Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy brussels
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“We are clowns because what else can one be in such a stupid world”
C.I.R.C.A. 2006 AN INVITATION
This is an invitation to join Hilary Ramsden (co-founder of the Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (C.I.R.C.A)) and Robyn Hambrook (Bristol Clown School, The Online Clown Academy) for their Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy 4-day training in Brussels. The Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy connects clowning, activism, street arts, architecture and the politics of public space. These trainings explore methodologies of clowning as a form of creative activism. WHAT IS IT? Rebel Clowning is an embodied practice that draws on diverse practices: clowning, bouffon, physical theatre, dance and choreography and street performance. Participants will develop ensemble working, movement training and collective devising skills leading to research and experimentation in public space. The journey from the inside out tests the possibilities of clowning to transform the performer, people, place and power. Our process aims to elevate our work beyond the aesthetic and spectacle into more complex, effective and beautiful forms of creative action that address the political, societal and environmental issues of our time. KEY ELEMENTS WE WILL EXPLORE Clowning basics Rebel Clown Training Methodologies Activist Clown Tools & Techniques Choreographies of Protest Politics of Public Space Clowns & Power Clowning as Creative Activism WHO IS IT FOR? Clowns, activists, theatre practitioners, circus and physical performers, dancers,musicians, visual artists, street performers and enthusiasts! Anyone interested in exploring new forms of activism or expanding their understanding of clowning as a form of political expression. And anyone who wants to use humour and laughter to change the world. |
How it works
This course is taught in English
PLACES: There are 16 spaces on the 4-day training course This course is booking on a first-come, first-served basis DATES & TIMES: Friday 17th - Monday 20th May 10am to 5pm VENUE: Namahn Studios Grensstraat / Rue de la limite 21 1210 Brussels Belgium INVESTMENT: 4 day course (a total of 24 hours training) Earlybird - €300 - before 12 April Low income - €320 Full Price - €350 High earner/supporter - €380 Contact us for booking and payment information: [email protected] CAN YOU HOST US? We are looking for people, places, associations or clown communities who would like to help us bring the Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy to you in 2023. Just send me an email to begin the conversation; [email protected] |
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
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Hilary Ramsden
With over 30 years of experience as a clown, teacher, director and researcher Dr. Hilary Ramsden is passionate about the power of improvisation, collaboration and cardboard to create social change! Performing in theatres, streets, hairdressers, dentists and shops from Barcelona to Beirut, she has been co- artistic director of Walk & Squawk since 1992 producing, directing, performing and teaching clown, physical theatre and radical street antics internationally. Wearing a red nose for revolution she was a co-founder of CIRCA (Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army), bringing together art and activism for civil disobedience. CIRCA toured the UK with the Ridiculous Recruitment Show in the run up to the G8 in 2005, gathering hundreds of clowns on the way and inspiring rebel clowns to form their own gaggles all over the world. She was Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance at the University of South Wales for eight years and is currently continuing to research and teach the intersections of clowning, carnival and activism with the Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy, touring Europe in 2023. |
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Robyn Hambrook
Robyn 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. Over the past five years she has been exploring the meeting point of clowning and a deep desire to address the injustices in the world. This specialism has developed through her Masters Research ‘Small Circus Acts of Resistance’, on the streets and in protests with the Bristol Rebel Clowns and in research residencies with The Trickster Laboratory. Robyn’s Activist Clown research has led to collaborations with Jay Jordan (Laboratory of Insurrectionary Imagination, France), Clown Me In (Beirut), LM Bogad (US), Hilary Ramsden (Greece) and international Tricksters; ‘The Yes Men’ (US). Keen to explore the intersection of clowning and politics, 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 and strengthen partnerships for future work. |
Our starting points - history & context
C.I.R.C.A. (2003 - 2006)
The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA for short) was a form of non-violent direct action for resistance that aimed to subvert the binary relationships between protester and police, activist and authority whilst radically transforming public and protest spaces. It was also a way for activists to lighten up, have fun and to refind the energy to continue the long journeys of actions and activism that they were passionate about. It was magical and worked a kind of magic…for a time. UK and international rebel clown gaggles were formed and met in Scotland at the G8 summit conference.
After the summit rebel clown gaggles formed all over the world and continued to explore clowning for protest and activism. Rebel clowns in San Diego formed the Boredom Patrol to counteract and parody the Minutemen patrols along the US/Mexican border. While in Finland, rebel clowns worked against racist anti-migrant citizen patrols.
