Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy
vancouver & Toronto, CA - October 2026
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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 5-day training in Canada. The Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy connects clowning, activism, street arts, architecture and the politics of public space. This training explore methodologies of clowning as a form of creative activism. THE PEDAGOGY We teach ‘Rebel Clowning’: an embodied practice that draws on diverse elements, including clowning, bouffon, physical theatre, dance and choreography and street performance. The work supports participants in developing 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
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. 1-day NRCA FACILITATOR TRAINING
Learn how to lead the mischief
This intensive one-day training is for those ready to step into the role of rebel clown facilitator, to guide groups through the playful, political, and precarious art of activist clowning. Whether you want to run workshops, co-create actions, or seed rebel clown gaggles in your community, this day will give you the framework, confidence, and creative tools to lead.
We'll explore:
You’ll leave with: ✔ A toolkit of facilitation games & debrief methods ✔ A peer network of activist clowns and facilitators ✔ Permission to lead with laughter Who it’s for: This training is for graduates of the 5-day course. If you cannot attend the full training but have other relevant activist clown and facilitation experience, we will consider your application. |
How it works
VANCOUVER - FULL waiting list ONLY Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy 5-day training Monday 5 - Friday 9 October 10am - 5pm NRCA Facilitator Training Sunday 11 October 10am - 5pm LOCATION: Russian Hall 600 Campbell Avenue Vancouver, BC V6A 3K1 TORONTO Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy 5-day training Friday 16 October 5.30 - 8.30pm Saturday 17 - Wednesday 21 October 9.30am - 4.30pm NRCA Facilitator Training Friday 23 October 9.30am - 4.30pm LOCATION: Sweet Action Theatre 180 Shaw St #106 Toronto, ON M6J 2W5 APPLICATION & INVESTMENT To apply please fill in this form by Friday 18 Sep 2026: https://forms.gle/bnvRMg84XUFBw7WZ6 Once invited; the course investment is (in Canadian $): $700 - Supporter/High Earner $625 - Full Price $550 - Low Income $499 - EARLBIRD - first five sign ups * * no more earlybird places left for Vancouver NRCA Facilitator Training (6 hours) (in Canadian $) $200- Supporter/ High earner $175- Full Price $150 - Concession (low/no income, student) $100 - for those who've completed the 5-day course 
Photos by Marcel Wittstadt
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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. https://www.walksquawk.org/ |
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Robyn Hambrook
Robyn is a Bristol-based director, teacher and performer. With over 20 years experience she is passionate practitioner of clowning, physical theatre, circus and street arts. Over the past seven years she has been exploring the meeting point of clowning, politics and a deep desire to address the injustices in the world. This specialism has developed through her Masters Research, on the streets and in protests with the Bristol Rebel Clowns and in research residencies with The Trickster Laboratory. Some of her most recent collaborations and teaching projects have included the Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy (5-day Activist Clown Training), The Laboratory of the Un-beautiful (Feminist Grotesque Bouffon Training for Womxn Theatre Makers) and the Clown Congress (annual gathering of clowns, activists & academics collectively exploring what it means to be a clown in this current era). Robyn has most recently founded the Bristol Clown School, creating a home for clowning in the South West of England. https://www.robynhambrook.com/ https://www.bristolclownschool.co.uk/ |
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
Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy (2023-2026)
The inaugural Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy happened in Stockholm in April 2023. Since then Hilary and Robyn have taken the training to Berlin, Brussels, Bern and Valencia. Each training sees a new cohort of clowns, activists, artists, dancers, theatre makers, humanitarian clowns and clown doctors ready to dive into the training. The pedagogy and progression of the learning materials has developed and we continue to be blown away by the passion, brilliance and bravery of all the participants who attend. You can read about all the successes, actions and connections:
The inaugural Nomadic Rebel Clown Academy happened in Stockholm in April 2023. Since then Hilary and Robyn have taken the training to Berlin, Brussels, Bern and Valencia. Each training sees a new cohort of clowns, activists, artists, dancers, theatre makers, humanitarian clowns and clown doctors ready to dive into the training. The pedagogy and progression of the learning materials has developed and we continue to be blown away by the passion, brilliance and bravery of all the participants who attend. You can read about all the successes, actions and connections:
Clown Congress (2022 - 2026)
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. Since then the Clown Congress has grown and developed annually providing a space for to explore serious issues with our clown community. You can see what's happened year on year:
Clown Congress 2022
Clown Congress 2023 - Clowns and Identity
Clown Congress 2025 - exploring the Future of Clowning
Clown Congress 2026 - The State of Play
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. Since then the Clown Congress has grown and developed annually providing a space for to explore serious issues with our clown community. You can see what's happened year on year:
Clown Congress 2022
Clown Congress 2023 - Clowns and Identity
Clown Congress 2025 - exploring the Future of Clowning
Clown Congress 2026 - The State of Play
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/)
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.
