Life is absurd, and everyone’s a f*cking clown. This is something to celebrate – with top rate physical comedy. Enter the London Clown Festival.
I had a hoot and a half at last night’s press preview London Clown Festival. Cranky, naughty (and occasionally utterly filthy) puppet duo Boris & Sergey hosted the show featuring a range of always wacky and sometimes absolutely brilliant acts.
As clowning is intended (I suppose), performers allowed themselves to be the butt of their own jokes to reflect the follies and quirks of all of us. I especially loved the sneering, nervous-laughter-inducing improv of The Establishment; the manic miming of Inda Perada; the preposterous gags and observations of Ben Target (pictured above); and the athletic dithering of Helen Duff.
I laughed – a lot – during the show. I’m chuckling now writing this review.
Hosted at The Omnitorium near Manor House, the festival is on now until 19 June with a loaded roster of events and performances. Tickets cost a measly five quid in advance (£6.50 at the door)! And there’s a bar with equally inexpensive drinks. Done deal? Cheap, funny and madcap, if you crave beaucoup belly laughs this festival is for you.
I also really appreciated the opportunity presented last night to find out about Clowns without Borders and the Flying Seagull Project, and their important work with people in crisis, children undergoing difficult medical treatments and those living in refugee camps. As the festival is so ridiculously cheap to attend, maybe you can spare some money to donate to these worthwhile causes?
clownswithoutborders.org
theflyingseagullproject.com
The Omnitorium is located at Eade Road (at Seven Sisters Road), N4 1DH. Find out more at omnitorium.co.uk and londonclownfest.co.uk.
