Clown: Foundations
A playful 6-week introduction to the Art of Clowning

Welcome to the Bristol Clown School’s beginners course that introduces you to the foundations and fundamentals of clowning.

Forget what you think clowning is, it is not about custard pies and big shoes. It is much more about learning to play again, finding ways to connect with other participants and an audience, learn to expressing your emotion and most of all, embracing the absurd

For anyone with an interest in exploring their own comic potential, these classes offer a platform to explore a state of simplicity and vulnerability that will entice the unexpected and the hilarious. Participants will be guided to dive into a space of playfulness where having fun is at the centre of the creative process.

Playfulness is a state of Flow, where we become less self-conscious and more receptive to the pleasure of being completely in the now and in creative contact with ourselves and the others.

From here, we will introduce some of the fundamental building blocks of clowning to help you explore this dynamic comedic form. We will explore:

★ connection
★ encountering each other
★ encountering the audience
★ clown play with emotions & status
★ improvisation & performance

The understanding of these principles is vital for any performer/actor interested in creating original work within a character, a play, a choreography or a dramatic space.

Each session consists of introductory body work and clown principle training, followed by solo and group improvisations.

Clown 1: Foundations will be facilitated by professional idiots Robyn Hambrook & Holly Meechan. They will will be drawing on her vast experience and background in theatre clowning, improvisation, physical theatre and performance.

Discover new ways of expressing yourself through your physicality. Encounter the world with fresh eyes and a playful heart. Connect and play with a gorgeous, growing community of clowns in fun and surprising ways. Plenty of laughter guaranteed!

Who's this for?

This a beginners course for those who have never done any clowning or those with some experience who wish to explore the fundamentals again.  It is suitable for performers and non-performers, old-hands or clown curious, and anyone who wishes to broaden their skill set in a supportive environment.

All exercises will be tailored to the participants' needs and everyone will have the opportunity to work both individually and in groups with allocated time for reflection and feedback.

If you’re not sure if your level of experience would support you to join this workshop, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to help identify if the classes are right for you.

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★  "Absolutely amazing. A chance to connect with inner child, be playful and joyful. Chance to explore staying in the discomfort, being in the moment, to find the funny that's already there. To learn about connection, openess and vulnerability in a very practical embodied way. A supportive, encouraging safe and brave space to do all these things." Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

★ "I felt nervous before attending as I didn’t know what to expect from a clown workshop. I was worried I'd be put on the spot to “be funny”, but it was far from that. There was no pressure to be the best or hilarious, it was all explorative and trust building." Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

How it works

Dates & times:
Wednesdays
20, 27 May, 3, 10, 17, 24 June
6.45 - 9pm

Venue:
The Spark Space, Redfield, Bristol, BS5 9HH

Investment:
6 week course
£180 - Full price
£160 - Concession (low/no income, student)
EARLYBIRD discount: £20 off if you pay before 24 April 
Payment will be requested via paypal or BACs

Enrolment deadline:
Wednesday 13 May 2025

Prerequisites:
None. All levels welcome

BOOKING: 
Email [email protected] to book a place

If you’re not sure if your level of experience would support you to join this workshop, please email us and we will be happy to help identify if the workshop is right for you.

★  "Holistic, welcoming, therapeutic, and rewarding. Its not just for someone that wants to become a clown, its for anyone that wants to explore play, communication, confidence and pushing personal boundaries. You wont find yourself with giant shoes and travelling by tiny car, instead you'll be with a great welcoming group having a lovely time and time and learning someone about yourself in the process." Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

★ "It reminds me to say yes to play! It helped to build both social and performance confidence, silliness and wonder." Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

★ "exceeded my expectations - this was high quality training, packed with so many fun and useful tools, games and exercises and it was structured so well in gradually building up skills until the final mini performances. Holly and Robyn were really supportive and encouraging facilitators while also pushing you to keep improving your clown practice. "
Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

★ "After doing the course I fell in love with clowning and it gave me the confidence to keep doing it and build up my skills - I signed up to the next level - the Building Blocks course - straight after! I’ll also be using some of the fab games & activities in my own drama facilitator work."
Participant, Clown 1:Foundations Weekend workshop

About the facilitators

Robyn Hambrook is a Bristol-based director, teacher and performer. With over 20 years experience she is a passionate practitioner of clowning, physical theatre, circus and street arts. She has a MA in Circus Directing, a Diploma of Physical Theatre Practice and trained with a long line of inspiring teachers including Holly Stoppit, Peta Lily, Giovanni Fusetti, Bim Mason, Jon Davison, Zuma Puma, Lucy Hopkins and John Wright.

Robyn has run workshops in corporate, community, education and humanitarian settings for companies including Let's Circus, Impact Arts, Islington People's Theatre, Active Inquiry and in tertiary education for the Bristol School of Acting, University of Bristol, UWE, Circomedia and Circus Central.

Robyn is driven to create collaborative, research spaces, testing and pushing the limits of the artform to create new knowledge and methodologies for her industry. Recent  collaborations and teaching projects have included the Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy (5-day Activist Clown Training), The Laboratory of the Un-beautiful (Feminist Grotesque Bouffon Training for Womxn Theatre Makers) and the Clown Congress (annual gathering of clowns, activists & academics collectively exploring what it means to be a clown in this current era).

Holly Meechan is a Bristolian performer, theatre-maker, director and facilitator. She has been running workshops for over twenty years for a wide variety of groups in community, educational and corporate settings; working for companies including Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Shakespeare Schools Foundation, Freshwater Theatre, Fifth Word and her own company Join the Dots. As a practitioner her specialist areas of interest are devised theatre, immersive and interactive performance, improvisation, clowning and puppetry. 

Since gaining a degree in theatre at Exeter University she has further trained in comedy improv with The Free Association and Monkey Toast; in Forum Theatre with Adrian Jackson; and she has studied clown with many teachers including Phillipe Gaulier, Aitor Basuri, Peta Lily, Holly Stoppit, Bim Mason and Dr Brown. She performs regularly on stage with London based improv team Rhinoceros and in Bristol Improv Theatre’s flagship show The Bish Bosh Bash. You can occasionally see her on the comedy and cabaret circuit performing solo character and clown bits and Holly has also recently started working as a Giggle Doctor for Theodora children's charity.