Fest to show clowning is no laughing matter

If you harbour a secret fear of clowns and console yourself with the fact that in India, they are mostly restricted to circus tents and private parties, consider yourself duly warned.

Starting Friday, the First International Clown Festival 2010 will see 11 world-class clowns step into Mumbai’s malls, colleges and open spaces to show Indian audiences that clowning is, in fact, no laughing matter.

Martin D’Souza, a professional clown with 20 years of experience and managing director of Light House Entertainment, the event management company that is organising the festival, feels the festival has been long overdue.

“The clowns we know in India are circus midgets who are basically looked down upon and called jokers. But while a joker tries to make people laugh, a clown makes people happy,” says D’Souza enigmatically.

Internationally, clowning is considered a highly skilled and respected art form which requires years of practice to perfect.

American Molly ‘SKiDDLES’ Kleeman is a stilt walker and unicyclist with over 14 years of clowning experience and is looking forward to interacting with the people of Mumbai.

Far from being apprehensive about any imminent culture shocks, Molly thinks she will feel right at home. She says, “Indians are quite Americanised and, of course, they all speak English. They know Spiderman and other iconic references that we might use.”

The clowns, who will be performing at the ten-day festival, have come down from the United States, Canada, parts of Europe and Malaysia. But they all tend to agree that laughter and humour are universal.

“Visual comedy appeals to anybody. It’s all about sheer emotion and physical comedy,” explains Canadian Jonathan Seglins, also known as Circus Jonathan.

An award-winning unicyclist, master balloon sculptor, wire walker and equilibrist, Seglins will also help conduct the workshops that are scheduled next week at St Andrew’s College and St Xavier’s College.

Apart from the performances and workshops, the clowns will also be doing mall appearances, charity shows and a finale street performance at Shivaji Park on Children’s Day (5pm).

D’Souza says, “In India, we look at clowning as a profession for the uneducated and unemployed. Worldwide, there are clowns who are doctors, policemen, educationists and bankers. It’s time that we began seeing it as a legitimate career option.”