Theatre / clowning
Clowning around at Bristol Museum this autumn
Some 162 colourful characters have taken up residence in Bristol Museum & Art Gallery for a brand new exhibition exploring the history of clowning.
As part of this year’s Circus 250 celebrations marking 250 years of the art form, the museum has created Clowns: The Eggs-hibition – a family show featuring original costume, fascinating archives and 162 intriguing clown eggs.
Clowns International, the oldest clowning organisation in the world, has been painting the faces of its members on eggs for over 70 years. Each one is a record of a clown’s identity, preserving the unwritten rule that no clown should copy another’s look. Although not legally binding, the eggs act as a sort of copyright, ensuring that every clown is unique.
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The exhibition includes 162 clown eggs from Clowns International, the world’s oldest clowning organisation, which paints its members’ faces onto eggs to ensure the unique identity of each of its members. There is an unwritten rule that no clown should copy another’s look. Pics: Bristol Culture
Amber Druce, social history curator at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, said: “Lots of people say they’re scared of clowns, but we’re taking it back to a time before the horror films, to when clowns were charming and full of character. There are also modern clowns, female clowns, clown doctors, and clowns that work with refugees. They really are a fascinating bunch of people.”
The exhibition explores the origins of clowning and unveils the personal, hilarious and often bizarre stories of the people beneath the colourful exterior. Alongside the clown eggs, the show also features a clown car, circus props and clothing, archive photos, a kids trail, dressing-up, and even an invisible dog.
A programme of events will take place alongside the exhibition, including Museums at Night: Circus Spectacular (Thursday, Oct 25) – an evening of amazing acrobatics and live performances from Circomedia, Shakedown, Invisible Circus and Cirque da Purr. There will be opportunities to try out circus skills like juggling and tightrope walking, dress up in a themed photo booth and discover more about Bristol’s circus history, from its origins at St James’ Fair to its current Circus City status.
Holly Stoppit will become the museum’s Clown-in-Residence throughout the exhibition
Elsewhere, on various dates during October and November, Holly Stoppit will become the museum’s Clown-in-Residence and host a programme of free performances, pop-up play sessions, nonsensical tours and a laughter yoga workshop. In between times she’ll be writing up her ridiculous clown research, live blogging and writing chapters of her bonkers book.
The public can join in Holly’s big clown experiment by completing her clown-in-residence questionnaire in advance – their answers will prompt what props and costumes she uses, and guide her improvised performances. Find the questionnaire at tinyurl.com/clownsquestions
Clowns: The Eggs-hibition takes place at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery from September 29-Jan 6. For more information, visit www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery/whats-on/clowns-egg-hibition and www.hollystoppit.com
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