing the work of CWBSA, which included some clowning, some games and songs, a video, slideshow and some talking! And ‘Banana’ is playing in the 6m children’s tent on Tues 12, Weds 13, Fri 15 and Sat 16 June. Click here to check out the website for more info…