Circus Factory is delighted to host a workshop in Dark Clown with award-winning performer/ theatre maker: Peta Lily. There are no workshops like this in Ireland to gain more insight into dark clowning and work with renowned expert Peta Lily.

Workshop Details

The dark clown workshop will cover the basics of Clown, how to enter Clown state, some techniques in mime and physical comedy, some movement techniques, some techniques for improvisation, the principles of laughter creation and management, audience awareness, rhythm work, the concept of play.

Once the comedy craft that supports the ‘Troubled Laughter’ is in place, the course moves on to introduce the concept and explore the practice of Dark Clown. A step by step approach guides the participants there.

Dark Clown work is always taught at the first level as Clown & Dark Clown. The work begins with Red Nose Clown work to establish common understanding, openness and play within the group and to install comedy craft techniques which will be used over on the Dark Side.

The teaching has special emphasis on rhythm, texture, phrasing, musicality and also audience awareness, laughter creation and tension management. The work is taught with a well-judged balance of challenge and support. Suitable for beginners as well as more advanced participants – students are worked at their individual level within the group. For groups where people are experienced in Clown work, some steps such as how to enter Clown state can be omitted.

ISACS are offering two bursaries to attend this workshop.

This workshop is co-organised with Bill and Fred Productions and supported by Circus Factory, Dance Cork Firkin Crane, ISACS and the Arts Council.

Book the workshop
Complete the workshop questionnaire

About Dark Clown

Dark Clown is a new Clown genre which stretches clown work into more challenging subjects. Dark Clown is a darker kind of humour, a way to create clown characters and ensembles with more edge and relevance. It is a way to make a more exciting and demanding rapport with audiences and – it provides a way to deal with the dark absurdities of the world, when drama and sentiment are not enough.

Lily’s Dark Clown work retains respect for the subject matter and includes more marginalised emotions – creating an intriguing and enriching experience for performer and audience alike.

While the Red Nose clown performs out of sheer exuberance, Dark Clown performs under a harsher compulsion. The Red Nose Clown has no past and bounces back from pratfalls, slaps and accidents. The Dark Clown has seen it all, feels it all and has no choice but to ‘sell’ his own pain for our entertainment. One experiences wonder, the other gazes at the abyss. The audience laughs freely at the Red Nose Clown, but watching Dark Clown the audience laughs while asking themselves: ‘Should I really be laughing at this?’ This is the ‘Troubled Laughter’ which is a hallmark of Dark Clown.

Who is this workshop For?

The target of the workshop is intermediate. You don’t necessarily need to have a lot of experience within clowning. But need to have a certain amount of years performing, be comfortable in improvisation, theatre and play.

The Clown & Dark Clown workshop is taught with specificity and precision as well as with fun and compassion.

The work is intended for performers and performers-in-formation. There are many valuable techniques to learn, understand and build confidence in applying. The Dark Clown section of the work is not work for the sentimental or faint-hearted. It requires openness and playful courage. The Dark Clown work helps performers portray the darker emotions including distress, guilt, pain, shame and existential horror (this is imaginative work, no emotional recall is required), and then to apply the rules of comedy to create the ‘Troubled Laughter’ which is the hallmark of the work.

Are there any pre-requirements to attend?

The target of the workshop is intermediate. You don’t necessarily need to have a lot of experience within clowning but to have a few years of performing experience and be comfortable in improvisation. Be open and to create a safe space within the workshop.

Why You Should Attend the Dark Clown Workshop:

  • Increased confidence and courage
  • A way to access a wider range of emotions safely
  • An invigorating experience for the imagination
  • Better audience play and more agile play with others
  • Increased authenticity and ability to be in the moment
  • Greater control of tension and release
  • Heightened awareness of rhythm, phrasing & texture applied to performance
  • Extra inspiration for creating new theatre work
  • A greater understanding of laughter
  • Provides a way to implicate as well as entertain audiences

What Should You Bring?
Bottle of water, lunch (Circus Factory has a microwave and small kitchen).
Lunch 1PM – 2PM

Location: Circus Factory
Day: Monday & Tuesday | January 6th & 7th
Time: 10AM – 5PM
Suitable for ages: 18+
Price: €120*

In order for Peta Lily to plan for the workshop and for you to get the most out of it, we need you to complete the questionnaire in plenty of time ahead of the workshop.

*10% Students and Unwaged Discount Code at check out: CFCONC10%10% Discount for Practitioner Members20% Discount for Professional Members