However, the movement was of its time and most gaggles fizzled out and continued their activism in other and new ways. Since that time many of us have worked, performed and taught in different ways, using different methods and methodologies within clowning, in the theatre and on the streets. Some for activist purposes, some not.
The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army (CIRCA for short) was a form of non-violent direct action for resistance that aimed to subvert the binary relationships between protester and police, activist and authority whilst radically transforming public and protest spaces. It was also a way for activists to lighten up, have fun and to refind the energy to continue the long journeys of actions and activism that they were passionate about. It was magical and worked a kind of magic…for a time. UK and international rebel clown gaggles were formed and met in Scotland at the G8 summit conference.
After the summit rebel clown gaggles formed all over the world and continued to explore clowning for protest and activism. Rebel clowns in San Diego formed the Boredom Patrol to counteract and parody the Minutemen patrols along the US/Mexican border. While in Finland, rebel clowns worked against racist anti-migrant citizen patrols.
However, the movement was of its time and most gaggles fizzled out and continued their activism in other and new ways. Since that time many of us have worked, performed and taught in different ways, using different methods and methodologies within clowning, in the theatre and on the streets. Some for activist purposes, some not.
Recent Explorations
between clowning + activism: a trickster laboratory (2021) In 2021 two of the Rebel Clown Army founders, Jay Jordan and Hilary Ramsden, joined Robyn Hambrook in revisiting the Rebel Clown Army - its tactics & strategies, philosophies & actions – as a way of finding innovative ways for current clowning to address contemporary issues such as racism, climate change and global power struggles. In September 2021 they convened a Trickster Lab in Bristol, UK and invited clowns, activists, artists and performers to join us in playful experiments and explorations of clowning, fooling and trickstering around issues of social injustice. This was followed by a second Trickster Lab in Glasgow where new methodologies for direct action were tested at the COP26 climate summit.
Clown Lab (2022)
Hilary, Robyn and colleague Jon Davison received funding from i-Portunus Houses for further research in February 2022. They met in Athens to explore; decolonising European Clowning; Trickster Traditions; and Disturbing Public Space. As well as studio research they ran public workshops, inviting local performers and clowns to work quickly and using only few props and costumes, to find new ways and actions for clowning on the streets (see https://clowneggsodus.blogspot.com/)
Hilary, Robyn and colleague Jon Davison received funding from i-Portunus Houses for further research in February 2022. They met in Athens to explore; decolonising European Clowning; Trickster Traditions; and Disturbing Public Space. As well as studio research they ran public workshops, inviting local performers and clowns to work quickly and using only few props and costumes, to find new ways and actions for clowning on the streets (see https://clowneggsodus.blogspot.com/)
Clown Congress (2022)
Inspired by the success of these explorations and keen to bring more people into the conversations Hilary, Robyn and Jon organised the Clown Congress in Bristol, UK in September 2022. Over 4 days, 50 clowns from across the UK & Europe gathered to discuss, play, move, experiment and explore themes of Power & Authority, Anti-racism & Decolonisation, and the Climate Crisis through clown methodologies and practice (see https://clowncongress.blogspot.com)
Inspired by the success of these explorations and keen to bring more people into the conversations Hilary, Robyn and Jon organised the Clown Congress in Bristol, UK in September 2022. Over 4 days, 50 clowns from across the UK & Europe gathered to discuss, play, move, experiment and explore themes of Power & Authority, Anti-racism & Decolonisation, and the Climate Crisis through clown methodologies and practice (see https://clowncongress.blogspot.com)
Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy Stockholm (2023)
The inaugural Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy happened in Stockholm in April 2023. Hilary and Robyn were joined by 13 clowns, activists, artists, dancers, theatre makers, humanitarian clowns and clown doctors for this 4-day training. It was an incredible opportunity to test the pedagogy and progression of the learning materials. You can read about all the successes, actions and connections here.
The inaugural Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy happened in Stockholm in April 2023. Hilary and Robyn were joined by 13 clowns, activists, artists, dancers, theatre makers, humanitarian clowns and clown doctors for this 4-day training. It was an incredible opportunity to test the pedagogy and progression of the learning materials. You can read about all the successes, actions and connections here.
